Na Gaeil 3-20 Rathgarogue Cushinstown 1-5
Na Gaeil were always going to win this one.
The Kerry junior champions are usually strong and the Tralee club have two Kerry seniors in midfield. Diarmuid O’Connor and Jack Barry played in last year’s All-Ireland final against Dublin and for a club like Rathgarogue Cushinstown, that’s far-fetched fantasy sort of stuff.
The Wexford representatives are an amalgamation club outside of New Ross but they have no village and scant numbers. Croke Park in itself, is a fairytale for a team like ‘Rath/Cush,’ especially when you consider that Wexford has no storied tradition in club football.
These lads helped change that though when they beat Monaghan men Blackhill earlier in the month, to become Wexford’s first ever team to make it to an All-Ireland club football final.
Earlier in their season, they beat Meath champs Leinster to become only Wexford’s second ever club to win a Leinster championship.
So the journey, more so than the occasion was a triumph for these lads and though they kept the pressure on the Kingdom men early on, Na Gaeil’s experience and class eventually told with former Kerry minor Ian McCarthy bagging a hat-trick. That’s what you’re up against when playing Kerry, who have won five of the last six All-Ireland junior club championships.
But the peaks Rathgarogue Cushinstown have scaled shouldn’t be lost with the result, and a brilliant moment between their manager and centre forward/father and son James and Daire Bolger towards the end of the game captured what it’s all about.
Tough loss for @RathCushGAA, who were well beaten by @nagaeilgaa in All-Ireland junior final.
But this was great moment between father & son -James & Daire Bolger near the end.
They're Wexford's first football club to make any club final. That's what it means 🙌@SportTG4 🎥 pic.twitter.com/1dcRLTrpIO
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) January 25, 2020
That’s club GAA. It means a lot.
All over here in Croker. Ye gave us hours, days, weeks and months of entertainment boys. Nothing to be ashamed of when bet by an exceptional team from Kerry. Heads up it was a short winter and fabulous memories for young and old in the parish. A credit to your club and county💪
— Rath Cush GAA (@RathCushGAA) January 25, 2020
