DERBY DELIGHT!
opening score, a Seamus Casey pointed free off the wing, while one minute later Podge Doran lofted over a huge point off the sideline to bring the sides level (0-2 each).
The losers’ goal lived a charmed existence in the ninth minute when Podge Doran had an effort cleared off the line, with the incoming Seamus Casey also seeing his return shot beaten away to safety.
Despite this double setback, Oylegate-Glenbrien continued to attack, adding points through Casey from a 50-metre free and Conor Heffernan with a 50-metre effort off the sideline to lead by 0-4 to 0-2.
However, by the end of the opening quarter the sides were back level through two Barry Murphy pointed frees. After a Casey pointed free had restored his side’s lead, Crossabeg-Ballymurn battled back for points through a Barry Murphy free from distance and Sam Kelly.
Oylegate-Glenbrien secured an inspirational score after 20 minutes. Following a sweeping movement, Conor Heffernan played the ball inside to Jamie Reck who crashed a low shot to the opposite corner of the net, giving his side a 1-5 to 0-6 lead.
Trailing by 1-8 to 0-7 entering the closing minute of the half, Crossabeg-Ballymurn finished with a flourish, adding a point through a Barry Murphy free before Niall Murphy set up David Jackman for a well-executed goal to tie the sides (1-8 each).
However, Seamus Casey had the final say of the half with a pointed free from midfield to leave his side leading by 1-9 to 1-8 at the interval.
Within one minute of the re-start a Barry Murphy 60-metre free had the sides back level, but two Casey points (free and ’65) restored his side’s slender lead.
With Murphy and Casey continuing to share the scores, a David Jackman point evened up the sides once again (1-12 each) with 13 minutes remaining.
With the score failing to inspire his side, they failed to add to their tally as Oylegate-Glenbrien made a determined surge for victory. Accepting the challenge laid down by their opponents, they struck back for quickfire points from Peter Nolan and Robert O’Connor, with further points from a Casey free, and a delighful lift and strike effort from Doran, extending their lead to 1-16 to 1-12.
With the game in added time, Peter Nolan played a ball inside into space for Seamus Casey to crash home a goal from close in as his side continued to push forward in search of scores. Minutes earlier a great double save by ’keeper Mark Dempsey kept out efforts from Casey and substitute Barry Dunne. OREY LAD Conor Levingston has been named by Republic of Ireland Under-19 head coach Tom Mohan in his squad for the forthcoming UEFA Championships qualifying round. The Irish head to Tirana for a testing mini-group when they face Albania, Germany and Gibraltar, with the top two sides progressing to the main qualifying round. Georgia will host the final tournament from July 2 to 15, 2017.
Levingston, the Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder, will be hoping to get game time with three outings in the space of six days, starting on Thursday, October 6, against Albania in Tirana.
Durres is the venue for the tie against Gibraltar on Saturday, and it will also host the meeting with Germany next Tuesday, October 11.
Meanwhile, the continued excellence of Wexford’s Kevin O’Connor has been recognised again with his selection on Noel King’s squad for the UEFA Under-21 Championships qualifier against Serbia in the R.S.C., Waterford, next Friday.
The Republic of Ireland will be hoping to make up for their 3-2 loss to the same opponents in Novi Sad in September, and O’Connor is likely to play a key role.
The ex-Curracloe United player scored for his club, Cork City, in their 5-3 win over Galway United recently. He is one of just three League of Ireland players among the 19-man squad along with clubmate Seán Maguire and Seán Hoare of St. Patrick’s Athletic.
And he also has a second successive FAI Cup final to look forward to against Dundalk or Derry City after the Leesiders beat St. Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday.