St Vincents are one of the top club teams in the country and many expect them to be in Croke Park on St Patricks Day.
However, despite Dublin’s dominance in the inter-county scene, the games aren’t so one-sided in the provincial club championship. Every team you come up against have won a county title to their name and all come into the games with momentum at their backs.
That said, Vincents have an incredible record in the Leinster Championship. Their last five Dublin titles before this year in 2016, 2014, 2013, 2007 and 1984 have all been followed by provincial successes.
That record came to a crashing end as Rathnew of Wicklow defeated the Dublin side on a score of 1-13 to 1-09 in one of the biggest upsets of the year in the club championships.
It looked like it would be another day at the office as Vincents started the game brightly – but Rathnew had other ideas.
@wicklowgaa @gaaleinster @DubGaaOfficial
11mins 1st half
Rathnew: 0-1(1)@StVincentsGaa1: 0-3(3)@StVincentsGaa1 point from play Gavin Burke— Rathnew GAA Club (@RathnewGAA1885) November 12, 2017
However, the men from the Garden County fought hard and even took a lead into the dressing room at the interval:
@wicklowgaa @gaaleinster @DubGaaOfficial
Half time
Rathnew: 0-7(7)@StVincentsGaa1: 0-6(6)— Rathnew GAA Club (@RathnewGAA1885) November 12, 2017
They then started the second period on a good note as Wicklow legend Leighton Glynn powered them further ahead:
@wicklowgaa @gaaleinster @DubGaaOfficial
00mins 2nd half
Rathnew: 0-9(9)@StVincentsGaa1: 0-6(6)
Rathnew point from play Leighton Glynn— Rathnew GAA Club (@RathnewGAA1885) November 12, 2017
However, as we saw in the Dublin Championship, it is so hard to keep Vincents down as they re-took the lead with a Tomas Quinn goal:
@wicklowgaa @gaaleinster @DubGaaOfficial
14mins 2nd half
Rathnew: 0-10(10)@StVincentsGaa1: 1-9(12)@StVincentsGaa1 goal from play Tomas quinn— Rathnew GAA Club (@RathnewGAA1885) November 12, 2017
However, the Wicklow men weren’t to be out-done – as they found the net themselves – and the upset was on…
@wicklowgaa @gaaleinster @DubGaaOfficial
26mins 2nd half
Rathnew: 1-12(15)@StVincentsGaa1: 1-9(12)
Rathnew goal from play James Stafford— Rathnew GAA Club (@RathnewGAA1885) November 12, 2017
Stafford who got the goal also hit a point with 60 minutes on the clock and the Wicklow men could dare to dream…
@wicklowgaa @gaaleinster @DubGaaOfficial
30mins 2nd half
Rathnew: 1-13(16)@StVincentsGaa1: 1-9(12)
Rathnew point from play James Stafford— Rathnew GAA Club (@RathnewGAA1885) November 12, 2017
Stafford’s score was the last of the day and there was jubilation at the shock result – the Wicklow side dumping St Vincents out of the championship at the Leinster quarter-final stage.
Wicklow champions Rathnew have just beaten Dublin's St Vincents 1-13 to 1-09. Incredible upset 👏
— Darren Frehill (@Darrenfrehill) November 12, 2017
Jesus Rathnew
— Cathal Bailey (@Cathal_bailey) November 12, 2017
Some result up in Aughrim….. fair play #Rathnew
— Shane Dowd (@ShaneDowd123) November 12, 2017
Big shock in fortress Aughrim; Dublin champs St Vincent's dumped out of Leinster by Rathnew @IrishTimesSport pic.twitter.com/OSNQxIbvDp
— Ian O'Riordan (@ianoriordan) November 12, 2017
