Glyde hit Parnells for six
GLYDE RANGERS STABANNON PARNELLS 6-13 0-15
THREE goals in either half kept Glyde on track for the Division 3 League title in a very lopsided affair in Tallanstown on Saturday night.
But for the mercurial Daniel Bannon, Stabannon could have been beaten by a much greater margin as he finished the game with nine points, six from play.
Glyde for their part, were a bit listless and could have moved up a couple of gears if required. Certainly, after shooting 12 wides, the Glyde men will have plenty to work on before next week’s final League match and the Championship semi-final a week later.
Glyde were in control from the very start and were unfortunate not to be given a penalty after only 50 seconds when Trevor O’Brien was tripped in the square, but O’Brien got his chance five minutes later when he goaled after a nice set up from Brian Duffy.
Stabannon were playing two sweepers which left little room for the Glyde forwards but they used the wings well, attacking constantly through Niall Sharkey and Alan Brennan and the result was in little doubt from early on, the only doubt being the margin of victory.
With further first half goals from Sharkey and the ever improving Dion Conlon, Rangers went in at the break leading by 3-7 to 0-5.
Mark Gilsenan emptied his bench in the secnd half but Glyde kept up the goal onslaught with further three-pointers from Alan Brennan, Barry Sharkey and Brian Duffy.
Stabannon did hit the crossbar late in the game following a mix up in a Glyde kick out as veteran Anthony Briscoe tried a lob over David Brennan.
But that was as good as it got for Stabannon who relied heavily on Bannon.
Despite the wides, the Glyde forwards, particularly Brennan and Conor Sheridan played well whilst the defence, although not under any serious pressure, had solid games from Cein Sheridan, Conor McCullough and Mark O’Brien.
Bigger and sterner tests lie in wait for Glyde in the next two weeks but with the league title nearly in their grasp, confidence must be running high.
GLYDE RANGERS: David Brennan; Fiachra Sheridan (0-1), Cein Sheridan, Gerard Farrell; Niall Sharkey (1-2), Mark O’Brien, Conor McCullough; David Devaney, Ciaran Sheridan; Dion Conlon (1-2), Conor Sheridan, Alan Brennan (1-2); Trevor O’Brien (1-2), Brian Duffy (1-3), Aaron Devlin. Subs: Peter Duffy, John Myles (0-1), Barry Sharkey (1-0), JP Boyle, Jason Dullaghan, Niall Bird.
STABANNON PARNELLS: Anto Byrne; Alan Lynch, Sean Halpenny, Conor Fanning; Thomas Campbell, Eanna McCartney, Barry Lynch; Aonghus Giggins 0-5, Martin King; Cathal Halpenny, Shane Sweeney; Liam Giggins; Daniel Bannon 0-9, Anthony Briscoe, Dean Lynch 0-1. Sub: Gerry McBride for A Briscoe.