O’Regan on target as Glynn-Barntown keep lead this time

GLYNN-BARNTOWN 2-7 STARLIGHTS 0-12

GLYNN-BARNTOWN found themselves hanging on to a one-point lead deep into injury time for the second successive week in Cushinstown on Saturday, but this time they held on to secure a precious win over an irate Starlights side, some of whom vented their frustration at referee Kevin Carty after this hard-fought Senior football championship Group B encounter.

They seemed to think that Alan Tobin deserved a penalty when he cut through from the right corner but blazed across goal and wide with 30 seconds of normal time left, although I didn’t see anything amiss with the defender’s challenge.

Starlights did have one late chance after that to hold Glynn-Barntown to a second successive draw, but it was from a difficult free in the left corner and the full-time whistle sounded when Dillon Redmond’s kick off the ground veered to the right of the posts.

Targetman Michael O’Regan got the two vital goals for the winners, and he also kicked what proved to be the decisive point in the 58th minute of a contest that was played with considerably more fervour than the tame St. Martin’s v. Sarsfields curtain-raiser.

The main credit for that key score must go to corner-back Jack Fenlon, as he raced out to intercept an attempted Starlights pass before feeding Ríoghan Crosbie.

He in turn located O’Regan, and the county panel member did the rest.

Already minus the considerable presence of Liam Ryan for the second week running, Starlights also had to bid farewell to Kevin Ryan after a mere three minutes following an accidental collision that also resulted in Glynn-Barntown full-back David Clarke requiring treatment for a head wound.

Starlights had the wind first and opened their account with one of three fine points from distance by Jack Kelly, but the Wexford District side hit the front with a well-worked goal in the seventh minute.

O’Regan simply couldn’t miss at the far post after Fionn Cooney popped the ball under his nose, and it needed a fine save with his lower body by Pa Doyle to keep out another goalbound effort from Ríoghan Crosbie after the latter played a one-two with Shane Wilde.

Starlights had edged 0-4 to 1-0 clear by the 15th minute thanks to points from Kelly and Alan Tobin (free and play), but Glynn-Barntown had a chance to regain the lead when netminder Doyle hauled down Cooney for a penalty after a Mark Fanning free broke in the square.

However, the county hurling goalkeeper drove his spot-kick over the bar via the woodwork, and Starlights made the most of this let-off by hitting the front again courtesy of Darragh Pepper (0-5 to 1-1).

O’Regan levelled following a super crossfield pass by Aaron Kehoe, but Starlights went on to lead by 0-7 to 1-2 at half-time after Jack Kelly’s third point and a first from Eamonn Furlong.

Dillon Redmond had drilled their best chance for a goal left and wide, while O’Regan had a shot blocked for a ’45 at the Ballinaboola end.

Now with the breeze behind them, Glynn-Barntown drew level on the re-start with points from Fanning (free) and James Stafford, before a Darragh Pepper kick shaved the crossbar and went over to make it 0-8 to 1-4 for the Enniscorthy men.

The key score arrived in the 35th minute, with O’Regan and Fanning working a good one-two on the right flank before the ball made its way to Shane Wilde closer to goal.

He was bottled up in the tackle, but the break fell perfectly for O’Regan who first-timed it to the roof of the net (2-4 to 0-8).

Starlights did very well to recover from that big setback, hitting four points without reply from Eamonn Furlong (free), Kevin Foley, Alan Tobin (free) and Ricky Fox to move two clear with ten minutes left.

Glynn-Barntown newcomer Cormac Rowe, a replacement for the injured Aaron Breen, settled them with a fine point from distance, and captain John Leacy then kicked the leveller after an exchange of passes with James Stafford (2-6 to 0-12).

Nine minutes plus an additional three still remained at that stage, but it only yielded that one crucial score from Michael O’Regan to leave Glynn-Barntown with three points on the table, one better than Starlights.

Incidentally, given their dissatisfaction afterwards, it’s worth pointing out that the losers were awarded 21 frees overall, compared to eleven for the victors.

The focus of both clubs switches to hurling this weekend, with Glynn-Barntown facing Shelmaliers while Rapparees will meet Ferns St. Aidan’s.

Glynn-Barntown: Matt Doyle; Jack Fenlon, David Clarke, Pádraig Donnelly; Alan Cowman, John Leacy (capt., 0-1), Kevin Mahoney; James Stafford (0-1), Aaron Breen; Fionn Cooney, Ríoghan Crosbie, Mark Fanning (0-2, 1 pen., 1 free); Shane Wilde, Michael O’Regan (2-2), Aaron Kehoe. Subs. - Shane Doyle for Clarke, temp. (3-10), Cormac Rowe (0-1) for Breen, inj. (24), Robert Dempsey for Kehoe (47), Robert Tierney for Donnelly (51), Barry Doyle for Wilde (59).

Starlights: Pa Doyle; Rory O’Connor, Tom Wall (capt.), Mel Doyle; James Peare, Kevin Foley (0-1), Ben Edwards; Jack Kelly (0-3), Kevin Ryan; Alan Tobin (0-3, 2 frees), Eamonn Furlong (0-2, 1 free), Dillon Redmond; Darragh Pepper (0-2), Ryan Mahon, Dylan McVeigh. Subs. - Ricky Fox (0-1) for Ryan, inj. (3), Anthony Roche for Mahon (HT).

Referee: Kevin Carty (Sarsfields).