Murphy hits hat-trick in Oylegate-Glenbrien win

OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN booked their place opposite Cloughbawn in the Enniscorthy District Under-21 football Roinn 1 championship final in a soaking St. Patrick’s Park on Friday.

Conditions were absolutely horrendous, with rain teeming down throughout the 60 minutes. It’s said that weather can be the great leveller and maybe it helped Monageer-Boolavogue stay in this game, despite playing the first-half with just 14 men.

It was far from ideal, competing in a District semi-final less than two days before the Junior ‘B’ final replay.

It meant that Monageer-Boolavogue were one man light throughout the first period and they certainly looked shorthanded as Oylegate-Glenbrien burst out of the blocks.

Within two minutes Pierce Mur- phy drilled home the first goal of a hat-trick, at the second attempt, after strong build-up play by Barry Dunne and Tom White.

Murphy’s second goal, a swinging punched effort from Jack Reck’s hopeful ball, helped Oylegate-Glenbrien on their way to a 2-3 to nil lead.

After playing second fiddle for most of the half, Monageer-Boolavogue slowly grew in confidence. Cathal Walsh nailed a ‘45 and the excellent Seán Roche popped over a nice score from play to narrow the gap to seven.

That’s the way it stayed until the break but only because Lee McHale made three fantastic saves, including a stop with his legs from Dunne’s penalty.

Points from the Conors, Doyle and Heffernan, eased their side 2-5 to 0-2 ahead after the resumption.

Monageer-Boolavogue had more of the ball with a full complement of 15 in the second-half - James Walsh arrived at the break to allow them to complete the match - and they were able to chip away with scores from Roche, Ca- thal Walsh and Robbie Donnelly.

However, a lovely team move ended with Murphy punching to the net to complete his treble.

Then Conor Heffernan drilled home a fourth major as the second-half wore to ease Oylegate-Glenbrien to that final meeting with Cloughbawn in St. Patrick’s Park next Saturday at 3 p.m. Réalt na Mara await the outcome in the Co. semi-final.

Oylegate-Glenbrien: Eddie Mernagh; Lee Kehoe, Kieran Lambert, Evan Kelly; Ciarán O’Brien, Damien Reck, Pa Cullen; Shane Reck, Ciarán Hourihane; Jack Reck, Conor Heffernan (1-3), Conor Doyle (0-1); Barry Dunne (0-2, 1 free), Tom White, Pierce Murphy (3-0). Subs. - Mike Kelly for Murphy (41), Ryan Hill for White (41).

Monageer-Boolavogue: Lee McHale; Seán O’Leary, Ian Hawkins, Cathal O’Leary; Matthew Rochford, Michael Rossiter, Daire Walsh; Seán Roche (0-2), Shane Gahan; Colm McGannon, Robbie Donnelly (0-1), Diarmuid Fenlon; William Murphy, Cathal Walsh (0-4, 3 frees, 1 ‘45), James Walsh.

Referee: Aiden O’Brien (Cloughbawn).