Blues strike back
Oylegate-Glenbrien hit late winner
OYLEGATE-G’BRIEN VOLUNTEERS 5-7 4-7
OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN staged a dramatic fightback to snatch a crucial victory against Volunteers in the Wexford People Minor football championship at Páirc Charman on Monday of last week.
With the sides so evenly matched in Roinn 1, every win is vital in the race for the knockout stages and this could prove to be a critical one for the Enniscorthy District side. As the game ticked to 60 minutes they were two points down to the John Street boys but things changed with one great move.
It started in midfield with Tom White and continued down the throat of the Vols defence, with Jack Reck and Gary Conroy also involved in getting the ball to Michael Kinsella-Shiggins on the right of goal. There was still plenty to do but the wing-forward was cool, smashing high past Aaron Kinsella.
The major put Oylegate-Glenbrien 5-5 to 4-7 ahead and broke the Volunteers. Ryan Hill soon kicked an injury-time point and the reliable Danny Ryan added a dead-ball to move the victors level at the top of the Roinn 1B table with two group games left to play.
A dramatic end and the entertaining 45 minutes that preceded it were not exactly anticipated in a ridiculous first quarter of an hour that saw players come and go, to the sideline, as far as the dressing-room, to fetch gum-shields. Given how long some of these lads take to get their hair ready for the team picture, you might think they would like to preserve their teeth.
Oylegate-Glenbrien made a break for it when things started to settle. Joe Dunne netted after a quick free put him clear and Kevin Cosgrave followed with a major moments later. However, Volunteers finished the half on the front foot.
Wexford F.C. Under-17 Reece Murphy raced away to goal in the 21st minute and Luke Dowdall glided home an inch-perfect shot less than 60 seconds later to give their side a 2-5 to 2-2 interval advantage.
It was nip and tuck for a while after the change-around but the Vols seemed to take control when Jack Kavanagh smacked a stunning shot in off the crossbar. Oylegate-Glenbrien re-grouped and pulled within a point (3-6 to 3-5) when Cosgrave netted his second major.
Again the Wexford town club hit the front after Seán Murphy lofted over Peter Rowley to the top corner of the Oylegate-Glenbrien net. Yet Kinsella-Shiggins replied in kind at the other end and provided the critical fifth goal smack-bang on 60 minutes to win the day.
Oylegate-Glenbrien: Peter Rowley; Tómas Cosgrave, Niall Parker, Richard Kelly; Gary Conroy, Mike Kelly (0-1), Conor Nolan; Joe Whelan, Danny Ryan (0-4, 3 frees); Michael Kinsella-Shiggins (2-0), Jack Reck, Ryan Hill (0-1); Kevin Cosgrave (20), Jim Moulton, Joe Dunne (1-0). Subs. - Adam Gethings for Moulton (2), Tom White (capt., 0-1) for Whelan (3), Whelan for Ryan (5), Ryan for Whelan (8), Whelan for Kelly (13), Kelly for Whelan (50), Moulton for Gethings (54).
Volunteers: Aaron Kinsella; Cian Kehoe, Jason Moore, Seán Crosbie; Eoin Reck, Cian Rossiter, Dion Murphy (0-1); Brian Deeny (0-1), Ben McMahon; Luke Dowdall (1-0), Jack O’Leary (capt., 0-5, 3 frees), Ryan Busher; Reece Murphy (1-0), Lee Moran, Finnian Coughlan. Subs. - Jack Kavanagh (1-0) for McMahon, inj. (14), Eoin Foley for Coughlan (31), Seán Murphy (1-0) for Moran (41), also T.J. Cousins, Chris Glover.
Referee: James Flood (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown).