Oylegate survive siege

OYLEGATE-G’BRIEN SHAMROCKS

OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN survived a late Shamrocks siege to seal their third consecutive win in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship Group A in St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday.

The eventual victors were sitting pretty with an eleven-point lead going into the final quarter, after bagging two goals early in the second-half.

But, they seemed to fatigue coming into the closing stages and conceded 2-4 to this dogged Shamrocks outfit who suddenly came to life, creating a dramatic finish to the game.

The opening half was a lack-lustre affair for long periods, with Oylegate-Glenbrien put ahead by an early Pierce Murphy goal.

The game’s chief marksmen, Fiachra Hourihane and John O’Connor, were trading scores throughout the half before Philip Freeman punished Trevor Moulton for misjudging a high ball, hitting the net from close range to level matters.

O’Connor continued to pick off scores, but his side were four behind at the break after Peter Nolan linked up with Hourihane and Marty Kelly to hit the net, before Hourihane hit another beauty just before half-time.

The leaders had the perfect start to the second-half when Eoghan Herlihy hit the net after 20 seconds following a sweeping move involving several players.

And, when they added points from Eddie Mernagh, Seamus Casey and Hourihane, and a second goal from Pierce Murphy midway through the half, it looked like the game was over as a contest.

But, amazingly, Shamrocks went on to hit the next six scores, including a two well-taken goals by Colin Sheehan and Jack Carroll, and points from Robert Moorehouse, Barry Dobbs and the accurate John O’Connor.

It was all to play for now and Shamrocks came agonisingly close to levelling matters when John O’Connor was presented with a late chance, only to see his shot excellently kept out by Trevor Moulton.

Hourihane then traded scores with Carroll, securing a quarter-final spot for his side, with Shamrocks still in search of their first win.

Indeed, the losers of their tie with Davidstown-Courtnacuddy will be in the relegation final.

Oylegate-Glenbrien: Trevor Moulton; Lee Kehoe, Bryan McCormack, Niall Parker; Conor Heffernan, Shane Reck, Daithí O’Mahoney; Mark Kavanagh, Eoghan Herlihy (1-1); Seamus Casey (0-1), Marty Kelly (0-2, 1 free), Pierce Murphy (2-1); Fiachra Hourihane (0-5), Peter Nolan (1-0), Eddie Mernagh (0-1). Subs. - Damien Reck for Parker, Jack Reck for Casey, Fergal Doran for Kavanagh, Evan Kelly for Mernagh.

Shamrocks: Colin Sheehan (1-0); Reece Dunne, Anthony Wallace, Matthew Canavan; Conor Kelly, Brandon O’Connor, Philip Freeman (1-0); Seán Wildes (0-1), John O’Connor (0-6, 4 frees); Barry Dobbs (0-1), Robert Moorehouse (0-1), Jack Carroll (1-2); Jack Moorehouse, Conor O’Neill, Niall Thorpe. Subs. - Emmet Quirke for Canavan, Canavan for J. Moorehouse.

Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard).