Glenbeigh/Glencar make the numbers count to break Rock’s stubborn resistence

SHADES of the 1983 All-Ireland Football Final when Dublin finished with 12 men on the field against Galway’s 14, but there were two important differences between that game and last Sunday’s All-Ireland Club JFC decider where the numbers at the end of the match were identical.

First, unlike that ’83 final when a football match threatened to break out amidst the fighting, last Sunday’s contest was not a dirty game by any barometer, despite Jerome Henry brandishing four red cards. And second, on this occasion, the 14 men prevailed, with Glenbeigh-Glencar using their late numerical advantage to see off a resolute Rock St Patricks to claim the title, and make it an eighth All-Ireland Junior crown for Kerry clubs.

This contest had just about everything one could ask for in a game with a national title at stake. At then some. A goal after two minutes. Some outrageous score taking at any level, not to mind from two junior clubs. A couple of first half red cards. An injury to Glenbeigh/Glencar’s county star and main attacking threat, which seriously curtailed his contribution for the entire second half. A maor foirne being sent to the stands. A lead capturing goal midway through the second half for Rock St Patricks. A Hawkeye confirmed point to level the contest. Another couple of red cards late in the game. A lead point from a veteran substitute from the Kerry champions. A diving reflex save from the Glenbeigh/Glencar goalkeeper. And finally the All-Ireland title going to the club that struggled to win a county title for several seasons.

Was it any wonder there were tears of joy on the faces of so many Glenbeigh-Glencar players and supporters as Colin McGillicuddy accepted the cup from GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail and thrust it skyward to the cheers of the black and red faithful.

Stretching out over 78 minutes from the first whistle to the last, this was a pulsating contest played with all the passion, fervour and mistakes one would expect of this grade of football. Great scores were inter-laced with some terrible missed chances, some slick passing movements were mixed in with some woeful kick passing and distribution, and some wonderfully selfless endeavour was speckled with naive, ill-timed tackling, and all the while this All-Ireland final never lacked for guts and guile.

Glenbeigh-Glencar can have few complaints about Daniel Griffin’s 30th minute red card when the corner forward appeared to lead into a late tackle with his elbow, which a linesman brought to Henry’s attention. Rock St Patricks could hardly crib about the double yellow for midfielder Enda McWilliams in the 21st minute or the black card for full back Niall Mullen in the 60th minute for a petulant off the ball hit on Danny O’Sullivan, which mutated into a red card as he was previously booked.

The Tyrone club might feel more aggrieved for the second yellow for midfielder Diarmuid Carroll in the 58th minute who seemed to do little wrong when vying for a kick-out but was penalised and then issued a second yellow for his frustrated remonstrations with the Mayo official.

Level 1-11 apiece at that stage, there’s little doubt that Rock St Patrick’s numerical disadvantage went against them in what was nearly eight minutes of additional time at the end of a thump- ing contest. Unsurprisingly the Ulster champions failed to score again in that added time, while Glenbeigh-Glencar found the time and space to notch three scores to seal it, the first from veteran substitute Bernard Murphy, moments after Carroll’s departure, which seemed to precipitate Mullan’s costly hit on Danny O’Sullivan.

It took until the sixth minute of additional time for Darran O’Sullivan to fist the insurance point and two minutes more before Jason McKenna banged in the final nail in Rock’s coffin.

Between Murphy’s and O’Sullivan’s points Glenbeigh-Glencar goalkeeper Rory O’Connor had dived heroically to push away Conor McCreesh’s goal-bound punched ball, while O’Connor’s opposite number, Seamus Donaghy, was then called on to save smartly at Murphy’s feet after he was played in on goal by Darran O’Sullivan. It was breathless, frantic stuff to the last kick.

Glenbeigh-Glencar couldn’t have hoped for a better start when Gavan O’Grady off-loaded to Darran O’Sullivan who used all his Croke Park knowledge to slide the ball past Donaghy with exactly two minutes elapsed. Seven minutes later O’Sullivan knocked over the first of three points from play, and as neat and tidy as Rock looked, the Kerry champions were dictating the pace and pattern of the game.

For all that early dominance, however, Glenbeigh-Glencar soon learned that there’s no substitute on the playing field for accuracy. As the Kerry men squandered a few decent chances, the Tyrone side displayed admirable economy as they barely wasted a scoring opportunity. Thomas Bloomer, Aidan McGarrity and Conor McCreesh might have looked like junior footballers but they played like seniors.

Only O’Sullivan’s goal separated them at 1-3 to 0-3 and again at 1-4 to 0-4, at which stage McWillians got his marching orders and the dynamic shifted considerably to Glenbeigh-Glencar. McWillians’ second booking came for a late, cynical hit on Darran O’Sullivan, which hurt the Kerry man and would hamper him considerably from there to the end of the game.

Glenbeigh-Glencar led 1-5 to 0-7 by the 30th minute but the odds were evened considerably when Griffin was dismissed for a late elbow charge on Aidan Girvan, and by the time the teams clashed on their way to the Cusack Stand for half time they were also inseparable on the scoreboard, 1-6 to 0-9.

Rock briefly took the lead through a McGarrity free before O’Grady levelled it again before his long range free wrestled the lead back for the Munster champions.

Amazingly O’Grady fluffed three decent scoring chances after that and when substitute Padraig Ward’s 48th minute goal gave Rock a 1-10 to 1-8 lead the momentum shifted, briefly, back to the Ulster side.

Kieran Courtney found his range before Hawkeye was called on to award an O’Grady equaliser. Darran O’Sullivan kicked a right-footed point, McCreesh nailed a 57th minute equaliser and extra-time was looking a real possibility.

But there was still another 10 minutes left in the game and as Rock’s playing numbers rapidly diminished Glenbeigh-Glencar found the reserves to mine those late scores and complete a remarkable journey that began with a first round win in Knocknagoshel ten months ago and concluded on the steps of the Hogan Stand in Crokes Park. GLENBEIGH-GLENCAR: Rory O’Connor; Stephen O’Sullivan, Ciaran Doyle, Jeremiah Hoare; Jack Brosnan, Pa Kilkenny, Caolim Teahan; Colin McGillicuddy, Fergal Griffin (0-1); Danny O’Sullivan, Darran O’Sullivan (1-3), Tommy Cahill; Kieran Courtney (0-2), Gavan O’Grady (0-6; 3f), Daniel Griffin. Subs: Bernard Murphy (0-1) for Cahill (50 mins), Jason McKenna (0-1) for Danny O’Sullivan (60 mins), Vincent Hoare for Fergal Griffin (62 mins), Padraig Griffin for Darran O’Sullivan (bc, 68 mins), Donoguh McGillycuddy for Stephen O’Sullivan (71 mins).