Lannleire book final spot with strong finish
IT’S been a long time coming, but Lannliere supporters can finally get the flags and the bunting out as they will have a final to look forward to next week, following this six point victory over Glyde Rangers in Ardee.
This game was largely nip and tuck as both sides went score for score and were level on four occasions.
With the scoreboard standing at 0-8 each with 10 minutes remaining, the semi final tussle which many struggled to predict was living up to its billing.
However, all Glyde’s good work was undone following poor discipline which resulted in them conceding eight frees within scoring range and also saw Niall Sharkey and Conor Sheridan sent off in added time.
Lannliere converted 0-6 of those eight frees, with Killian Gregory, although well marshalled from play by Colm McCullough, showing fabulous accuracy. Briain McGuinness’ running from centre half deserves credit, he accrued 24 possessions over the hour and he along with Ian Mulroy won several frees. Crucially 1-3 of Lannliere’s 1-11 came from their bench, with the return of fit again Paul Callan important with a final coming up.
Defenders Thomas Doyle and Paul McGeough merit mentions for putting their bodies on the line with excellent interventions in the second half especially.
Both sides were forced into early substitutions, with Mark O’Brien limping off for Glyde following Colm Murphy’s early withdrawal for Lannliere. Glyde’s build-up was patient, taking their kick out short, moving the ball through the hands before kicking into the inside line in the final third.
This worked well early doors with the lively Dion Conlon kicking over an advanced mark. Ollie Flynn’s side made clever use of the wind, kicking some delightful scores from distance particularly through Brian Duffy (2), Ciaran
Sheridan and Barry Sharkey, giving them a 0-5 to 0-2 lead after 25 minutes. Lannliere saw several of their attacks in the first period turned over with Glyde’s use of extra sweepers working well, very often a Dunleer attacker was surrounded by 3 or 4 Glyde defenders before being penalised for hanging on to the ball too long by referee Stephen Murphy. However, points from Darragh Malone, Alan Murphy (f) and Killian Gregory (f), had the sides level at 0-5 each at the break, despite Glyde playing most of the football but only kicking 0-5 from 11 shots.
The sides fought score for score with Niall Lennon and Trevor O’Brien trading points before Gerard Bourton put Glyde ahead. Niall Lennon’s effort crept over the bar to level things up again before a nice build up involving Trevor O’Brien and Niall Sharkey set up sub Gareth Moran to put Rangers ahead again at 0-8 to 0-7 just before the drinks break.
However, Lannliere, faced with the possibility of another semi final defeat, kicked for home, sub Paul Callan converted a free as did Killian Gregory to put them ahead. Paul Callan almost scored a goal when his effort whistled passed
the post. However, they were not to be denied this time, as Killian Gregory (f) and the hard working Pierce Hawkins put three between the sides, before another Dunleer sub Bob Murphy scrambled the ball over the line to seal a place in the JFC final for Lannliere who face Naomh Fionnbarra in the decider, and with several players on both sides having played together at underage level with the sides amalgamating, it makes for an intriguing final.
LANNLIERE: Liam Callan; Thomas Doyle, Paul McGeough, Jason Torris; Paul Doyle, Briain McGuinness, Laurence McEntee; Ian Mulroy, Pierce Hawkins 0-1; Garry Monaghan, Colin Murphy, Darragh Malone 0-1; Alan Murphy 0-1 (1f), Killian Gregory 0-5 (4f), Andrew Dowd. Subs: Niall Lennon 0-2 for Colin Murphy (4), Conall Maher for Dowd (HT), Brendan McEvoy for Paul Doyle (44), Paul Callan 0-1 (1f) for Alan Murphy (49), Bob Murphy 1-0 for Malone (57).
GLYDE RANGERS: David Brennan; Fiachra Sheridan, Colm McCullough, Gerard Farrell; Cein Sheridan, Ciaran Sheridan 0-1, Brian Duffy 0-2; Niall Sharkey, Barry Sharkey 0-1; Ultan Larney, Conor Sheridan, Trevor O’Brien 0-1 (1f); Dion Conlon 0-1 (1 Advanced Mark), Peter Duffy, Mark O’Brien. Subs: Gerard Bourton 0-1 for Mark O’Brien (8), Gareth Moran 0-1 for Farrell (35), Alan Devlin for Peter Duffy (37), Alan Kirk for Barry Sharkey (46).
REFEREE: Stephen Murphy.