Glenealy have no answer as Bray book place in Junior ‘A’ final

BRAY EMMETS GLENEALY 4-12 0-5

WITH the winners set to play the Junior ‘A’ hurling final and the losers qualifying for the ‘B’ hurling final (both games in Ballinakill this week) this game played in Glenealy on Wednesday night was effectively a Junior hurling semi-final.

As the scoreline would suggest there was little doubt about the outcome as Bray Emmets overcame the host club comfortably.

Bray settled into the game quickly and had four points on the board from Enda Forde (2), John Ward and Andy Conway before Jack Veale registered a point from a free for Glenealy after ten minutes.

The standard of play was reasonably good with most players comfortable with their first touch and striking.

It helped that they were back playing on a normal hurling sod following the bone dry experience of the past couple of months.

Bray Emmets were very solid down the centre spine of their team with Enda McHugh, Sid Hunt, Karl Lacey, Con Benville, Enda Forde and Ryan Duggan all prominent in these early stages.

When Ronan McMahon goaled on twelve minutes, the hill began to get that much steeper for Glenealy.

Rob Browne and John O’Halloran, with mid fielders Ron Quinn and Joe McDonald were battling hard to stem the tide but Glenealy were having little success up front.

Browne pointed a long free followed by another point from Joe McDonald to reduce the lead somewhat.

However, Bray Emmets got back into their stride and scored three points in as many minutes from Karl Lacey (2) and Ryan Duggan to push further ahead.

Glenealy responded with a Ross Quinn point (made by Rob Browne) and a pointed free by Brian McNabb.

The half finished with further Emmets points from Enda Forde and Ronan McMahon to leave the visitors leading by 1-9 to 0-5 at the break.

Perhaps the Bray men rested on their laurels a little but Glenealy upped their tempo in the early stages of the second half in an effort to reduce the leeway.

They kept the Emmets scoreless for eighteen minutes but in spite of their best efforts they failed to score themselves.

Enda McHugh was impassable at full back for the Bray side and goalie David Ebbs brought off a couple of fine saves.

Andy Conway had the first Bray point of the half and when Glenealy lost Barry McNabb to a red card following an apparent difference with the referee any chance Glenealy had of coming back was gone. Bray finished the last ten minutes very strongly and added 3-4 in that period from Andy Conway (1-2), Ryan Duggan (1-0) Karl Lacey (1-0) and Enda Forde 0-1. Cal Connolly and goalie Dean O’Gorman fought a gallant rearguard action for Glenealy but to no avail. Bray Emmets ran out very comfortable winners on a 4-12 to 0-5 scoreline. In addition they notched up fourteen wides over the hour.

Scorers - Bray Emmets: Andy Conwy 1-3,Karl Lacey 1-2, Ryan Duggan 1-1, Ronan McMahon 1-1, Enda Forde 0-4, John Warde 0-1. Glenealy: Jack Veale, Rob Browne, Joe McDonald, Ross Quinn and Barry McNabb 0-1 each.

David Ebbs; Danny Eglington, Enda McHugh, Brian Cowan; Jordan Lee, Sid Hunt, Shane Anders; Karl Lacey, Con Benville; Ronan McMahon; Enda Forde, Dan Kennedy; Andy Conway, Ryan Duggan, John Warde.

Dean O’Gorman; Dalton Joyce, Cal Connolly, Shane Manley; Tony Conyard, Rob Browne, John O’Halloran; Ross Quinn, Joe McDonald; Fionn McLoughlin, Barry McNabb, Jack Veale; Derek O’Neill, Kevin O’Halloran, Michael Conyard.

Michael Owens.