Jacob earns draw
Late free thwarts Glynn-Barntown
GLYNN-BARNTOWN OULART-BALLAGH
RORY JACOB held his nerve to tap over an injury time free and snag a share of the spoils against Glynn-Barntown in the opening round of the Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship in Bellefield on Friday.
A chop on Peter Murphy gave the experienced marksman the chance to bag the draw from the right of the posts, about 40 metres out, and few inside the Enniscorthy venue would have expected any other outcome than the one that transpired.
It needed a cool head to get Oulart-The Ballagh out of a little hole. Glynn-Barntown had given as good as they got for 56 minutes and held a two-point (1-18 to 1-16) lead as this Group B tie ticked into the final few attacks. It’s at this point in a game that every missed chance is magnified.
Jacob quickly responded to the previous Brendan Doyle point to close the gap to one again. However, Mark Fanning trotted up the field and sent a big ‘65 wide in the 58th minute, bringing his long-range dead-ball accuracy down to four successful attempts from eight.
Having combined to score six points between them, both Garrett Sinnott and Murtha Doyle missed difficult chances to tie the contest as the game drifted into added time.
However, Jacob made no mistake with his fifth of the evening to grant Oulart-The Ballagh a draw.
Overall, while neither side will be thrilled about starting their campaign with a share of the spoils, it was probably a fair result. For Oulart-The Ballagh, it’s one point more than they got against St. Martin’s to begin their 2017 championship season.
With three more months before their next outing, it’s impossible to know where either of these two teams really stand. Keith Rossiter’s absence clearly had an effect for Oulart-The Ballagh, but he’ll be back to stabilise things as the championship progresses.
Glynn-Barntown, on the other hand, might have considered themselves even more inconvenienced. With both Michael Doyle and John Leacy absent, a huge part of the spine had been whipped out of their side.
Still, they clearly sensed blood as they went after the game from the off. Michael O’Regan saw a shot blocked by Conor O’Leary in the early exchanges, but a brace of points each from Craig Doyle and Gary Moore still saw them level after the opening quarter.
At the other end, playing with a helping but not dominant wind, Oulart-The Ballagh needed a treble from Des Mythen to keep their side of the scoreboard ticking over. O’Leary saved again when Brendan and Craig Doyle threatened and they proved crucial interventions by the impressive stopper.
Their importance was further emphasised when Oulart-The Ballagh, with their only real goal chance of the half, found the net. A long Billy Dunne delivery caused trouble in the Glynn-Barntown full-back line, and Nicky Kirwan pounced on the loose ball, raced away and dispatched past Fanning.
The ebbs and flows of a Senior hurling game were clearly evident in the second-half. Despite a couple of fine Billy Dunne points, Glynn-Barntown were on top in the third quarter and looked like they might break clear.
A healthy succession of frees was important to their revival. Just two Craig Doyle points sat amongst five dead-balls from Gary Moore and Fanning as the Killurin side moved ahead for the fourth time in the contest at 0-16 to 1-12 after 45 minutes.
After four wides in a row, Oulart-The Ballagh began to find their range. Kirwan, Mythen, Garrett Sinnott and Murtha Doyle all hit the target as their side roared back in front by the 54th minute. Glynn-Barntown, in danger of getting swamped by the growing wave, responded admirably.
Their goal, which came when they were trailing by 1-16 to 0-17, was simple but effective. Pádraig Donnelly launched the ball to the edge of the square where Michael O’Regan won the battle in a crowded goalmouth and tapped home from just a couple of feet out.
Yet Oulart-The BAllagh still found the late Jacob magic to save the day and give themselves a hard-earned point.
They will return in July with a game against Oylegate-Glenbrien, while Glynn-Barntown will look for their first victory against Rathnure.
Glynn-Barntown: Mark Fanning (0-4 frees); Barry Doyle, Jack Fenlon, Pádraig Donnelly; Cian Neville, David Clarke, Kevin Crean; Gary Moore (capt., 0-6, 4 frees), Craig Doyle (05); Shane Wilde, Rowan White (0-1), Alan Cowman; Brendan Doyle (0-1), Michael O’Regan (1-0), Daire Barron (0-1). Subs. - Ger Dempsey for Clarke, temp. (19-20), Fionn Cooney for Wilde (46).
Oulart-The Ballagh: Conor O’Leary; Kevin Nimmo, Barry Kehoe, Anthony Roche; Paul Roche, Kevin Sheridan, Shaun Murphy (capt.); Billy Dunne (0-2), David Redmond; Rory Jacob (0-5, 3 frees), Des Mythen (04), Peter Murphy; Murtha Doyle (0-4), Garrett Sinnott (0-2), Nicky Kirwan (1-1). Subs. - Conor Goff for Dunne, temp. (19-20), Goff for Redmond (45), Peter Sutton for Dunne (48), Martin Og Storey for Kirwan (60).
Referee: Dan Crosby (Kilmore).
THERE WAS a poignant and entirely fitting outcome last week when the inaugural Jack Pettit Memorial hurling tournament was won by a St. Peter’s College team captained by his younger brother, David.
This seven-a-side event was hosted by D.C.U., with the Summerhill school fielding two teams to honour a former pupil who turned in many outstanding displays in the green and white jersey during his teenage years.
St. Peter’s put in a big effort, and their desire to pay tribute to a fine hurler shone though as both sides qualified to contest the final.
As a result they couldn’t lose beforehand, but the team captained by David ensured it was a day to remember by forging victory before he was presented with the fine trophy by his proud parents, Liam and Julie.
While St. Peter’s were disappointed not to make progress in the Leinster Senior hurling championship earlier in the year, this was their second tournament success in recent weeks.
They were also triumphant at an event in U.C.D. when Conall Clancy of Faythe Harriers was selected as the player of the tournament, recording victories against Coláiste Eoin and Kilkenny C.B.S. respectively.