Oylegate power past Shelmaliers

OYLEGATE G/BRIEN SHELMALIERS 3-14 1-11

A DOMINANT second-half display saw Oylegate-Glenbrien overcome Shelmaliers in this Greenstar Under-20 Hurling Championship Division 1 opening round tie, in a breezy Hollymount on Sunday.

In a closely-fought first half, the home side opened the scoring in impressive style with Ross Banville, Liam Rockett and Conor Hearne hitting quick points, and they could have doubled that lead only for an outstanding save by Kevin Cosgrave which kept out Banville’s lightning effort.

The visitors had just begun to settle into things after Barry Doyle hit two frees and Jack Reck added another from play, but that was all undone when Conor Hearne reacted fastest after Cosgrave made another fine save, whipping a first -time pull to the net.

The boys in blue didn’t lie down however, and both sides traded scores until the break leaving just the goal between them, with the Shels probably feeling they should have been further ahead having wasted several opportunities in front of goal.

The fifteen minutes after the resumption was the defining period of the game, and after both sides traded scores on two occasions, the eventual winners began to pull away.

Mike Kelly struck two longrange efforts before Fiachre Hourihane linked up well with Tom White and Jack Reck to finish to the net.

Reck added another before Tommy O’Rourke was rewarded for his persistence as he dispossessed the Shels’ defence and hit the roof of the net.

The home side just had too much of a gap to close at this stage, and playing against a stiff breeze was no help, but they managed to trade scores throughout the final quarter until a mix-up in their defence saw a wayward pass fall into their own net, leaving Oylegate-Glenbrien with a reasonably comfortable victory in the end.

Oylegate-Glenbrien: Kevin Cosgrave; Mossy Cosgrave, Niall Parker, Joe Foley; Lee Kehoe, Mike Kelly (0-2), Peter Rowely; Gary Conroy, Jack Reck (0-6, 4 frees, 1 ’65); Pierce Murphy, Tom White, Conor Nolan (02); Barry Doyle (0-3 frees), Tommy O’Rourke (1-0), Fiacre Hourihane (1-1). Subs: Eoghan Herlihy for Kehoe, Evan Kelly for Conroy, Richard Murphy for Murphy.

Shelmaliers: Adam Nolan; James Doyle, Adam Hearne, Adam Kelly; Dan Campbell, Craig Parker, Adam Doyle; Séan Keane-Carroll (0-1), Chris Cowman; Liam Rockett (0-2), Conor Hearne (1-1), Ryan Hanrahan (0-1); Kyle Roche, Niall Hearne, Ross Banville (0-6, 5 frees).

Referee: Damien Donovan (Vols).