Late drawn drama
Pace-setters Horeswood hit leveller
THERE WAS no shortage of drama to mark Horeswood’s return to the top flight in Taghmon on Friday, with the Intermediate kings of 2018 losing an eight-point interval lead and eventually having to rely on a last-gasp pointed free from P.J. Banville to earn a share of the Senior football championship Group B spoils.
And while Glynn-Barntown might have fumed at the timing of that leveller, after seven and a half added minutes, on reflection they ought to be happy with the outcome given that they appeared to be in such serious trouble at the break.
The first-half was dominated by Horeswood, and in particular their dangerous attacking duo of Declan Murphy and Seán Nolan who accounted for 1-3 and 0-3 respectively from play.
Their accuracy left the Ross District side with an interval advantage of 1-9 to 0-4, and it could have been more as one of Nolan’s points was fisted over the bar via the crossbar when he was trying for a goal after a one-two with Murphy.
The opening 16 minutes had been alright from Glynn-Barntown’s point of view, and it was 0-3 each at that stage after promising midfielder Aaron Breen kicked the first of his two points.
However, they were completely outplayed in the second quarter, conceding six points on the bounce to Nolan, Murphy, P.J. Banville (free and play), plus another Murphy brace before James Stafford finally managed a response.
However, Horeswood had one final message to deliver before half-time, and it came in the form of a well-worked goal.
The excellent Ryan Harris found fellow overlapping defender Barry Hearn who in turn picked out Declan Murphy, and he sold a glorious dummy to deceive netminder Matt Doyle before tucking the ball into a gaping net (1-9 to 0-4).
The introduction of county hurling goalkeeper Mark Fanning on the ’40 at half-time improved Glynn-Barntown no end, and he made an instant impact with a point after 31 seconds.
Shane Wilde and Aaron Breen followed his example and the comeback was on despite a Seán Stafford response, with the Wexford District men bolstered by a 40th-minute goal.
A quick free on the left by captain John Leacy found Fionn Cooney who popped the ball to wing-back Kevin Mahoney, and his shot beat Conor Swaine to reduce Horeswood’s lead to 1-10 to 1-7.
Swaine did well to keep out a James Stafford shot before Fanning converted a free, but the Campile crew steadied the ship with points from Barry Hearn and P.J. Banville (free).
The loss of corner-back Jack Fenlon on a second yellow card didn’t deter Glynn-Barntown as Aaron Kehoe and Fanning picked off points, the latter from a ’45 after a stunning Swaine stop denied Kehoe.
Colin Nolan made it 1-13 to 1-10 for Horeswood, but their best efforts were almost undone in a frantic finish.
Newcomer Jack Kehoe made a couple of vital interceptions as the pressure mounted before John Leacy and Michael O’Regan combined to pick out Fionn Cooney for the equalising goal just over one minute into added time.
Barry Hearn was then dismissed on a second booking, and the unthinkable seemed about to happen when Leacy played a one-two with Ríoghan Crosbie and gave Glynn-Barntown the lead for the very first time in the 65th minute.
It was no surprise that Ryan Harris should earn the free that saved Horeswood’s bacon, and P.J. Banville did the needful with the last kick of a long night to bring an eventful contest to a dramatic finish.
Horeswood: Conor Swaine; Kevin Parker, Barry Hearn (0-1), David Larkin; Jack Kehoe, Ryan Harris, Seán Stafford (0-1); Shane O’Hanlon, P.J. Banville (capt., 0-5, 4 frees); Dale Flynn, Jamie Myler, Eoin Murphy; Seán Nolan (0-3), Eric Banville, Declan Murphy (1-3). Subs. - Colin Nolan (01) for E. Banville (44), Gavin Murphy for E. Murphy (52), Brian Kehoe for Flynn (54).
Glynn-Barntown: Matt Doyle; Jack Fenlon, Pádraig Donnelly, Robert Tierney; Alan Cowman, John Leacy (capt., 0-1), Kevin Mahoney (1-0); James Stafford (0-1), Aaron Breen (0-2); Fionn Cooney (1-0), Robert Dempsey, Ríoghan Crosbie; Shane Wilde (0-2), Michael O’Regan (0-1), Aaron Kehoe (0-1). Subs. - David Clarke for Donnelly, inj. (17), Mark Fanning (0-3, 1 free, 1 ’45) for Dempsey (HT), Shane Doyle for Kehoe (60).
Referee: Kevin Carty (Sarsfields).