O’Neill hits 1-7 from play

GUSSERANE GLYNN-BARNTOWN 3-16 3-12

MARK O’NEILL was in fine form as he led Gusserane to a wellearned win over Glynn-Barntown in this Greenstar Under-20 hurling championship Division 2A tie in Killurin on Wednesday.

The big full-forward couldn’t be stopped as he hit an impressive 1-7 from play.

He was instrumental in firing his side in front, and then in seeing off a stern second-half challenge from the home side.

The eventual winners were always in charge, holding an eleven-point lead at half-time, but they had to survive a late assault from their opponents who consistently reduced the gap in the second period.

They raced to a seven-point lead in the opening quarter largely thanks to a well-taken goal from Mark O’Neill before he set up Kevin O’Donohoe for their side’s second.

It took a sensational individual effort from corner-back, Ryan Long, to inspire Glynn-Barntown to life, as they began to trade scores with Gusserane, but another blow was dealt just before the break when Gavin Sheehan finished off a 50-yard run with a cracking shot to the net.

The home side needed a big half and to their credit they began to match the eventual victors, with Jamie O’Shea accurate from placed balls and Cormac Cooney creating panic as he set up Dylan Lyne for a major before reducing the gap to five with one of his own ten minutes after the re-start.

Martin Stafford and Mark O’Neill kept the visitors comfortable with the next four scores as they looked to finish off the game.

But Glynn-Barntown, putting their sweeper to good use, continued to cause problems, and when the troublesome Cooney struck his second goal with five minutes remaining it looked like the impossible could happen.

However, led by O’Neill, Gusserane held on for their second win of the campaign which leaves them behind Dunbrody Gaels on the final table, and two points above Glynn-Barntown.

Bizarrely, the Horeswood and St. James’ combination lead the way on six points even though they haven’t played a game, as the other three contestants in the group - Gusserane, Glynn-Barntown and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown - gave them walkovers.

Gusserane: Micheál Ryan; Donal Kinsella, Tommy Ryan, Micheál Hennessy; Jamie Sheehan, Mark Kehoe, Eoin Codd; Gavin Sheehan (1-3, 0-2 frees), Jack Culleton; Martin Stafford (0-3), Sam Wall, Kevin O’Donohoe (1-1); Oisín Foran (0-2), Mark O’Neill (1-7), Seán Maher. Sub. - Dylan Ryan for Wall.

Glynn-Barntown: Michael Kearney; Ryan Long (0-1), David Roche, Daniel O’Regan; Michael Moran-Curran, Cormac Rowe, Bill Joyce; Matthew Banville, Jamie O’Shea (0-7, 6 frees, 1 ’65); Garbhan McCormack, Shane Doyle, Dylan Lyne (1-0); Darragh Nolan (0-1), Richie Ryan, Cormac Cooney (2-2). Subs. - Conor Clarke for Long, Jack Brazzill (01) for O’Regan, Adam O’Leary for McCormack.

Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).