Emmets go down fighting as Plunketts seal top spot

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GLEN Emmets pushed their neighbours Oliver Plunketts all the way at the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday, albeit without ever really threatening to halt the Mell side’s progress to the quarter-finals.

Emmets needed a seven-point in or better to deny Plunketts a place in the last eight, with Cooley Kickhams already through despite losing to Mickey Matthews side last time out.

But the Drogheda outfit still had top spot to play for and they would also have been keen to establish a bit of momentum ahead of next month’s quarter-final date with Mattock Rangers.

They made the perfect start when Adam Brodigan profirted from some good work by his brother Robbie to net the opening goal in the first minute and Plunketts were never head thereafter.

They added a couple of points to leave Emmets needing a 12-point swing, but James Butler gave the Tullyallen men hope when he converted a penalty.

The sides traded points right up to the interval as Plunketts retired with a 1-6 to 1-2 lead.

Emmets probably knew the game was up at that stage given the big scoring deficit they needed to close, but they battled on gamely after the break nonetheless.

But not before Plunketts put the qualification firmly to bed by pressing on to establish a seven-point lead which was ironically the margin Emmets needed to upset the status quo in Group C.

A red card for Cian Matthews, on foot of two yellows, checked Plunketts momentum and Emmets took full advantage to start closing the gap.

A brilliant Ronan Grufferty goal saw them close to the minimum, but Plunketts held out for a deserved victory that sees them top the group.

They’ll be underdogs again when they face Mattock in the last eight, but it’s a label the Mell outfit are starting to relish.

OLIVER PLUNKETT’S: Luke Haggins; Cillian Matthews, David McTaggart, Barry Reynolds; Cian Matthews 0-1, Dean Carolan 0-2, Frank Daly; Trevor Walsh 0-5, Robert Brodigan; Adam Brodigan 1-0, Seán Rice, David Lambe 0-1; Kevin Keogh, Andy Morgan 0-3, Seán Callaghan 0-1. Subs: Rory Taaffe, Cian Brady, Ricky Bateson, Emmet Kelleher.

GLEN EMMETS: Damien Grimes; Tom Grimes, Andrew Mooney, Jamie Farnan; Keith Farnan 0-2, Stephen Healy, Keith Boylan; Sean Byrne, Mark Garvey 0-1; Kealan O’Neill, Ian Cusack, James Butler 1-0; David Bracken, Ronan Grufferty 1-6, Evan English. Subs: Keith Lynch for K O’Neill, Issac Walsh for J Butler, Sam Kenny for D Bracken.

REFEREE: James Carroll.