Glynn-Barntown power their way to semi-finals
JOHN LACEY’S firepower proved too much for Buffers Alley as Glynn-Barntown battled their way to a hard-earned three-point victory over Buffers Alley in this Pettitt’s Wexford senior hurling championship quarter-final played at Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday afternoon.
It was another strong performance from this Glynn-Barntown side with the rewards being a place in the semi-final draw. They came with high hopes of achieving a victory and this they managed having led from the 39th minute, but it was tough and hard earner, with the final scoreline reflecting what was a torrid battle all through.
For Buffers Alley it was a disappointing end to their campaign.
Clearly missing the influence of the suspended Willie Doran in attack, it was their struggle for scores that eventually came back to haunt them, with the nearest they came to scoring a goal was in the final minute when a piece of bizarre defending saw an opposing defender hand pass back in the direction of keeper Mark Fanning, seeing the ball go over the keepers head, but who somehow managed to retrieve the situation with a goalline clearance.
No doubt Glynn-Barntown looked stronger all over the pitch, with their defence being particularly dominant, while Brendan Doyle and Michael Doyle were dominant in midfield winning the aerial battle, leaving centre-forward John Lacey as their main attacking ploy, and this he carried out to perfection leading this side to eventual victory, which was not as comfortable as even the three point margin would suggest.
Through the opening minutes, Buffers Alley looked one step ahead of their opponents, leading to points from Tomas O’Leary, free, and Pat Kenny, while John Lee-Meyler shot into the side netting with a real chance spurned, after just six minutes, a period that the Alley controlled.
A long John Lacey pointed free opened his sides account after eight minutes, while six minutes later the same player pointed a 65, to leave the sides level 0-2 each at the end of the opening quarter.
In what was a low scoring, low key encounter, it was a Tomas O’Leary pointed free off the wing that restored his sides lead.
It was Glynn-Barntown who then managed to up the tempo leading to points from Lacey free, and Gary Moore, with a Tomas O’Leary free leaving two points separating the sides.
Four minutes before the break came Lacey’s goal, when he flashed a ground shot to the net, a score that gave his side a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.
It was going to take a much improved Buffers Alley if they were going to take anything from this game. This they looked like achieving resuming with three unanswered points from Tomas O’Leary, two frees, to tie the sides, 1-5 to 0-8, after 38th minutes.
But it was Glynn-Barntown who quickly restored their advantage responding with points from Gary Moore, Mark Fanning 75-meter free, and a Lacey free, to lead 1-8 to 0-8 at the end of the third quarter. After Lacey and O’Leary had exchanged pointed frees, a superb Michael Doyle point gave his side a four-point cushion, 1-10 to 0-9, with four minutes remaining.
While the Alley pressed forward resulting in points from Andrew Kenny and Shane Grannell, it was Lacey who closed out the game with a fine point from play, after the Alley had ben reduced to fourteen players 10 minutes from the end following the red carding of Pat Kenny.
Glynn-Barntown: Mark Fanning (0-1 free); Padraig Donnelly, Jack Fenlon, Barry Doyle; Craig Doyle, Michael O’Regan, Alan Cowman; Brendan Doyle, Michael Doyle (0-1); Rowan White, John lacey (1-7, 0-5 frees, 0-1, 65), Daire Barron; Matthew Joyce, Gary Moore (0-2), Paraic Wafer. Subs: Kevin Creane for Wafer (ht); J J Doyle for Joyce (57); Calum O’Shea for Cowman (inj. 59); Fionn Cooney for Moore (60).
Buffers Alley: Oliver O’Leary; Paudie Reidy, Ciaran Kenny, Barry Kenny; Bobby Kenny, Andrew Kenny (0-1), Sean Murphy; John Lee-Meyler, Pat Kenny (0-1); Sean Og Whelan, Ross Donohoe, Tomas O’Leary (0-7 frees); Paul O’Leary (0-1), Robert O’Leary, Shane Grannells (0-1). Subs: Ciaran Murphy for robert O’Leary (57), John Farrell for Lee-Meyler (57); Kevin Roche for Og Whelan (58).
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).