FOR BRAVE GLENEALY
John Manley worked his socks off as he always does. Battled hard and chased up and down the field and fired over a wonderful score in the second half which his performance deserved.
Robert Byrne, Jamie Byrne and Enan Glynn formed the massively important half-forward line in this game. Against a launchpad such as the Ballyragget half-back line was, this line needed to be prepared to die in the jersey and they most certainly were. Glynn looked dangerous in front of the goal and it was his craft that created the chance for Wayne O’Gorman to fire home his goal in the second half.
Jamie Byrne had a very impressive game and Robert Byrne played his heart out on the wing.
Leighton Glynn was yet again vitally important to the Glenealy cause and could be found up and down the field throughout. He bagged an incredible point and gave his everything to the cause as he always does. It’s been an unforgettable year for the dual star and the word ‘star’ is no slip of the tongue.
Jonathan O’Neill Jnr and Alan Driver came up against a formidable full-forward line but you always felt that if they could get their hands on one breaking ball or one of the high balls that were pumped in that they would cause serious damage to the Ballyragget full-back line. They performed very well and can hold their heads high.
Wayne O’Gorman has an insatiable hunger for goals and is nothing short of a torment to any defence. His attacking instinct is phenomenal and his hurling ability is pure class.
Gavin Weir’s point from the sideline was magical and he is a serious threat to be able to call on in any game.
Lee Kavanagh proved more than capable of delivering on the big stage while Paul O’Brien impressed and will be a big player for Glenealy next year all going well.
Every single Glenealy player gave his everything on that field in Nowlan Park. There’s no room for sentiment in hurling but they deserved better than what unfolded on Saturday.
The 0-09 to 0-08 half-time score in favour of Ballyragget was a great place for Glenealy to be at the break. Being within touching distance of the Kilkenny champions was exactly where the Wicklow kingpins wanted to be because with the fight and belief and hurling within Garry Laffan’s men, you just knew that they were going to emerge and take the game to Ballyragget.
That slender lead for the Ballyragget men existed thanks to the goalkeeping ability of Keith Snell who saved from Michael Brennan early on with the score tied at 0-02 apiece.
It was clear early on that freetakers were going to play a massive role on the day given the ferocity of the play and the annoying ease with which frees were awarded and in Jonathan O’Neill Snr and Kevin Kelly we had two capable artists from dead balls and it was two points from both that had us at 0-02 to 0-02 after six minutes.
A chop on Enan Glynn allowed ‘Bosco’ fire Glenealy ahead after 12 before Seoirse Kenny popped up with a beauty from play a minute later to level the game at 0-03 apiece.
One interesting factor of the Ballyragget play was the speed with which goalkeeper Michael Gannon restarted the game over the course of the nearly 70 minutes. Play was resumed almost instantly and for the most part this gave the Kilkenny men an advantage.
Two Kelly frees eased Ballyragget out to a 0-05 to 0-03 lead as the Kilkenny champions started to flex their muscle. At times early on they did look as though they had the potential to cause serious damage if they managed to find that extra gear but credit to Glenealy because it was their tenacity and drive that kept a lid on the St Patrick’s men.
Jamie Byrne collected a short ‘Bosco’ free and rifled over before Robert Byrne swung over from play to level at 0-05 to 0-05 thanks to magnificent play from Emmet Byrne at the other end of the field.
A super Enan Glynn point was answered by Michael Brennan before Kevin Kelly notched up his only score from play out on the sideline 21 yards from goal with 24 minutes gone.
A foul by James Gannon on the ball resulted in a rare ‘Bosco’ wide, Glenealy’s second of the game, while Michael Brennan opened up a two-point gap after 28 minutes.
A ‘Bosco’ free was answered by a Joe Brennan rocket but the Glenealy legend had the last say when he swung over a free after a foul on Alan Driver after 34 minutes to leave it 0-09 to 0-08 in favour of the Ballyragget men at the break.
Glenealy were level at 0-10 to 0-10 after 36 minutes thanks to two ‘Bosco’ frees after Kevin Kelly had opened the scoring in the second half.
Garry Laffan sent in Lee Kavanagh, Wayne O’Gorman and Gavin Weir to freshen things up with Ruaidhri O’Neill, Alan Driver and Jonathan O’Neill Jnr leaving the fray.
A beautiful flick from midfielder Seoirse Kenny allowed Brian ‘Brook’ Phelan push Ballyragget back in front but good work from Gavin Weir provided Leighton Glynn with a chance of a point and he duly obliged to leave things all square yet again.
Emmet Byrne collected his very harsh yellow card with 43 on the clock and from the next Glenealy attack Enan Glynn’s shot was half blocked down but it spilled to Wayne O’Gorman in front of the St Patrick’s goal line and he somehow managed to shovel it over the line for the game’s only goal and what looked at that point to be the score that would drive Glenealy on.
A ‘Bosco’ free extended the Glenealy lead to three points in the 47th minute but Ballyragget started to both up their game and get the extraordinary rub of the green from here on in.
Paddy Brennan’s point from play was answered by John Manley after superb work from Emmet Byrne yet again. Kevin Kelly from a free after Warren Kavanagh was said to have fouled the sharp- shooter was followed by Seoirse Kenny from play and we had a one-point game.
Savage play from ‘Bosco’ and Wayne O’Gorman created the opportunity for Robert Byrne who obliged with a monstrous point given the time in the game and the score but Danny Staunton was penalised for a foul on Michael Brennan and Kevin Kelly made it 1-14 to 0-16 after 54 minutes.
Gavin Weir’s mighty score from the sideline on 58 minutes would be Glenealy’s last as Kevin Kelly would profit from Sean Stack’s refereeing and add two frees and one from play to give St Patrick’s Ballyragget the Leinster crown and break Glenealy hearts into smithereens in the process.
Scorers - St Patrick’s: Kevin Kelly 0-11 (9f); Seoirse Kenny, Michael Brennan, Brian ‘Brooky’ Phelan 0-2 each; Joe Brennan, Paddy Brennan 0-1 each.
Glenealy: Jonathan O’Neill 0-8 (8f); Wayne O’Gorman 1-0; Robert Byrne 0-2; John Manley, Jamie Byrne, Enan Glynn, Leighton Glynn, Gavin Weir 0-1 each.
Keith Snell; Emmet Byrne, Warren Kavanagh, Ruaidhri O’Neill; Gary Byrne, Danny Staunton, Tommy Doyle; Jonathan O’Neill, John Manley; Robert Byrne, Jamie Byrne, Enan Glynn; Jonathan O’Neill Jnr, Alan Driver, Leighton Glynn. Subs: Lee Kavanagh for R O’Neill (34min), Wayne O’Gorman for A Driver (38min), Gavin Weir for J O’Neill Jnr (38min), Paul O’Brien for E Glynn (50min).
Michael Gannon; John Mooney, James Gannon, Mark Staunton; Geoff Brennan, Stephen Staunton, Geoff Morrissey; Seoirse Kenny, Bill Staunton; Paddy Brennan, Michael Brennan, Kevin Kelly; Dessie Hickey, Brian ‘Brook’ Phelan, Joe Brennan. Subs: Conor Delaney for J Brennan (34min).
Sean Stack (Dublin)