RATHNEW (Wicklow) 1-13 ST VINCENT'S 1-9
St Vincent's, last year's Leinster club senior football champions, were toppled by Wicklow champions in Sunday afternoon's Leinster quarter-final at Joule Park, Aughrim.
A Tomás Quinn goal inside the last quarter looking to put Vincent's in the driving seat but Rathnew had other ideas and finished the stronger to pull off a shock victory.
It was a late James Stafford goal, after a great fetch, that provided the heroics for the Wicklow men as they progress to the provincial semi-final.
Vincent's had started the game well to lead 0-4 to 0-1 by the 15 minute but were uncharacteristically guilty of some poor shooting and left the door open for a Rathnew comeback.
Indeed Rathnew were a point to the good at the break with it all still to play for in the second half.
The Wicklow champions restarted with intent to kick two scores and the loss of Ger Brennan, to injury, midway into the second half was another blow to Vincent's who started without his wing-backs from the Dublin final, Cameron Diamond (emigrated) and Brendan Egan (injury) while Nathan Mullins did not play any part either.
Quinn's goal with 14 minutes left, after being set up by Enda Varley, put Brian Mullins' men in front but it was Rathnew who then made the running.
A ball into the danger area by Ross O'Brien was fielded one-handed by Stafford and he gave Michael Savage no chance.
Stafford tagged on another point to ensure it was Rathnew who progressed with the considerable scalp of Vincent's 'under their belt'.
SCORERS – Rathnew: J Stafford 1-2, M Doyle 0-4 (0-3f), E Doyle 0-3 (0-2f), L Glynn 0-2, P Merrigan, R O’Brien 0-1 each. St Vincent’s: T Quinn 1-3 (0-2f, 0-1 '45'), G Burke, D Connolly (0-1f), R Trainor, S Carthy 0-1 each.
RATHNEW: P Dignam; P Merrigan, D Power, J Snell; W Kavanagh, R O’Brien, E Glynn; J Stafford, T Smith; G Merrigan, L Glynn, D Staunton; S Byrne, M Doyle, E Doyle. Subs: J Manley for Staunton (52), J Merrigan for Byrne (58).
ST VINCENT’S: M Savage; M Concarr, J Curley, C Wilson; F Breathnach, G Brennan, L Sheehy; L Galvin, D Murphy; G Burke, S Carthy, Cormac Diamond; E Varley, D Connolly, T Quinn. Subs: E Fennell for Galvin (35), R Trainor for Diamond (40), J McCusker for Brennan (44), J Feeney for Murphy (52), T Diamond for Burke (61).
REF: D Gough (Meath).