Friday night GAA focus - Tones make it

Wolfe Tones claimed the final qualification position from SFC Group C tonight with a 0-10 to 0-7 win against Rathkenny in a slow-burner at Castletown.

This game hardly got past the smouldering stage and that was reflected after 20 first-half minutes when the Tones were ahead by 0-2 to 0-1.

It was fairly dire stuff in that opening half as the Tones took a 0-3 to 0-2 interval lead - Saran O Fionnagáin, Alan Callaghan and Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch sent over while Brian Meade and Jack Gore (free) countered for Rathkenny.

The Tones tallied six woides to three in that opening yawn-inducing first 30 minutes and it was probbaly the cold that kept the sizeable number of spectators awake - not an exaggeration.

The second-half was better, wasn't difficult, and the Tones resumed smartly with O' Fionnagáin, Padraig Diamond and Cian Ward (free)  extending the advantage to 0-6 to 0-2 by the 36th minute.

That the Tones managed four more points for the remaining 24 minutes is a fair reflection of how they performed, but that won't concern them in the slightest for now.

Rathkenny made it a one-point game (06 to 0-7) by the 53rd minute - Jack GOre (three frees) and Jack Thompson with the Tones looking like they were in a sport of bother as Fiachra Ward sent over at the three-quarter stage.

A Tones point from O'Kelly-Lynch eased the anxiety levels and then Stephen Sheppard got forward as if to demonstrate how to take scores.

Rathkenny battled bravely, but had nothing in the tank after Fiachra Ward sent over another point they could only manage a late Meade 
score in response.

Rathkenny can highlight the absence of Caolach Halligan as a genuine mitigating factor, but the game was there for them to win due to 
wayward Tones finishing - 11 wides - but they weren't good enough.

Whether Tones are good enough to win the next time is also a relevant question, but they can hardly produce another performance like 
tonight the next day. Coming in uder the radar will suit them.

RESULTS ROUND UP

SFC 
GROUP C
Ratoath 1-11, St Colmcille's 1-5.
Wolfe Tones 0-10 Rathkenny 0-7

Moynalvey 2-11, St Patrick's 0-8
Ratoath, St Colmcille's, Wolfe Tones qualify; St Patrick's relegation play-off.

GROUP A
Donaghmore / Ashbourne 1-12, Simonstown 1-12
Seneschalstown 4-12 Blackhall Gaels 0-7
Dunboyne 0-14, Dunshaughlin 1-11  
Dunboyne, Simonstown, Donaghmore/Ashbourne qualify; Blackhall Gaels relegation play-off.

IFC
Syddan 0-17, KIlmainham 0-10
Dunderry 1-12, Meath Hill 0-10
Drumbaragh 1-12, LOngwood 0-15,

JFC
St Brigid's 3-13, Clann na nGael 1-9
Carnaross 1-14, Moylagh 1-8
Clonard 5-12 Drumcontrath 0-9