Oylegate-Glenbrien triumph
Persistent Rathnure challenge thwarted after extra-time
OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN 3-12 RATHNURE 1-14 (AET)
FOR LONG passages it looked like Rathnure were bringing home the New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 2 championship title as the assured dead-ball striking of Luke Codd helped them hold a 1-11 to 1-6 lead with only four minutes of regulation time to play in Ferns.
But high stakes games such as this are often determined on the slimmest of margins, and so it proved as a determined rally from Oylegate-Glenbrien saw them plunder two late goals to briefly hold the lead.
And while Codd converted a free deep into injury time, Oylegate-Glenbrien re-grouped in extra-time to secure a dramatic 3-12 to 1-14 lead.
Their comeback was kick-started on 59 minutes when Scott O’Brien appeared to get the last touch to Darragh Harris’s delivery despite hopeful pleas from Rathnure connections that he was intruding in the square.
And with the drama cranked up, they looked to have broken Rathnure hearts when another substitute, Cian O’Brien, swiped home when a Harris free sparked pandemonium.
And although Codd forced extra-time with a nerveless free on 65 minutes, the momentum was with Oylegate-Glenbrien as they secured the trophy.
Indeed, three frees from Harris moved them 3-9 to 1-12 to the good by half-time in extra-time, and while J.J. Redmond (free) and Cathal Ryan responded with points for the black and ambers, Harris secured victory with a free some five minutes into injury time.
In truth, the watertight nature of the contest is testament to the quality of both sides, as very little separated either team.
Oylegate-Glenbrien had first use of the stiff breeze, and established some ascendancy when Harris floated into the top corner to make it 1-2 to 0-2 after 13 minutes.
The same player pointed from the right wing to maintain his side’s lead, although responses from Callum O’Connell, Ronan Guiney and Codd (free) moved Rathnure to within 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.
And the Blackstairs boys really transformed proceedings with an unanswered 1-2 early in the second-half, with O’Connell forcing the ball home after a goalmouth scramble on 35 minutes (1-6 to 1-5).
Their stickwork was a notable feature as they kept in front mainly through Codd’s accuracy, before that late sting in the tail saw Oylegate-Glenbrien clinch victory.
Oylegate-Glenbrien: Daniel Cosgrave; Jack Kavanagh, Adan Nolan, T.J. Frost; Seán Doyle, Seán Rowley (0-2), Kyle Curran; Shane Doran (0-2), Darragh Harris (1-8, 0-4 frees, 0-2 ‘45s); Jack Nolan, Conor Somers, Mikie Reck; Niall Byrne, Jack Hennessy, Cian Cullen. Subs. - Tomás Forun for Cullen (33), Cian O’Brien (1-0) for Reck (47), Scott O’Connor (1-0) for Byrne (56), also Danny Fortune, Seán Downs, Cathal Murphy, Andy Byrne.
Rathnure: Mikey Codd; Eoin O’Neill, Danny Cowman, Danny O’Neill (capt.); J.J. Redmond (0-1 free), Charlie Mooney, Seán Guiney; Luke Codd (0-8, 4 frees, 1 ‘45), Denis Lambert; Thomas Guiney, Mikey Gregory (0-1), Shane Reddy; Ronan Guiney (0-1), Oisín Byrne (0-1), Callum O’Connell (1-1). Subs. - Cathal Kehoe for T. Guiney (48), Cathal Ryan (0-1) for R. Guiney (59), Sam Mooney for Gregory (59), also Aidan Somers.
Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee).