Raheen turn big corner with run away win over Erin Rovers

RAHEEN clicked into form at the really right time when they produced their best performance of the year by a mile to send a shocked Erin Rovers into the relegation play offs in a one sided Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final at Clara on Sunday afternoon.

Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final

Raheen 3-17

Erin Rovers 1-7

Raheen's win in itself was not a surprise. While they had lost their three games to finish bottom of their group and the Pullough men had topped theirs, we knew that Raheen's group was by far the stronger of the two – and this was proven as four teams from this group all won their quarter-finals with St Brigid's, Tullamore and Ballinagar also qualifying.

The scale of the win, however, was very unexpected and we anticipated a tightly contested, 50-50 game. Instead, Erin Rovers were blown out of the water and the absence of their injured county player Nathan Poland does not explain the magnitude of this defeat.

It has been a tough week for all in the Pullough area. There have been in a couple of very sad, early deaths in the wider parish in the past week and Erin Rovers lost one of their most revered individuals, Joe Buckley, who passed suddenly last week. Known fondly as “Dot”, Joe was a fantastic character, liked by all, and he was a great Erin Rovers club man. He was captain of the Erin Rovers team that won the Intermediate Football Championship in 1985, loved his club and was loved by its members. He was buried in Boher Cemetery on Saturday and the funeral and sense of grief certainly overshadowed the build up to this game.

Raheen had changed managers in recent weeks with Tubber man Padraig Farrell replaced by former Offaly footballer, Richie Dalton. The long time Edenderry stalwart had been manager a couple of years ago and whatever impact this managerial change had, Raheen were certainly hungry for action and eager to prove a point.

With Offaly forward Dylan Hyland in their ranks, they will have a chance against every team at this grade – unlike recent years when Clonbullogue, Ballycommon and Daingean were clearly ahead of everyone else, there is no clearcut favourite this year and it is wide open. St Brigid's and Tullamore, who Raheen now face, have been the best teams to date but both Ballinagar and Raheen have very good prospects of coming up on the rails – despite their uncertain group form.

Hyland played well here, scoring 1-6 with 1-4 from play. As you would expect, he was earmarked for special attention by Erin Rovers but as can often happen in these situations, it was someone else who really cut loose. Brian Crombie had a remarkable day, scoring a sensational 2-6 from play – him and Hyland scored 3-12 between them and that was some contribution.

This game was over early as Raheen came flying out of the blocks. They led by an almost unbelievable 3-4 to 0-1 after fifteen minutes and there was never a chance of Erin Rovers hauling in that deficit. They did limit the damage in the second quarter but a half time lead of 3-6 to 0-3 meant that Raheen had their semi-final berth booked.

To their credit, Erin Rovers battled hard in the second half and scored 1-4. The goal came from an Andrew Buckley penalty in the 37th minute but Raheen continued to play great, fast moving football.

They ran at their opponents at pace and took some quality scores. The Geashill based club added eleven points to their tally in the second half and while Tullamore will be a very different proposition in the semi-final, it was a performance and win that could change everything for the winners.

Scorers

Raheen: Brian Crombie 2-6, Dylan Hyland 1-6 (1 ’45, 1f), Conor Carroll (1 mark) and Lee Mulpeter 0-2 each, Rory Grehan 0-1.

Erin Rovers: Andrew Buckley 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f, 1 ’45), Barry Buckley 0-4 (2fs), Kevin Lynam 0-1 (1f).

The teams

Raheen: Mark Byrne; Eamon Bolger, Mikey Keogh, David Carthy; Mikey Buckley, Rory Grehan, Jimmy Nolan; James Lalor, Adam Kelly; Niall Dempsey, Brian Crombie, Jack Keogh; Kaelyn Thompson, Conor Carroll, Dylan Hyland. Subs: Aidan Pierce for Buckley (48 min), Peter McKeagney for Dempsey (48 min), Lee Mulpeter for Thompson (51 min), Paddy Rigney for Carroll (51 min), Liam Boland for Crombie (55 min).

Erin Rovers: Fergal Bracken; Ultan Carroll, Calvin Fox-Kenna, Sean Buckley; Declan Buckley, Richard Fox, Jack Poland; Andrew Buckley, Stephen Buckley; Dylan Kavanagh, John Creggy, Barry Buckley; Ger Buckley, Dean Buckley, Gerard Lynam. Subs: Alex Hall for Creggy (22 min), Kevin Lynam for Stephen Buckley (half-time), Brandon Delaney for Declan Buckley (42 min), Patrick Lynam for Poland (60 min).

Referee – Chris Joslin (Daingean).