Clonaslee St Manman’s pull off a great escape to relegate Park-Ratheniska to Intermediate grade

Clonaslee St Manman’s will have their name in the hat for next year’s Senior Championship draw although they didn’t make it easy for themselves against Park-Ratheniska in Stradbally this evening.

Park-Ratheniska struck for three goals within the first 20 minutes as they looked to be running away with the game and held an eight-point lead. However to their credit, Clonaslee St Manman’s kept the scoreboard ticking and had a superb second-half which saw them over the line.

CLONASLEE ST MANMAN’S 3-8

PARK-RATHENISKA 3-7

The first of the game’s six goals came in the third minute as Jimmy Langton made a superb run from half-back to rattle the back of the Clonaslee net and leave them shell-shocked early on. Clonaslee’s first score was almost nearly a goal too as Cian Callaghan teed up Sean Condon, who saw his effort saved over the bar by Ben Delaney. James Connolly kicked over Park-Ratheniska’s first point of the contest.

Niall Corbet and Condon both raised white flags for Clonaslee St Manman’s before Park-Ratheniska got their second goal in as many minutes. A long ball in from Kieran Delaney looked to be dropped into Conor Gorman’s hands until Cian Nolan came from nowhere to palm the ball beyond Gorman. Corbet took his tally to two points as he kicked over a free. 

With 20 minutes on the clock, Park-Ratheniska put themselves eight points ahead as James Connolly raised their third green flag while Kieran Delaney pointed a free. They led 3-3 to 0-4 with a third of the game completed. Clonaslee St Manman’s fired in the fourth goal of the half with Condon fouled in the square. Half-back Bob Downey showed great composure to step up and send Ben Delaney the wrong way. Park-Ratheniska held a five-point advantage at the break.

Their lead would soon be pushed to seven as Nolan pointed straight from the throw-up while Connolly added to his earlier goal with a white flag. That would Park-Ratheniska’s last score for over 25 minutes as Clonaslee St Manman’s took full control of the contest.

Corbet and Josh Flynn both kicked the ball over the bar before Corbet kicked over another free to leave four between the sides. Substitute Niall Hogan went on a splendid run before squaring the ball to Condon, who fisted the ball into the net. A third goal would follow was Liam Senior broke through the Park-Ratheniska defence to set up Condon for his second goal in as many minutes.

Corbet added another point to their tally as now led by three points having been down by seven after Parl-Ratheniska’s two scores earlier in the half. Clonaslee St Manman’s had to play injury time with a man less as DJ Callaghan was shown a red card by Des Cooney. Park-Ratheniska pushed forward in the hope of getting a goal which would force extra-time but could only muster up two frees with Kieran Delaney splitting the posts on both occasions.

Clonaslee St Manman’s remain a Senior club for next year’s championship while for Park-Ratheniska, it’s back to the Intermediate grade, where they’ve been as recent as 2021.