Alley send Glynn packing

A SUPERIOR second-half performance from Buffers Alley saw them book a place in the last eight of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship as they overcome a hard-working Glynn-Barntown team in the final round of Group B in Oylegate on Saturday.

The Gorey District side needed a win to secure a place in the quarter-finals but they were made earn it as they trailed by four at the break before completely turning things around to outscore their opponents by nine points to one in the second-half.

In a very competitive beginning to the game, only a point separated the sides midway through the half with Glynn-Barntown just ahead thanks to Jimmer Doyle, Niall Whitty and Daniel O’Regan, while Paul Doyle and Paul O’Leary did the honours for Buffers Alley.

But the Wexford District side played much better leading up to half-time, linking up well and finding scores from Doyle, Whitty and Fionn Cooney.

The Alley were a completely different side in the second-half and proved that they wanted a place in the last eight as they worked hard and played efficiently to get themselves back level in the 42nd minute with scores coming from Doyle, Paul Nangle, and a nice effort from O’Leary.

They didn’t need long to take the lead either as the kick-out from O’Leary’s score was won and the ball found its way to Doyle who put them in front.

This spurred the eventual winners on no end, and when corner-back Ciarán Murphy charged up the field to fire over two outstanding points late in the game, everyone knew that they were never going to be beaten.

This win sees Buffers Alley progress and also leaves Gylnn-Barntown out of the competition on score difference.

Buffers Alley: Barry Turner; Ciarán Murphy (0-2), Alan Doyle, Robert O’Leary; Ross Donohoe, Shane Grannell, Colm Og Doran; Domhnall McArdle, Seán Murphy; Darragh Hammel, Paul O’Leary (0-2), Mick Sinnott (0-1); Ciarán Fortune, Paul Nangle (0-3, 1 free), Paul Doyle (0-4). Sub. - Aaron Redmond for Fortune.

Glynn-Barntown: Matt Doyle; Dylan Roche, Shane Codd, Ian Codd; Jimmer O’Reilly, Michael Doyle, Gary Sutton; Kevin Crean, Conor Fenlon; Jimmer Doyle (0-3), Seán Carmody, Fionn Cooney (0-1); Daniel O’Regan (0-1 free), Niall Whitty (0-2), Johnny Crean. Subs. - Ben O’Shea (0-1) for J. Crean, J.J. Doyle for Carmody, John Leacy for Fenlon, Bill Joyce for Cooney, Cathal Leacy for O’Regan.

Referee: Kevin Kehoe (Our Lady’s Island).