Quick impact by Wilde
EX-SARSFIELDS forward Shane Wilde had a debut to remember for his new club as his two fourth-quarter goals helped guide Glynn-Barntown to a 5-11 to 3-6 victory over Taghmon-Camross in a peculiar Tom Doyle Supplies Senior football championship Group B tie at a sunny St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
An attritional first-half that saw both sides hit each other with ferocity made way for a wide open second period, with seven goals shared between the two as Glynn-Barntown’s greater arsenal up front ultimately proved decisive against their neighbours.
Taghmon-Camross had failed to score from play by the halftime juncture, and although they addressed that particular issue only 30 seconds into the re-start, every time they managed to rattle the net, Glynn-Barntown had a knack of doing likewise to fend off any notion of a comeback.
The main talking point of the heavy-hitting first-half was the contrast of fortunes experienced by Mark Fanning between the 16th and 19th minutes.
Firstly, the county hurling goalkeeper was hauled down for a penalty, only for Jack Dunne to get down well and thwart his low attempt.
But he made amends three minutes later when gathering Aaron Breen’s pass, turning inside and finishing with style.
That helped Glynn-Barntown into a 1-5 to 0-3 ascendancy at the interval, but when Luke Sinnott cut through the middle of their defence on 44 minutes, he put the ball on a plate for Seamie McLoughlin to flash to the net as the gap was cut to 1-8 to 1-4.
However, Wilde then entered stage-left, linking up with Michael O’Regan before picking his spot at the dressing-room end.
And although Darren Carty half-volleyed home a scruffy goal on 49 minutes, O’Regan immediately responded with a low finish (3-9 to 2-5).
Remarkably, Taghmon-Camross refused to lie down and enlivened their chances again when Ian Carty made the incision and Anthony Breen applied the finish to a brilliant third goal eight minutes from time.
Yet, there was one last kick in the victors, who reeled off 2-1 before the end, with Wilde cutting in along the byline before tucking to the net, and fellow substitute Barry Doyle sealing the verdict with a sweeping finish from the very next attack.
Glynn-Barntown: Matt Doyle; Rowan White, Pádraig Donnelly, David Clarke; Nigel Usher (0-2), Rob Tierney, Jack Fenlon; John Leacy (capt.), Brendan Doyle; Rioghan Crosbie (0-1), Michael O’Regan (1-1, 0-1 free), Aaron Breen (0-2 frees); Mark Fanning (1-0), James Stafford (0-1), Robbie Dempsey (0-4). Subs. - Alan Cowman for Tierney, inj. (4), Shane Wilde (2-0) for Crosbie (41), Barry Doyle (1-0) for Brendan Doyle (50), Cian Neville for Breen (53).
Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; Shane Doyle, Alan Nolan (capt.), Stephen Stafford; David O’Keeffe, Mark O’Gorman, Darren Carty (1-0); Anthony Breen (1-0), Barry O’Gorman; Darren Hayden, Stephen O’Gorman, Michael O’Gorman; Luke Sinnott (0-1), Derek O’Hanlon, Seamie McLoughlin (1-4, 0-3 frees). Subs. - Ian Carty for Hayden (HT), Chris Cullen (0-1) for O’Hanlon (41), Eoin Doyle for Michael O’Gorman (45), Derek O’Hanlon for B. O’Gorman (60+1).
Referee: Billy Dodd (Sarsfields).