Glynn-Barntown edge verdict
Byrne’s brilliance ignited fine challenge from Fethard
ONE WOULD have to admit that perhaps a draw would have been a fitting result to this enthralling 50 minutes, but in the end Glynn-Barntown prevailed by the minimum margin to deny their arch-rivals Fethard in this New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 2 championship final played in inclement conditions in Rathangan.
Perhaps it was Daragh Murphy’s two goals in the space of a minute midway through the opening half that had such a huge influence on the eventual result, but it was much more than that.
Indeed, there was an amount of drama 16 minutes into the second-half when, following two conversations with his umpires, referee Gearóid McGrath yellow-carded and sin-binned Glynn-Barntown wing-back Josh Carley.
Onlookers insisted it was the wrong player, with the most influential hurler on the team escaping the wrath of the referee and going on to have a real impact on the eventual result.
While it should not take from what was a tremendous final, with quality hurling from both sides in the heavy underfoot conditions, one would have to say it did have an impact on the eventual result.
Having said that, one would have to commend a battling Glynn-Barntown performance, particularly through the second-half, a period when they were subjected to long periods of pressure, before breaking away for the two crucial points late on to secure the title.
One would have sympathy for this Fethard outfit, who it must be said played the superior hurling, but they were left to regret the concession of those two quick-fire goals, scores that left them seven points adrift at the break.
However, with Cian Byrne in inspiring form, they were all over the opposition in the second-half but eventually they fell just short despite the quality of their play.
Both sides hit the ground running, being level on 0-3 each at the end of 13 minutes of excellent hurling, with Darragh Carley and Cian Byrne sharing the scoring.
A Darragh Carley point had the eventual winners in front, when Daragh Murphy struck for his opening goal on 16 minutes, finishing a breaking ball in the goalmouth to the net.
One minute later he repeated the act when the Fethard defence failed to clear. While Cian Byrne points from frees kept Fethard in the game, they still trailed by 2-7 to 0-6 at the interval.
Cian Byrne relished the challenge on the resumption with two opening points, one from a free, and when he followed with another superb long-range free the deficit had been reduced to four points (2-7 to 0-9) within four minutes of the re-start.
Further Byrne pointed frees left just two separating the sides, when the controversial incident arose followed by the yellow card for Josh Carley after two separate consultations by the referee with his umpires.
Following this, surprisingly it was Glynn-Barntown who took the initiative for Darragh Carley to point two frees, giving his side a 2-9 to 0-11 lead to take into the closing six minutes of normal time.
Cian Byrne pointed two frees to leave two separating the sides entering additional time.
Then Byrne went on a tremendous solo run, beating several defenders before being brought down by full-back Robert Hillis who received a yellow card for his efforts.
With the game now in additional time, Byrne picked himself up following several minutes’ treatment to point the free, leaving the minimum separating the sides, but Glynn-Barntown held firm in the tense two minutes to follow to secure a highly-charged victory.
Glynn-Barntown: Cian Turner; Dylan Mooney, Robert Hillis, Conor Lynn; James Boggan, Tommy Gallagher, Josh Carley; Michael Mackey, Luke O’Rourke; Alan Mahoney, Darragh Carley (capt., 0-8, 4 frees), Moragh O’Flaherty; Seán Laffan, Daragh Murphy (2-1), Will Hayes. Subs. - Josh Murphy for Hayes, also Liam Donoghue, Ferdia Reynolds, Daniel Brazzill, Maurice Reynolds, Cian White, Pierce Arthurs, Fionn O’Callaghan, Seán Cooney, Tom Murphy, Callum McDonald, Conor Mackey, Aaron McDonagh, Lughaidh Hayden, Aaron Nolan, James Doyle, Aaron Murphy, Kaylem Codd, Casey Brazzill.
Fethard: Shane Finn-Butler; Ciarán Dunne, Conor McLoughlin, Richard Liu; Bill Nunan, Eoin Whelan, Morgan Ellis; Cian Byrne (0-13, 10 frees, 1 ‘65), Cillian Byrne; Seán Nunan (0-1), Adam O’Grady, Robbie Molloy; Kean Molloy, Jake Molloy, Kyle Baker. Subs. - Cian Swan for R. Molloy, also Conor Folan, Darren Roche, Pádraic Gleeson.
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).