STARS SHINE
Goals galore as Glynn lose
STARLIGHTS GLYNN-BARNTOWN 7-7 4-7
STARLIGHTS out-goaled a gallant Glynn-Barntown to take the New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 1 shield in a thrilling game in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
The Bellefield boys were indebted to a fantastic performance from the glue-handed Liam Kenny. Almost everything that went the full-forward’s way was hauled in and dispatched with the minimum of fuss in a superb show of hand-eye co-ordination.
Not that the hotshot did all the work himself, as in a fast-paced, end-to-end exciting encounter a host of Starlights players reached top form. From powerful captain, Keane Murphy, and youngster Ryan Donohoe through to the talented Kian Dwyer, everyone chipped in.
This type of exciting contest is only possible when a second team plays their part. Glynn-Barntown gave it a serious go from the first whistle.
They are a fantastic side to watch, full of commitment and attacking mentality, but they came up against a Starlights side in top form.
After Fionn Nolan saved Kenny’s shot, Dwyer fired in an early major from the rebound. Mark Walsh netted at the other end and Shane Donovan picked off a couple of points but Starlights began to build their lead.
Kenny notched his first couple of goals while Kevin Barron, Jamie Pepper, Tom Cash-O’Brien and Donohoe all raised white flags to put the Enniscorthy town club 3-6 to 1-3 to the good at the interval.
Glynn-Barntown needed a fast start to the second-half and it was provided by Patrick Berry. The wing-forward notched 2-3 as his team closed within a goal at the end of the third quarter (4-6 to 3-6).
However, Kenny (two) and Donohoe netted in the final quarter, trumping a late Shane Donovan goal to give Starlights the shield with a little to spare.
Starlights: James Fanning; Fionn O’Reilly, Zach Creane, Danny Kervick; Darren Murphy, Keane Murphy (capt., 0-1 ’45), Evan Horan; Cian O’Connor, Tom Cash-O’Brien (0-1); Ryan Donohoe (1-2), Jamie Pepper (0-1), Kian Dwyer (2-0); Kevin Barron (0-1), Liam Kenny (4-1, 0-1 free), Seán Hyland. Subs. (rolling) - John Miller, Jack Canavan, Calum McVeigh, Thomas Cummins, Jack Leacy, Thomas Nolan, Lachlann O’Neill, Brennan O’Neill.
Glynn-Barntown: Fionn Nolan; Josh Donovan, Jack Sinnott, Cian Carty; Liam Cooney, Kevin Rowe (capt.), Joe Gilhooley; Cillian Ferriter, Shane Donovan (1-2); Patrick Berry (2-5, 0-3 frees), Michael Furlong, Jack McNamara; Mark Walsh (1-0), Evan Sweeney, Craig Laffan. Subs. (rolling) - Mark Kavanagh, Ben Redmond, Liam O’Reilly, Cathal Sinnott, Tristan Cuddihy, Tom Deevey.
Referee: John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue).