Réalt master tough conditions to reach decider

REALT NA MARA 1-6 OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN 1-2

RÉALT NA MARA marched on to the Greenstar Under-21 football Roinn 1 championship final after a reasonably comfortable victory over Oylegate-Glenbrien in St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.

Because of the late throw-in time of 7 p.m., this game was forced to be played in the bitter cold, with a light frost already on the pitch as the teams lined out which had a telling impact.

It was difficult for both sets of players to control the ball on the slippery, almost frozen, ground, leading to an untidy, low-scoring affair.

The better team still prevailed though, taking the lead after five minutes thanks to Mikey Burke.

Another 13 minutes elapsed before there was another score, a point from Burke again, as both sides struggled to create adequate chances.

Réalt na Mara were coping with the conditions a lot better than Oylegate-Glenbrien despite their long lay-off since winning the Gorey District title in September.

And they went three in front in the 22nd minute with Gavin Walker finding the range before Oylegate-Glenbrien’s best chance of the half came after a soccer-style dribble allowed Shane Reck a shot for goal, only to be denied by a fine save from Kiran Gigi.

Patrick Fleming stretched the lead to four points before Oylegate-Glenbrien finally got off the mark in the 33rd minute thanks to a fine effort by Tom White, leaving three between the sides at the break.

The eventual winners resumed the scoring seven minutes into the new half when Burke coolly converted a penalty, giving his side a comfortable lead.

Conor Heffernan and Cormac Moore traded scores midway through the half before Dylan Sweeney put his side seven ahead with five minutes left.

A late Oylegate-Glenbrien charge near the end produced a goal by Ciarán Hourihane but they were never going to trouble the winners who now await the winners of Gusserane and Sarsfields in the final.

Réalt na Mara: Kiran Gigi; David Doran, Evan Dunbar, Gavin Morris; Patrick Fleming (0-1), Darren Morris, Tom Sinnott; Cathal Dunbar, Gavin Walker (0-1); Mikey Burke (1-2, 1-0 pen.), Shane Quinn, Cormac Moore (0-1); Eoin Corcoran, Brian O’Connor, Jack Doyle. Subs. - Dylan Sweeney (0-1) for Doyle, Billy Conroy for Quinn.

Oylegate-Glenbrien: Eddie Mernagh; Evan Kelly, Kieran Lambert, Mike Kelly; Ciarán O’Brien, Lee Kehoe, Pa Cullen; Shane Reck, Ciarán Hourihane (1-0); Conor Doyle, Tom White (0-1), Jack Reck; Pierce Murphy, Conor Heffernan (0-1), Barry Dunne. Subs. - Brian Doran for Murphy, Ryan Hill for Dunne, John Reck for O’Brien.

Referee: Derek Murphy (St. Martin’s).