Oylegate enjoy a second stroll
Baptism of fire for Gorey
OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN look to be the early front-runners in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship after they steamrolled their immediate opposition for the second week running with a crushing 5-18 to 0-3 Group A victory over Naomh Eanna’s second string at the Ferns club grounds on Friday.
In near-perfect conditions for football, Oylegate-Glenbrien raced into a 1-4 to no score lead by the end of the first quarter, with Conor Heffernan rattling the net with a low finish on 15 minutes.
Incidentally, having won the Junior ‘B’ championship title last year, Naomh Eanna actually jumped up two grades due to Buffers Alley’s withdrawal from big ball participation.
But the Gorey men were comprehensively outplayed here against a side which frequently knitted together length-of-the-field moves and kept the scoreboard ticking over to bring their goals tally after two championship outings to an impressive twelve.
Dara McDonald opened Naomh Eanna’s account after an enterprising run on 17 minutes, but the eventual victors kicked 1-10 without reply either side of the interval to really emphasise the gulf in class.
Wing-back Ciarán Hourihane supplied the second goal with a rolled finish right at the stroke of half-time as the difference stood at 2-10 to 0-1.
And although Gorey managed back-to-back scores for the only time through Seán Delaney and Michael Bernie, three goals between the 54th and 56th minutes saw Oylegate-Glenbrien finish in style.
Indeed, it became something of a Friday the 13th massacre for Gorey as Pierce Murphy goaled immediately before substitute Brian Doran did likewise, while Hourihane got up the field again to fire home off the underside of the crossbar to leave 30 points between the sides at the end of a procession.
Oylegate-Glenbrien: Eddie Mernagh; Niall Parker, Jamie Reck, Robert O’Connor; Jack Reck (0-2), Damien Reck (0-1), Ciarán Hourihane (2-0); Mark Kavanagh, Eoghan Herlihy; Fiachra Hourihane (0-3), Conor Heffernan (1-5, 0-3 frees), Conor Doyle (0-4); Pierce Murphy (1-0), Tom White (0-1), Shane Reck (capt., 0-1). Subs. - Peter Rowley for Parker (HT), Brian Doran (1-1) for White (34).
Naomh Eanna: Cillian Donohoe; Nathan Byrne, John Doyle, Evan O’Dwyer; Seán Delaney (0-1), Simon Doran (capt.), Eoin McGuckin; Stephen Byrne, Dara McDonald (0-1); Paul Timmons, John O’Brien, Michael Bernie (0-1); Ciarán Sheridan, Ryan Higgins, Larry Cullen. Subs. - Darragh Cullen for L. Cullen (HT), Martin O’Donnell for Sheridan (HT), Larry Cullen for Higgins (50), Sheridan for Timmons (50).
Referee: Aidan Foley (Shelmaliers).