The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Glenbeigh/Glencar get the job done
SOMETIMES it’s difficult to go into a game that everybody expects you to win and come out of it after doing yourself justice, but in fairness to Glenbeigh / Glencar they went to Ballyhahill last Saturday and did a competent, professional job against the Limerick champions with their 10 point victory a well deserved result in the end.
That’s not to say that Glenbeigh / Glencar had things all their own way. At times their concentration levels wavered, but this can often happen when a team is so vastly superior to their opponents.
Glenbeigh / Glencar shot 11 wides in the game, if they had brought their shooting boots with them the scoreline could have been even more comprehensive. The Ballyhahill pitch was pretty heavy and the pitch dimensions a good bit tighter than what Glenbeigh / Glencar would be used to in Kerry.
This slightly worried the Mid Kerry side’s travelling support, however, it emerged that Glenbeigh / Glencar were physically stronger, fitter and more skilful than their Limerick counterparts.
Gerald Griffins did start well and had an early point from wing-forward Aidan Ryan after 50 seconds but the next 15 minutes of the game was completely dominated by Glenbeigh / Glencar as Gerald Griffins struggled to get the ball beyond the half way line.
Gavan O’Grady helped himself to four points (one free) and the stylish Daniel Griffin popped over three lovely efforts as the Glenbeigh/Glencar forwards were ravenous for possession.
The Glenbeigh / Glencar goal came in the ninth minute from Danny O’Sullivan, when a superb passing move involving Pa Kilkenny, O’Sullivan and Tommy Cahill, saw Cahill’s goal-bound shot crash off the crossbar, and with goalkeeper Sean Lynch beaten, O’Sullivan showed a good poachers instinct to follow up and finish the ball into an empty net.
In fairness to Gerald Griffins they kept plugging away and put over two points in-a-row from Paul Brouder and Aidan Ryan to give them some glimmer of hope. Glenbeigh / Glencar, inspired by the energetic play of Pa Kilkenny and Stephen O’Sullivan, continued to attack with menace, and Sean Lynch was forced to make a superb save from Kieran Courtney.
Soon afterwards Darran O’Sullivan’s goal-bound effort went just outside the post as Glenbeigh/ Glencar grew increasingly wasteful shooting five wides in-a-row.
Tommy Cahill stopped the rot with a point on the stroke of halftime, after a strong run and pass by Darran O’Sullivan, to settle Glenbeigh / Glencar once more and leave them 1-8 to 0-3 up at the break.
Gerald Griffins needed a good start to the second half and were first to score with points from Tommy Griffin (‘45) and Micheal Thornton, who really should have done better with a goal at his mercy.
Griffin, who was one of Gerald Griffins better performers, pointed another free and suddenly Glenbeigh / Glencar looked vulnerable with their lead down to five points, 1-8 to 0-6 with 39 minutes gone.
Whatever hope the Limerick junior champions had of causing an upset disappeared a minute late when robust midfielder Colm McSweeney was dismissed for his second yellow card, after a high tackle on Fergal Griffin.
O’Grady punished this indiscipline with his third pointed free and substitute Bernard Murphy followed up with a lovely curled effort a minute later to push Glenbeigh / Glencar 1-11 to 0-6 ahead.
O’Grady then scored the point of the game as he took on several Gerald Griffins defenders, and withstood some very heavy challenges, to put over a sublime score after a 50-metre run. A brilliant score from a class act.
Glenbeigh / Glencar manager Aidan O’Shea decided that it was time to give a number of his panellists some valuable game time as the contest appeared to be drawing to its inevitable conclusion.
There was still enough time left for O’Grady to strike over his 8th point of the game in the 60th minute, this time electing to take a 21 metre free with his unfamiliar right foot.
Soon afterwards referee David Murnane from Cork blew the full time whistle, and Glenbeigh / Glencar were safely through to the Munster Junior final on December 4 in Mallow, where their opponents will be West Cork side Gabriel Rangers. GLENBEIGH/GLENCAR: Rory O’Connor, Sean Roche, Jeremiah Hoare, Ciaran Boyle, Jack Brosnan, Pa Kilkenny, Stephen O’Sullivan, Colin McGillycuddy, Fergal Griffin, Danny O’Sullivan (1-0), Darran O’Sullivan, Tommy Cahill (0-1), Kieran Courtney, Gavan O’Grady (0-8, 4f, 1 ‘45), Daniel Griffin (0-3) Subs: Bernard Murphy (0-1) for Danny O’Sullivan, 41, Caolim Teahan for T Cahill, 50, Padraig Griffin for F Griffin, 52, Vincent Hoare for J Brosnan 53, Shane Riordan for S O’Sullivan, 53, Leon Seidler for Darran O’Sullivan, 56 GERALD Griffins: Sean Lynch, Brian Long, Christy McSweeney, Cathal Commane, Brendan Stack, Paudie O’Connell, Jim Liston, Colm McSweeney, Tommy Griffin (0-2, 1f, 1 ‘45), Aidan Ryan (0-2f), Paul Brouder (0-1f), Sean O’Connor, Micheal Thornton (0-1), Brian Scanlon, Brian Herbert Subs: Gerald Stack for B Herbert, 15, Diarmuid Noonan for B Stack, 35, Jamie Long for A Ryan, 45, Dara Noonan for J Long, b/c 50, Martin McSweeney for B Scanlon, 58 REFEREE: David Murnane (Cork)