Casey’s extra-time goals seal hard-earned victory
OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN 6-9 GLYNN-B’TOWN 2-14 (AET)
TWO GOALS from Seamus Casey in extra-time shot Oylegate-Glenbrien into the semi-finals of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship as they saw off Glynn-Barntown in an exciting encounter in Hollymount on Saturday.
There was drama from start to finish as Glynn-Barntown raced to an eight-point lead in the early stages of the game.
They had increased this advantage to nine shortly after the resumption, but then the eventual winners suddenly came to life, hitting four goals to eventually draw level in added time.
With the daylight fading fast, it was becoming difficult to see, but the referee, Francis Neville, ensured extra-time was played.
And, when it got under way, Seamus Casey seemed to be coping just fine as he struck two goals in the opening two minutes, giving Gylnn-Barntown no chance of coming back.
The game got off to a flyer, with Daniel Carroll looking majestic in midfield, hitting the net with a wonderful individual effort before adding two points and spraying ball all over the field.
His team-mates made good use of this with Jack Brazill and Ian Moran finding the range.
Oylegate-Glenbrien looked sluggish but eventually got going when Casey found the net with a tidy finish.
But, Glynn-Barntown were in fine form and with another pass from Carroll, Ian Moran found the net to give his side a handsome half-time lead.
It was a different Oylegate-Glenbrien side that took the field in the second-half, and with Podge Doran now in front of goal they looked dangerous with every attack. Doran was fouled for a penalty which Casey converted before Doran added another to reduce the gap to six.
Aaron Kehoe and Brazill replied but when Casey and Doran linked up for Doran’s second, Glynn-Barntown were under pressure with ten minutes remaining.
Conor Heffernan and Carroll traded scores before Marty Kelly hit a monstrous 50-yard effort in added time to level matters at 4-6 to 2-12.
The momentum was definitely with the eventual winners going into extra-time, and they had a goal after 20 seconds when Casey crept inside for a cool finish.
And, when he added his fourth two minutes later, there was no way back for Glynn-Barntown, as Oylegate-Glenbrien proceeded to the last four.
Oylegate-Glenbrien: Trevor Moulton; Lee Kehoe, Mike Kelly, Robert O’Connor; Ciarán Hourihane (0-1), Shane Reck, Jamie Reck; Tom White, Eoghan Herlihy; Jack Reck, Conor Heffernan (0-4), Marty Kelly (0-1); Fiachra Hourihane (0-1), Seamus Casey (4-2, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees), Pierce Murphy. Subs. - Podge Doran (2-0) for Jack Reck (28), Fergal Doran for Herlihy (43), Damien Reck for Murphy (56), Conor Doye for D. Reck (65), Eddie Mernagh for Murphy (70).
Glynn-Barntown: Adam O’Leary; Shane Codd, Conor Clarke, David Roche; Matthew Banville, Garbhan MacCormack, Shane Doyle; Daniel Carroll (1-4, 0-3 frees), Cormac Rowe; Daire Barron, Aaron Kehoe (0-4 frees), Pádraic Wafer; Jack Brazill (0-4, 1 free), Kevin Mahoney, Ian Moran (1-1). Subs. - Liam Berry (0-1) for Clarke (54), Frankie Hynes for Brazill (56), Matthew Joyce for Barron (56).
Referee: Francis Neville (Shelmaliers).