Edenderry manager Tommy Cribben had waited until his courtesy call to the Rathnew dressing room in Newbridge yesterday to ask the Wicklow men " where did ye learn that trick from? It was meant to be in our script ye know".
Cribben was referring to Rathnew's stunning goal after just 10 seconds. "It set ye up for the day, a super goal," he added. The early shocker of a score signifiantly stood between the sides at the end of an absorbing match.
"Phew", gasped Rathnew's proud manager, Harry Murphy, who had watched his team make history by qualifying for a first Leinster club final.
"We are capable of going the whole way now, at least we must believe that we can for, despite what some people were saying, our high fitness levels came into play today," said Murphy.
Everybody seemed to be talking about the early goal that set Rathnew on their way. The move started with midfieler Declan Byrne taking referee Brian White's throw-in. Byrne targeted Tommy Gill with a good ball and Gill's through ball into the path of Mark Doyle was impeccable.
When Doyle gathered deep towards the right corner he sent an accurate pass across the face of the goal into the hands of the unmarked Kevin Gill who gave Donal Seery no chance.
Remarkably, and before the first minute was up, Edenderry had a chance to reply but Sean ╙g Farrell's searing shot was finger tipped onto the bar by Tommy Murphy. Ciarain Reilly pointed the subsequent 45 and Edenderry drew level after 18 minutes with a fifth point also from 45 metres (free) by the accurate Reilly.
They were still level on the scoreboard at the interval 1-3 to 0-6, as well as having six wides apiece. Rathnew, though, were already well into their stride as the more composed and aware side with a terriffic corner back in Barry Mernagh. His sense of adventure was clearly defined when going on a solo run almost the length of the pitch; side stepping would-be tacklers before narrowly shooting wide.
A feature of Rathnew's play in the campaign so far has been their ability to finish strongly. In this instance rapid fire starts to both halves proved highly significant. Kevin Gill, his brother Tommy and corner back Barry Mernagh catapulted the side into a four-point advantage within 10 minutes of the resumption.
The dye was cast at this stage with the adventurous Mernagh, Mark Coffey and Trevor Doyle holding sway in the winners' defence. Declan Byrne was given Darren Coffey a huge 'dig out' in midfield.
Edenderry had made their last throw of the dice by introducing Cillian Farrell who had only arrived back from Australia on Saturday evening. Farrell made a difference and helped himself to two points, as did another substitute, Tony Kenny.
Robbie Glennon should have done better when shooting wide early in the second half and there were other chances missed by the Offaly champions who had four second half wides.
RATHNEW: T Murphy; B Mernagh (0-1), M Coffey, D Power; E Franey, T Doyle, S Byrne; D Coffey, D Byrne; R Dignam, T Gill (0-5, 1 free), A Mernagh; K Gill (1-1), R Coffey (0-2), M Doyle (0-1).
EDENDERRY: D Seery; S Bagnall, K Guing (0-1), W Mooney; J Hurst, F Cullen N Comerford; S Connell A Mahon; S ╙g Farrell (0-1), B Malone (0-1), R Glennon, P Brady (0-1 free), M Keogh (0-2), C Kelly (0-2, 1free). Subs: C Farrell (0-2) for Reilly (37 mins); T Kenny for Glennon (49).
Referee: B White (Wexford).
