St Fergal's extra-time agony as Roscrea advance to Leinster final

Leinster Post-Primary Schools Senior Hurling ‘C’ Semi Final

Eighty minutes of hurling were needed to decide the Leinster Senior ‘C’ semi final as Cistercian College Roscrea overcame St Fergal’s Rathdowney in an incredibly close affair on a blustery morning in Borris-in-Ossory. The tie looked destined for penalties until Liam O’Riordan scored a free with practically the last puck of extra time to send Roscrea into the final. 

O’Riordan put in a serious shift, scoring nine points – equalled by Rathdowney’s Gary Whelan who also raised nine white flags. It was a game that had everything from great scores to goals to red cards and just the right amount of physicality. 

Cistercian College Roscrea 2-17

St Fergal's Rathdowney 2-16

Colm Cunningham opened the scoring early for Roscrea but Rathdowney equalised through Eoghan Coss before Whelan slotted the first of his five frees to put the Laois side in front. O’Riordan’s first free of the day drew the sides level after ten minutes. 

Rathdowney were dominating the aerial battle while Roscrea were getting the better of things on the ground. There was a very strong wind blowing across the pitch which was detrimental to the accuracy of both sides as each team were wasteful in the first half. 

Rathdowney captain, Jacques Dowling gave his team a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at half time with the sides never more than one score apart. James Morkan should have grabbed the game’s first goal for Roscrea in the 29th minute, but the ball came back off the upright. 

The sides again traded scores at the start of the second half before Joe Sherman scored a fantastic goal for St Fergal’s in the 40th minute, finishing off a move filled with intricate passing. 

Roscrea kept pace and finally got their elusive first goal in the 49th minute when Fionn Carney smashed the ball home from a tight angle on the left, drawing the teams level in the process. 

A late Whelan free gave Rathdowney a two-point lead with two minutes remaining, but James Liffey pulled one back before O’Riordan’s fifth free of the day made it 1-12 apiece after the sixty minutes. 

St Fergal’s got themselves into a three-point lead in the first half of extra time and looked to have sewn the game up in the 74th minute when substitute, Eoin Bracken beat Freddy Harnan with an audacious chip. 

With Roscrea four points behind, they made a surge towards the Rathdowney goal. Corner-back Eoin Brennan was late in the tackle and shown his second yellow card of the game with less than five minutes to play. 

Robert Carney scored an amazing individual goal just after the red card before Liffey pointed the equaliser. With no time left to play, O’Riordan landed the crucial score – his eighth from placed balls – sending Roscrea into the final.