Goal-getting Gorey retain title
Fine thirteen-point margin in Minor Premier decider
NAOMH EANNA 4-12
GLYNN-BARNTOWN 0-11
TWO GOALS in a devastating 40-second burst just after the midway stage in the opening half powered Naomh Eanna to an impressive second successive Wexford People Minor football Premier championship crown in Bellefield on Wednesday.
Those green flags effectively crushed the Glynn-Barntown challenge as they left them 2-7 to 0-4 in arrears, whereas Gorey grew in confidence and were ahead by 2-10 to 0-6 at the break.
And with powerful centre-forward Kevin Budeanu adding a brace of goals in the second period, Naomh Eanna’s eventual 13-point winning margin was the highest in a Minor final since 1968, when St. Joseph’s beat Ferns St. Aidan’s by 5-9 to 0-3.
The holders edged ahead twice in the early stages, courtesy of Cian Browne (free) and Kevin Budeanu, only to be pegged back on both occasions by Michael Mackey (free) and Corben Brown respectively.
As the game developed, it was clear that Gorey’s policy of aggressively attacking the opposition’s kick-out was set to pay rich dividends, and by the end of the first quarter they led by 0-7 to 0-2 following five points on the trot from Seán O’Brien-Murphy (free), Cian Molloy, Cian Browne (free), Lee Cushe, and Browne from play.
The one constant plus for Glynn-Barntown throughout was the superb accuracy of Michael Mackey with his left peg, and he kicked a brace of points, the second from play, to narrow the gap for the side seeking a first Premier title since 2009.
However, disaster was lurking for the Wexford District side, and they were unable to recover.
The opening Gorey goal in the 19th minute came from a flowing move featuring midfielders Cian Molloy and Brian Cushe before J.J. Twamley applied an ice-cool finish.
And Glynn-Barntown were dealt a further bitter blow just 40 seconds later when a point attempt by Seán O’Brien-Murphy dipped under the crossbar and entered the net (2-7 to 0-4).
Molloy followed up with a brilliant longrange point, and the Naomh Eanna flow wasn’t even upset when an O’Brien-Murphy penalty shaved the crossbar and went over after a foul on Cian Browne in the 24th minute.
Tom Butler and Michael Mackey tried to keep Glynn-Barntown in the hunt with points, while Browne converted a free in between to leave the reigning champions with that healthy half-time lead.
The scoring wasn’t as regular on the re-start, but Gorey had good reason to be thankful for the reflexes of netminder Rory Tubritt as he made a marvellous point-blank save to deny Michael Mackey in the 36th minute.
And they were even happier at the end of the third quarter when the determined Kevin Budeanu beat netminder Morogh O’Flaherty to a chase for Kyle Kenny’s through ball and got the first decisive touch before directing it into an empty net (3-12 to 0-7).
The loss of Cian Molloy in the 47th minute for a second booking was a blow, but Glynn-Barntown were too far behind to make significant inroads although Mackey did knock over two frees.
Just to underline Gorey’s superiority, Budeanu drove a powerful shot into the roof of the net in the 53rd minute for their last score, before late consolation points from Mackey and Corben Brown.
Unfortunately, the game was marred by a brawl near the end which developed after Naomh Eanna full-back Cormac Doyle was struck off the ball and had to leave the field with a nasty facial injury.
Jake Travers (Glynn-Barntown) and Gorey’s Ryan Connolly received straight red cards when referee James Owens restored order, and it was good to note that there was nothing but handshakes all round when the game concluded a short time later.
The Joe Brennan Memorial Cup was presented to triumphant captain George Slattery by the former Clonard stalwart’s daugher Ann, with son Paul also in attendance.
With Naomh Eanna retaining the title that they won for the first time last year, it means that the town has provided the Minor Premier champions for the fifth time in all, following the wins by Gorey Blues in 1942 and 1947, and the Young Emmets in 1962.
Naomh Eanna: Rory Tubritt; Ryan Connolly, Cormac Doyle, Cian Ó Túama; Shane Flood, Rian Fitzpatrick, Kyle Kenny; Brian Cushe, Cian Molloy (0-2); J.J. Twamley (1-0),
Kevin Budeanu (2-2), Seán O’Brien-Murphy (1-2, 0-1 free, 0-1 pen.); Lee Cushe (0-1), Cian Browne (0-5, 4 frees), George Slattery (capt.). Subs. - Luke Darley for Twamley (45), Darragh Fitzpatrick for Slattery (54), Thomas Wheatley for Doyle, inj. (60+3), also James McGraynor, Shane Mahon, Scott Murphy, Enda McCrea, Tadhg Byrne, Seáiní Quirke.
Glynn-Barntown: Morogh O’Flaherty; Nathan Byrne, Donal Buckley (capt.), Josh Carley; Robbie Hillis, Darragh Carley, Tommy Gallagher; Conor Lyne, Luke O’Rourke; Michael Mackey (0-8, 5 frees), Corben Brown (0-2), Lochlann MacCormack; Tom Butler (01), Michael Laffan, Ryan Curran. Subs. - Seán Cooney for Buckley (HT), Maurice Reynolds for MacCormack (40), Seán Murphy for Gallagher (44), Cian Turner for Curran (54), Conal McGuinness for Butler (56), Jake Travers for Byrne (56), also Thomas Doyle, Alan Mahoney, Paul Leonard, Jonah Glowatz.
Referee: James Owens (Kilrush).