Glynn-Barntown’s goals too much for Gusserane
GLYNN-BARNTOWN GUSSERANE 4-7 0-7
A FULL 120 days after they lost the last game they played in the Tom Doyle Supplies Senior football championship, Glynn-Barntown bounced back by goaling their way past Gusserane in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday.
That Group B defeat to champions Starlights proved Glynn-Barntown had plenty of work to do if they want to go one step further than their 2016 run to the final.
Of course, in that game Gusserane pipped them to the title but the New Ross District side look a long stretch away from that level now.
In slippery conditions neither of these teams hit top form but the Killurin-based side showed a greater cutting edge in front of goal. It started in the eighth minute when Robert Dempsey was fouled for a penalty, just after latching on to a breaking ball close to goal.
Mark Fanning stepped up to take the kick and drove it high to the top left corner, giving Micheál Ryan absolutely no chance. Aaron Breen kicked a point to made it 1-1 to nil against the breeze before Gusserane responded.
The boys in dark blue played with a superb intensity at this point but without Seán Ryan they were lacking a little something in attacking areas. They did kick five points in a row in a twelve-minute spell, with Gavin Sheehan knocking over the pick of them to make it 0-5 to 1-1.
The problems soon began for Gusserane, as they didn’t score again until Mark O’Neill hit the target in the 58th minute. In the meantime Glynn-Barntown controlled the game, and Fanning levelled the scores from the deck three minutes before the interval.
Yet it was two goals in as many minutes before half-time that did serious damage. Michael Doyle kicked a clever ball to Robert Dempsey who came short, beat his man on the turn, raced away and sent a stunning finish to the top corner of the net from fully 20 metres out.
From Gusserane’s point of view, the third Glynn-Barntown goal was sloppy but from the victors’ side of things it was incredible persistence from Brendan Doyle to steal the ball from Kenneth Cahill close to goal and poke home to make it 3-2 to 0-5 at the break.
The second-half was a procession, Alan Cowman flashed over the bar to put three goals between the side heading into the final quarter.
However, the game was well up when Rowan White’s ball in skidded off the surface, past the reaching Fanning and nestled in the corner of the Gusserane net (4-5 to 0-5).
Glynn-Barntown cantered over the finish line and will book a quarter-final spot with victory over St. James’ on Friday in Hollymount.
Gusserane have what, in essence, amounts to a free shot against Shelmaliers on Saturday, knowing that a win against Taghmon-Camross in their final game will almost certainly be enough for a last eight berth.
Glynn-Barntown: Richie Ryan; David Clarke, Pádraig Donnelly, Stephen Lyne; James Stafford, John Leacy (capt.), Alan Cowman (0-1); Aaron Breen (0-1), Michael Doyle; Fionn Cooney, Barry Doyle, Rioghan Crosbie; Mark Fanning (1-5, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen., 0-1 ‘45), Brendan Doyle (1-0), Robert Dempsey (1-0). Subs. - Rowan White (1-0) for Lyne (31), Jack Fenlon for M. Doyle, temp. (42-44), Dylan Lyne for Barry Doyle, inj. (47), Fenlon for M. Doyle (49).
Gusserane: Micheál Ryan; Liam Dillon (capt.), Kenneth Cahill, Jack O’Connor; Tommy Ryan (0-1), Mark O’Neill (0-1), Gavin Sheehan; John Roche (0-1), Shane Cullen (0-1); Eoin Ryan, Páraic Conway (0-2), Adrian Redmond; Jamie Cooney, Killian Kehoe, Sam Wall. Subs. - Jack Burford for Cullen (31), Robbie Corcoran for E. Ryan (49), Tom Foran for Cooney, black card (60+1).
Referee: Shane Quinn (Réalt na Mara).