Glenealy sink Arklow Rocks Goals key for the Reds

THIS Intermediate hurling clash, postponed a week ago owing to a bereavement in the Arklow club, was played at the breezy St. Patricks ground in Dunbar Road in Wicklow on Saturday afternoon.

The strong breeze blowing from the dressing room end had a big influence on the eventual outcome of the game. However, three goals for Glenealy - two just coming up to half-time and the third early in the second half - proved to be the real difference between the sides at the end.

Parnells had the help of the breeze in the first half but were slow to settle in the early stages. Alan Conyard pointed a free after five minutes to put Glenealy ahead.

Philip O’Connor got the Rocks off the mark with a point from play after nine minutes and put them ahead with a free two minutes later.

Alan Conyard levelled from a free and Kevin O’Halloran had Glenealy ahead a minute later. Arklow needed to be making more progress while they had the aid of the elements but Glenealy were staying with them.

Four points in a row from Tom Somers, Philip O’Connor (free), Philip O’Connor (65) and Tiernan Mellon had the Rocks in an improved situation at 0-6 to 0-3 after 20 minutes. Alan Conyard pointed another Glenealy free, but the Rocks continued in their scoring vein with a great Tiernan Mellon score followed by another Philip O’Connor pointed free.

Joey Driver was forced to make a smart save at the expense of a 65 as the game entered the time added period. Philip O’Connor pointed the 65 leaving Parnells ahead by 0-9 to 0-4.

However, before the referee had blown for the half-time break, Glenealy had struck two decisive blows. Alan Conyard had netted a Glenealy goal. Jack Kavanagh and Philip O’Connor exchanged points before Theo Smyth struck home another Glenealy goal to leave them ahead by 2-5 to 0-10 at the break.

The game had been turned on its head in a couple of minutes and Arklow Rocks had it all to do now.

Alan Conyard extended the Glenealy lead with a pointed free early in the second half but Cian Doyle and Shane Mellon points from play had the sides level after six minutes of the half.

However, another goal from Conyard put Glenealy back in the driving seat after ten minutes. A long clearance from Nigel Driver landed in on top of Conyard and Sean Somers. The break went kindly for Conyard who shot home from close in (off his right).

Points from Enan Glynn and two more from Conyard (one free) had the Glenealy men ahead by 3-9 to 0-12 at the three-quarter stage.

Try as they might the Rocks were unable to close that gap in the final quarter. Philip O’Connor added two points from frees but Glenealy responded with an Alan Conyard free and an enormous pointed free from substitute Stephan Cruise, taken inside his own 45.

Jack Manley and Shane Mellon swopped points before Philip O’Connor scored his final free to bring the Parnells total to 0-16.

The final score of the game came from Kevin O’Halloran, who must surely have believed that he had goal number four at his mercy but Sean Pierce deflected his effort over the bar.

A little bit of crankiness crept into the game in the final minutes and referee Ciaran Goff showed red cards to Enan Glynn and Tiernan Mellon in two separate incidents.

Final score: 3-13 to 0-16 in favour of Glenealy.

GLENEALY: Joey Driver; Jack Byrne, Lee Kavanagh, Liam de Hora; Cian O’Neill, Nigel Driver, Jack Manley 0-1; Cillian Hogan, Theo Smyth 1-0; Jack Kavanagh 0-1, Aaron Meade, Kevin O’Halloran 0-2; Ross O’Brien, Alan Conyard 2-7 (6f), Vinny Flaherty. Subs: Eanan Glynn 0-1 for Ross O’Brien. Dean Franey for Cillian Hogan. Stephan Cruise (0-1) for Jack Byrne. Dale Franey for Aaron Meade.

Sean Pierce; TJ Copeland, Sean Somers, Danny Long; Darren O’Reilly, Martin Gilbert, Tyrone Byrne; Tom Somers 0-1, Shane Melon 0-2; Cian Doyle 0-1, Tiernan Mellon 0-2, Conor Jameson; Philip O’Connor 0-10 (7f, 2 65), TJ Byrne, Conor Doyle. Subs: Jimmy Dignam for Tyrone Byrne.

REFEREE: Ciaran Goff (Éire Óg Greystones)