Leech strikes late to win it for Barrs

Naomh Fionnbarra Glen Emmets 2-9 1-9

GOALS right at the beginning and right at the end of this game helped Naomh Fionnbarra snatch a threepoint victory over Glen Emmets at Tullyallen on Saturday night.

The Barrs made the brighter start in bizarre circumstances, scoring an early goal through Jack Butterly straight from the throw in, with the Tullyallen goalkeeper absent from his position.

The Emmets replied with a point, but playing with a strong breeze they were quite wasteful, while the Finbarrs were much more economical and scored three more points from play through Gary Matthews, Conor Osborne and Darren McConnon.

The Tullyallen men had a grip on midfield at this stage and kept in touch with a couple of points of their own.

Another point from Matthews, with the goal at his mercy after the Togher men cut out a short kickout, and a Bernard Osborne free kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Glen Emmets then started to make better use of the elements and tacked on a few points, while Jack Butterly scored a lovely point from wide on the left wing to send his team in leading by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

Once again the Barrs made the brighter start to the second half and increased their lead to four via another good point from Jack Butterly.

Playing into the breeze, the Tullyallen men came back into it with a few points of their own before Hugh Osborne added to the lead once again.

The Emmets, to their credit, stuck at it and tacked on another couple, reducing the deficit to two points, before a goal from James Butler put them into the lead entering the dying minutes.

The Finbarrs dug deep and levelled through a point from William Woods before Jack Butterly set up Caolan Leech for a goal in the final minute to snatch victory.