BRILLIANT BLUES
Oylegate-Glenbrien hammer Rathnure
TURNING IN a commanding second-half display, Oylegate-Glenbrien breezed past a disappointing Rathnure side in this Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship Group B game at Innovate Wexford Park on Tuesday.
Inspired by a dominant Damien Reck at centre-back, Oylegate-Glenbrien produced a near-flawless second 30 minutes. They were rarely troubled throughout that spell as they totally outclassed a less than interested Rathnure outfit.
Rathnure had started the game quite promisingly as they were taking the challenge to their opponents, with few in the crowd envisaging what was about to unfold.
Suddenly though, the challenge of the Blackstairs men began to crumble, leading to an embarrassing second-half display.
Rathnure could have few complaints with the eventual result, although a couple of decisions crucially went against them.
In contrast to their opponents, they showed little appetite for the challenge on offer, particularly in the second-half when their challenge crumbled to such an extent that they were leaderless and more surprisingly lacking effort during this period
Those factors would suggest they have a long, long way to go before becoming a serious hurling force into the future.
Rathnure got a pasting, so much so that it must have hurt a lot. It will take some time for that hurt to go away, so their next round games will be interesting, as it will test the mettle not just of the team management, but also the players.
Seamus Casery and Seán O’Connor landed frees through the opening stages, and Rathnure led by 0-4 to 0-3 after ten minutes.
Three minutes later, Rathnure received a real boost when their tackling and energy forced their opponents into a defensive mistake, paving the way for Rory Higgins to finish with a splendid shot to the net, giving them a 1-4 to 0-3 lead.
Still trailing by 1-5 to 0-4, Oylegate-Glenbrien received a crucial break after Rathnure full-back Eoin Boggan was clearly fouled, leaving Podge Doran to power a shot on goal that was saved by Dermot Flynn.
However, Daithí O’Mahoney was on hand to fire the loose ball to the net, reducing the deficit to one point (1-5 to 1-4).
The eventual winners followed with three quickfire points through Jack Reck, Doran and Conor Heffernan, after which they received a 24th-minute break.
A long Damien Reck effort dropped agonisingly under the crossbar, but the umpires adjudged ’keeper Flynn to have stepped back over the line on fielding the ball. A goal was awarded, a score that sent them on to an eventual 2-11 to 1-6 interval lead.
With the assistance of a slight breeze, one expected Rathnure to step up their challenge, but this quickly evaporated.
Within one minute of the restart, their opponents were awarded a penalty following a tussle for possession in a crowded goalmouth, with referee Brian O’Leary making the decision from distance.
Podge Doran dispatched the subsequent penalty to the net, despite ‘keeper Flynn getting his hurley to the low shot, but he was unable to keep it out.
With the Rathnure challenge disappearing, as they only offered token resistance thereafter, the winners’ dominance was best summed up after 48 minutes when Damien Reck initiated a move from deep in his own defence.
He was involved a second time, along with three other players, setting up Jamie Reck to finish to the net from the left of the posts for a magnificent goal, and one of the highlights of this almost flawless display from the winners.
From there to the finish it was only a matter of time being played out, although to their credit the Oylegate-Glenbrien crew continued to play quality hurling against by that stage feeble opposition.
Oylegate-Glenbrien: John Foley; Robbie O’Connor, Michael Heffernan, Bryan McCormack; Mark Kavanagh, Demien Reck (1-1, 0-1 free), Mike Kelly (0-1); Fergal Doran (0-1), Shane Reck; Daithí O’Mahoney (1-0), Jamie Reck (1-1), Conor Heffernan (0-1); Jack Reck (0-1), Podge Doran (15, 1-0 pen.), Seamus Casey (0-8 frees). Subs. - Conor Nolan for Jamie Reck (49), Fiachra Hourihane for C. Heffernan (56), Peter Rowley for O’Mahoney (60).
Rathnure: Dermot Flynn; Paddy Whiteley, Eoin Boggan, Podge Doyle; Cathal O’Connor, Brian Quigley (0-3, 2 frees), Eoin Higgins (0-1); Declan Foley, Aidan Redmond; Shane Lawlor, James Tobin, Micheál O’Connor; Seán O’Connor (0-3 frees), Michael Redmond (0-2), Rory Higgins (1-1). Subs. - Richie Flynn for M. O’Connor (HT), Denis Maher for Foley (40), Seánie Redmond for Tobin (45).
Referee: Brian O’Leary (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).