Doran hits hat-trick

Oylegate-Glenbrien beat Blackwater

THREE GOALS from Podge Doran helped fire Oylegate-Glenbrien to victory over a stubborn Blackwater side in this closely-contested Enniscorthy Farms Systems Junior football championship Group B opening round tie in Bree on Saturday.

While more well known for finding the net with the small ball, Doran showed he is just as capable in both codes by hitting 3-4 from midfield.

His side were made suffer a second-half siege from a Blackwater outfit who reduced a twelve-point half-time deficit to just four points with minutes remaining.

It was evident that both sides were well up for things as the early exchanges contained some heavily contested challenges, and the game seemed to be played at a relentless pace.

Paul O’Leary put Blackwater ahead minutes after Conor Sutton exchanged early scores with Jamie Reck, before Podge Doran struck for the game’s opening goal midway through the half after receiving an inviting pass from Shane Reck.

Doran then turned provider minutes later as he played the ball through to Tom White who coolly slotted the ball low under the advancing goalkeeper.

Sutton continued to be accurate from placed balls, hitting two more before the break, but the eventual winners had found their rhythm at this stage and were well on top after a goal from Séamus Casey.

He then set Doran up for his second, and two well-taken points from Damien Reck left four goals between the sides (4-4 to 0-4).

The opening exchanges of the new half proceeded much like they did in the first, with Sutton exchanging scores with Podge Doran and then with Mark Kavanagh.

Sutton was providing a masterclass of dead-ball shooting as he hit two more and, with help from Michael Lillis, Blackwater began to claw themselves back.

But their good work was undone midway through the half when Doran completed his hattrick, getting on the end of a wellworked move involving a number of players to reinstate his side’s twelve-point lead.

Blackwater looked to be dead and buried but they refused to give in and, out of nowhere, began launching attacks on their opponents, which paid immediate dividends as substitute Kerill Sutton found the net with his first touch.

Sutton had another minutes later after converting a penalty, before Doran replied with a brace of points.

Then, amazingly, Sutton struck his third within ten minutes after he converted a second penalty, creating an anxious finish for Oylegate-Glenbrien.

However, Doran capped off a fine display with a point which gave his side some late insurance, and enough to hold on for a hardearned but well-deserved win.

Oylegate-Glenbrien: Eddie Mernagh; Ciarán Hourihane, Mike Kelly, Bryan McCormack; Mark Kavanagh (0-2), Damien Reck (0-2), Jamie Reck (0-1); Podge Doran (3-4), Shane Reck; Jack Reck, Seamus Casey (1-0), Tom White (1-0); Fiachra Hourihane, Peter Nolan, Conor Doyle. Subs. - Trevor Moulton for White (40), Fergal Doran for F. Hourihane (40), White for C. Hourihane, black card (43), Fiachra Hourihane for Mernagh, black card (50).

Blackwater: Ger Lynch; Aaron Culleton, Kevin O’Brien, Féidhlim Roche; Anthony Roche, Paul O’Leary (0-1), Diarmuid Murphy; Dean Wright, Richard Blake; Michael Lillis (0-1), Darren Byrne, Ben Redmond; Conor Sutton (0-7, 6 frees), Shane O’Leary, Robbie McGuinness. Subs. - Kerill Sutton (3-0, 2 pens.) for S. O’Leary (23), Tomás Murphy for Redmond (27), Declan O’Leary for McGuinness (38), Ian Curran (0-1) for Blake (47).

Referee: Martin Armstrong (Starlights).