Rangers take big leap towards league honours

GLYDE Rangers moved two points clear at the top of Division 3 after continuing their unbeaten run in 2017 with this battling performance against a resolute St Kevin’s in Philipstown.

Brian Duffy’s second-half individual tally of 1-5 was just enough to see a nervy Glyde team home, but the away side started poorly despite taking the lead through Barry Sharkey after six minutes.

St Kevin’s struck back with a well-worked goal from Patrick Clarke just four minutes later after Seanie Crosbie had levelled. Indeed, had Kevin’s not kicked eight first-half wides - including another goal chance - the result could have proved much different.

As it was, Glyde struggled to cope with their hosts’ mass defence and did not seem able to execute their own sweeper system correctly.

They did convert the next three scores through Sharkey again and two from the excellent Trevor O’Brien. However, Cian Callan converted a brace of free kicks in reply as St Kevin’s kept their noses in front - 1-3 to 0-4 - at half-time.

Lee Crosbie, who was in midfield for Kevin’s, looked to continue his dominance, but the second-half performance of Glyde’s Dion Conlon proved crucial and effectively starved the Kevin’s attack of any ball.

Brian Duffy scored two points on the trot at the start of the second period and another beauty from O’Brien put Glyde in the lead for the first time.

Callan equalised after 35 minutes before Duffy got his goal straight after - and what a goal it was. The move started in the Glyde defence and made its way through a number of hands before Conor Sheridan found O’Brien in space in the left corner. He worked the ball into the middle where Duffy turned and rifled the ball home, busting the Kevin’s net in the process.

O’Brien, Duffy and Niall Sharkey added points and Glyde looked set to rack up a big score, but again Kevin’s came back and points by Karl Martin and Aaron Roche gave them momentum.

Duffy claimed Glyde’s last score of the game with 14 minutes left, but Kevin’s could only add another two points through Crosbie and Callan and Glyde fought hard to secure the win. They had good performances from David Brennan and Aaron Devlin, whilst Kevin’s Conor McCullough and Andrew Campbell also played well.

GLYDE: David Brennan, Conor McCullough, Cein Sheridan, Gerard Farrell, Niall Sharkey 0-1, Mark O’Brien, Aaron Devlin, Ciaran Sheridan, Dion Conlon, Barry Sharkey 0-2, Conor Sheridan, Alan Brennan, Trevor O’Brien 0-3, Brian Duffy 1-5, Gavin Duffy. Sub: Barry Brennan.

KEVIN’S: Gerry Brennan, Barry Byrne, Conor McCullough, Enda McKenna, Dylan Mahon, Ian Wogan, Liam Boylan, Lee Crosbie, Andrew Campbell, Aaron Roche 0-1, Patrick Clarke 1-0, Paul Duff, Seanie Crosbie 0-2, Karl Martin 0-1, Cein Callan 0-4. Subs: Aidan Craven, Patrick Duffy.