Mark’s the hero
Goalie grabs Glynn winner
GLYNN-BARNTOWN 2-5 BLACKWATER 1-4
GOALKEEPER MARK Kavanagh was the Glynn-Barntown hero as his goal in the last ten minutes proved critical as they overturned a half-time deficit to win the New Ross Standard Under-13 Division 1 hurling shield in Ballymurn.
The Killurin side were trailing by 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval but whipped up the intensity after the break to drive clear and give them some deserved silverware after their hard-fought loss against Rapparees in the football equivalent.
This was a gutsy, battling performance from both sides on a heavy pitch.
The champions took a little while to find their top form and that was down to Blackwater’s strong showing in the first period.
Joe Rossiter gave the Over The Water boys an early lead with a classy point, but Patrick Berry replied and Liam Cooney added a sensational effort from the right wing as Glynn-Barntown moved 0-2 to 0-1 ahead.
Rossiter got his side back on level terms but Cooney registered again to make it 3-2.
It was at this stage that Blackwater had their purple patch, as Eugene Clarke scored two cracking points from play and Caolan Salmon drilled home a superb goal after great work in the build-up by Ciarán Byrne and Barry Whelan.
While Blackwater led by 1-4 to 0-3 at the break, they found the excellent Glynn-Barntown defence an impossible nut to crack in the second period.
Berry’s free got his side within a major before substitute Mark Walsh got away on the left to drill home the levelling goal.
The net-rippler kicked Glynn-Barntown into another gear and, after a spell of pressure, Kavanagh managed to get a 25-metre free over a crowded goal-line.
When Cillian Ferriter was fouled, the talented ’keeper trotted back up the field and clinched the shield with a perfect dead-ball.
Glynn-Barntown: Mark Kavanagh (1-1 frees); Josh Donovan (capt.), Evan Sweeney, Jack Sinnott; Joe Gilhooley, Kevin Rowe, Ben Redmond; Michael Furlong, Colin Carley; Cillian Ferriter, Shane Donovan, Patrick Berry (0-2 frees); Craig Laffan, Cian Carty, Liam Cooney (0-2). Subs. (rolling) - Mark Walsh (1-0), Jack McNamara, Liam O’Reilly, Paul Denton, Rory Gallagher, Tom Deevy, Fionn Nolan, also Cathal Sinnott.
Blackwater: Nathan Moran; Callum Corrigan, Adam O’Connor, Seán O’Brien; Ultan O’Reilly, Eugene Clarke (capt., 0-2), Tristan Cashe; Joe Rossiter (0-2, 1 free), Ronan Malanowski; Darragh Byrne, Jamie Lambert, Aidan Malanowski; Ciarán Byrne, Caolan Sammon (1-0), Barry Whelan. Subs. (rolling) - Denis Dempsey, Callum Mooney, Callum Byrne, also Philip Byrne.
Referee: Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien).