Doyle in deadeye form
GLYNN-BARNTOWN NAOMH EANNA 2-18 1-9
THE ASSURED ball striking of Matt Doyle propelled Glynn-Barntown into the Permanent TSB Junior ‘A’ hurling championship final after a straightforward 2-18 to 1-9 victory against a Naomh Eanna side which never got going in Monamolin on Saturday.
In fact, Doyle’s contribution of 1-8 made him the stand-out figure in a forward unit that blossomed in the sunshine, with Matt Joyce ably assisting him with a haul of 1-4, and two more of their forwards scoring at least twice from play.
In comparison, just one of Gorey’s starting attacking sextet worked the scoreboard, with John Doyle bundling to the net from close range right on the stroke of half-time which helped reduce Naomh Eanna’s deficit to 1-11 to 1-4 by that stage.
The movement and decision-making from Glynn-Barntown proved a step above the losers throughout, and they surged 0-4 to 0-1 to the good after ten minutes, with Doyle registering twice, Aaron Kehoe latching onto a puck-out to find the range, and Cormac Cooney pointing from J.J. Doyle’s assist.
Joe O’Connor’s dependability from frees was Naomh Eanna’s sole sustenance in that first-half, and when Matt Doyle had his shot at goal saved on 17 minutes, Joyce bounced the rebound to the net to open up considerable daylight.
The goalscorer also pointed from the corner shortly before Kehoe knocked over his second as Glynn-Barntown were in control by half-time.
Joyce and substitute Gearóid Cullen swapped points when play resumed, while a purposeful run from Seamus O’Donnell teed up Cullen for another point soon after.
But they only scored once more from play before the end, when another replacement, Seán Delaney, acrobatically connected mid-air to make it 1-17 to 1-9 with twelve minutes remaining.
Gorey also introduced recent Wolverhampton Wanderers player Conor Levingston down the home straight, but there wasn’t enough time for him to make a lasting impression.
Meanwhile, Glynn-Barntown booked their ticket to the decider in some style, with Doyle converting his sixth free on 59 minutes, before making some room for himself on the way to tucking away an insurance goal some four minutes into injury time.
They will now face Wexford District rivals Kilmore in a tasty looking final later this month.
Glynn-Barntown: Tommy Kehoe; Matt Banville, P.J. Carley, David Roche; Ger Dempsey, Cormac Rowe, Shane Doyle; Rioghan Crosbie (0-1), Jack Brazzil; Aaron Kehoe (0-2), Matt Doyle (1-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Kevin Mahoney; J.J. Doyle (capt., 0-1), Matt Joyce (1-4), Cormac Cooney (0-2). Subs. - Conor Clarke for S. Doyle (45), Colm Moore for J.J. Doyle (53), Jamie O’Shea for Mahoney (55), Paschal Carley for A. Kehoe (60).
Naomh Eanna: Darren Kelly; Tom Stafford, Simon Doran, Daniel Sunderland; Evan O’Dwyer, Kenneth Byrne, Nathan Byrne; Joseph O’Connor (0-6 frees), John O’Brien; Michael Murphy, John Doyle (1-0), Seamus O’Donnell; Michael Bernie (joint capt.), Niall Kirwan (joint capt.), Conor Hughes. Subs. - Gearóid Cullen (0-2) for Kirwan (26), Shane Crosbie for N. Byrne (HT), Seán Delaney (0-1) for Doyle (40), Cillian Donohoe for Murphy (46), Conor Levingston for Bernie (55).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).