WHEN they were crowned champions of Leinster five years ago it was considered a rare achievement unlikely to be equalled, but the doubters did not reckon on the spirit of this Park/Ratheniska outfit who had suffered many disappointments in the past.

On a perfect sod for hurling the home team overcame the absence of two of their most influential players, Cathal Óg Greene and James Langton, both out through suspension. Parnells had impressed in their semi-final away to Killeigh of Offaly while Park/ Ratheniska looked good on home soil against the Kildare champions, St Laurence’s.

The home team opened the scoring with a point from the junior hurler of the year, Brendan Fingleton and, although not as dominant as in previous games the midfielder played his part.

Parnells were wide on their first attack before Pat Kelly landed a great point for the home team out on the wing. Parnells bounced back and were awarded a close in free converted by Colm McDonald but from the puck out the home team played a great ball down field which Darragh Nolan pointed to restore his side’s two point advantage seven minutes in.

Three minutes later the home side conceded another close in free which was again converted by McDonald and after Park squandered a few opportunities a great move was completed when Sean Tynan pointed from 50 metres out.McDonald punished the Park defence with his third point from a free but the next five minutes belonged to the home team.

They stretched their lead with good points from Eamon Cooke and Brendan Fingleton.

However, three minutes before the break Leigh Fogarty narrowed the gap to two and the Dublin champions would have been happy with wind assistance on the restart.

Brendan Fingleton was wide from a free but in injury time a great move started by Denis Brennan reached Sean Tynan.

He shook off a tackle and sprayed a perfect ball into the path of the unmarked Nolan who had only one thing in mind and from 20 metres he hammered low and hard past the Parnells keeper to transform the score board as the half time whistle sounded.

The half time talk was now about protecting a five point advantage instead of two, defending The Rock end of the pitch and facing a fresh breeze.

The visitors got the perfect start, an early point by McDonald followed by a defence splitting move that yielded a perfect finish, a goal by Daryl Curley Fagan and suddenly five was one.

Seven minutes into the half Eamon Cooke calmed Ratheniska nerves pointing from a free and then followed the score of the game, and perhaps the championship.

His unrelated namesake, Brendan maybe the player of the year but Barry Fingleton will claim the goal of the year.

When it looked like the visitors might take over the talented under age player collected a great pass 30 metres out and without hesitation fired a bullet like drive high into the roof of the Parnells’ goal that nobody saw until the net danced.

Four points in two minutes and suddenly the five point cushion was restored.

Although there was still 22 minutes to play you sensed there would only be one result.

Cooke added the next two points but only a great save by Brendan Dowling denied McDonald a certain goal with eight minutes to play and at a time when the margin was back to five.

Park were then reduced to 14 men but a great point by Eamon Cooke settled frayed nerves.

And although McDonald went for goal from a close in free that was brilliantly saved, time ran out and the celebrations commenced.

All eighteen Ratheniska players contributed to another great day for this amazing club and the only pity is they cannot progress beyond Leinster.