Ten pages of reports on the club GAA scene
Both sides in quarter-finals
CASTLETOWN GLYNN-BARNTOWN 1-10 0-12
ON THE week of the 40th anniversary of his death, Elvis Presley was being massacred up in the Bellefield bar on Saturday evening as Seán Roche netted the goal that proved the difference in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship Group A tie.
‘It’s Now or Never’ might have proven apt in other circumstances, but Roche’s major ended up only deciding who finished in third and fourth spot in the group, as both sides were going to progress because Monageer-Boolavogue had mailed it in against Rathgarogue-Cushinstown.
It was, however, the standout moment between two fairly evenly-matched teams. With his side trailing by 0-3 to 0-2 after 17 minutes, Roche pulled in Rory Heffernan’s pass and stopped in his tracks.
The halting motion opened the yard of space he needed eight yards from goal and he casually dispatched past Adam Murphy.
The major was the difference between the sides at the break (1-5 to 0-5). Castletown had relied heavily on the free-taking skills of Danny Dixon in the opening half while their opponents had spread it around more, with Ben O’Shea and Matthew Joyce picking off a pair each.
And that was the way it stayed through the second-half. Youngsters Shane Halpin and Liam Condren made a positive impression for the Gorey District side as they maintained a lead.
Glynn-Barntown only closed to within one when Bill Joyce scored with the second-last kick of the game but they will feel they had their chances to get closer a little earlier.
Only a brave man would suggest that either of these two sides are likely winners of the Junior championship in the coming weeks but both will take their chance, just like the other six qualifiers. Castletown will face Starlights while Glynn-Barntown will meet Oylegate-Glenbrien in the quarters.
Castletown: Martin Hempenstall; David Deering, Risteárd Kinsella, Paul Nugent; Danny Dixon (0-4 frees), Conor Cleary, Marc Halpin; Oisín Condren, Rory Heffernan; Seán Roche (1-0), Kevin Morris (capt., 0-1), Aaron Condren; Shane Halpin (0-2), Stephen Gardiner, Darragh Brooks (0-2). Subs. - Liam Condren (0-1) for Gardiner (31), Stephen Rafferty for Roche, black card (48), Ross Bealin for Morris, inj. (52), Killian Pierce for Heffernan, black card (60+2).
Glynn-Barntown: Adam Murphy; Shane Codd, Paschal Carley (capt.), David Roche; Aaron Breen, Cian Neville, Ger Dempsey; Cormac Rowe, Ben O’Shea (0-3); Matthew Joyce (02), Daire Barron, Matthew Banville; Jack Brazzill (0-1), Seán Carmody (0-3 frees), Dylan Lyne (0-2, 1 free). Sub. - Bill Joyce (0-1) for Banville (51).
Referee: Martin Armstrong (Starlights).