Mark’s the hero
Goalie grabs Glynn winner
GLYNN-BARNTOWN BLACKWATER 2-5 1-4
GOALKEEPER MARK Kavanagh was the Glynn-Barntown hero as his goal in the last ten minutes proved critical as they overturned a half-time deficit to win the New Ross Standard Under-13 Division 1 hurling shield in Ballymurn.
The Killurin side were trailing by 1-4 to 0-3 at the interval but whipped up the intensity after the break to drive clear and give them some deserved silverware after their hard-fought loss against Rapparees in the football equivalent.
This was a gutsy, battling performance from both sides on a heavy pitch.
The champions took a little while to find their top form and that was down to Blackwater’s strong showing in the first period.
Joe Rossiter gave the Over The Water boys an early lead with a classy point, but Patrick Berry replied and Liam Cooney added a sensational effort from the right wing as Glynn-Barntown moved 0-2 to 0-1 ahead.
Rossiter got his side back on level terms but Cooney registered again to make it 3-2.
It was at this stage that Blackwater had their purple patch, as Eugene Clarke scored two cracking points from play and Caolan Salmon drilled home a superb goal after great work in the build-up by Ciarán Byrne and Barry Whelan.
While Blackwater led by 1-4 to 0-3 at the break, they found the excellent Glynn-Barntown defence an impossible nut to crack in the second period.
Berry’s free got his side within a major before substitute Mark Walsh got away on the left to drill home the levelling goal.
The net-rippler kicked Glynn-Barntown into another gear and, after a spell of pressure, Kavanagh managed to get a 25-metre free over a crowded goal-line.
When Cillian Ferriter was fouled, the talented ’keeper trotted back up the field and clinched the shield with a perfect dead-ball.
Glynn-Barntown: Mark Kavanagh (1-1 frees); Josh Donovan (capt.), Evan Sweeney, Jack Sinnott; Joe Gilhooley, Kevin Rowe, Ben Redmond; Michael Furlong, Colin Carley; Cillian Ferriter, Shane Donovan, Patrick Berry (0-2 frees); Craig Laffan, Cian Carty, Liam Cooney (0-2). Subs. (rolling) - Mark Walsh (1-0), Jack McNamara, Liam O’Reilly, Paul Denton, Rory Gallagher, Tom Deevy, Fionn Nolan, also Cathal Sinnott.
Blackwater: Nathan Moran; Callum Corrigan, Adam O’Connor, Seán O’Brien; Ultan O’Reilly, Eugene Clarke (capt., 0-2), Tristan Cashe; Joe Rossiter (0-2, 1 free), Ronan Malanowski; Darragh Byrne, Jamie Lambert, Aidan Malanowski; Ciarán Byrne, Caolan Sammon (1-0), Barry Whelan. Subs. (rolling) - Denis Dempsey, Callum Mooney, Callum Byrne, also Philip Byrne.
Referee: Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien).
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN ST. JOSEPH’S
WILLIAM MURPHY and Jack Purcell netted injury-time goals to fire Crossabeg-Ballymurn past a gutsy St. Joseph’s side to New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 3 shield glory in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
The boys in green and white had battered the opposition goal for most of the final quarter, but an incredible defensive effort from the Bishopswater club somehow kept their opponents at bay right into additional time.
However, their resistance was shattered when Murphy pinged the net after a sensational team build-up that involved David McCarthy, Purcell and Niall Cullen.
Then, with their opponents shattered, Purcell caught a long Ross Walker ball in and dispatched past Corey O’Rourke to wrap up the win.
St. Joseph’s were probably the better side in the first-half. With Shane Curran repelling the Crossabeg-Ballymurn advances, Ryan Gavin giving an exhibition of aerial play, and Kaylem Harnett weaving his way through to create scores, they went in at the interval ahead.
A Liam Dempsey major and a fisted Adam O’Leary goal had given them a 2-0 to 0-1 lead.
Walker’s goal, plus scores by Rory Davis, Matthew Bishop, McCarthy and Conor O’Brien, drew Crossabeg-Ballymurn level, but Harnett’s late point ensured St. Joseph’s led by 2-3 to 1-5 at half-time.
The Wexford town boys looked to be making a break for it when Dempsey caught Aaron Doyle’s ball in and dispatched past Cillian O’Toole, but they came under intense pressure as David McCarthy chipped away to get his side within one (3-4 to 1-9).
Harnett looked to have settled St. Joseph’s down with his converted free in the first minute of added time, but there was still a huge twist to come as Murphy and Purcell pounced to give Crossabag-Ballymurn the shield.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Cillian O’Toole; Evan O’Leary, Adam Murphy (capt.), Conor Wycherley; Pearce Doyle, Anthony O’Connor, Seán Hennessy; Niall Cullen, David McCarthy (0-5 frees); Matthew Bishop (0-1), William Murphy (1-1), Conor O’Brien (0-1); Rory Davis (0-1), Ross Walker (1-0), Ryan Doyle. Subs. (rolling) - Jack Purcell (1-0), Jack Redmond, Jack Halpin, also Jake Roche, Dermot Berry, Ben Redmond, Corran Murphy, Robin Hawkins.
St. Joseph’s: Corey O’Rourke; Darragh Holmes, Shane Curran, Seán McCleane; Lee Byrne, Brandon Stafford, Jamie Barnes; Cian Whelan, Ryan Gavin (0-1 free); Aaron Doyle, Dean Hillis, Charlie Lawlor; Adam O’Leary (1-0), Kaylem Harnett (0-5, 2 frees), Liam Dempsey (2-0). Subs. (rolling) - Cillian Whelan, also Jack Clare, Dion Smith, Kevin Roche, Callum Fowler, Conor Shortall, James Kirby, Jay Redmond.
Referee: Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown-Castledockrell).