By Denis Hurley
Glen Rovers 2-19
Sarsfields 3-15
Glen Rovers retained the Rebel Óg 1 Premier 1 MHC title in tumultuous fashion at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday night.
Having been six points ahead with just over a quarter of the game left, the Glen looked to have lost the momentum as Sars outscored them by 2-4 to 0-1 in an 11-minute period.
The Glen, featuring some of the U16s beaten by Sars in the final a week previously, didn’t wilt, though. They were level as Diarmuid Wall drilled a low free to the net, followed by Cian Walsh doing well to set up Michael Tadhg Brosnan’s fifth point from play and then a third of the night for inspirational centre-back Conor McCarthy.
When Adam Dunlea pointed for Sars to leave one in it, Brosnan profited from good play by James Murphy to land his sixth, but Dunlea gave Sars hope as he cut the lead again in injury time with his ninth point.
They had a chance when Ronan Barry was fouled deep in the Sars half but it was a low-percentage shot and Dunlea was unable to convert. Mark Maher’s final whistle brought huge celebrations from the Glen contingent and left those present in awe at the topsy-turvy game they had seen.
Before Glen’s comeback, there had been what looked like a definitive one from Sars. Down by 1-15 to 1-9, they had a lifeline as sub Cullen Condon made an immediate impact, netting with a low shot.
Parity was achieved as Harry Cogan capped a mazy run with their third goal and they had the lead for the first time since the 11th minute through Brian Galvin and then another sub, Finn O’Connor, flashed over two lovely efforts in quick succession to leave it 3-13 to 1-16 with five minutes left. And yet there was time for even more drama, the Glen winning out.
It had taken them time to settle, Sars moving 0-3 to 0-1 ahead early on – the Glen were thankful to Josh Goulding for a good save to deny Barry O’Flynn a goal – but then the northsiders seized control in the middle period of the half.
They were level as a good point from midfielder Josh Brosnan was followed by a long-range free from McCarthy and then Michael Tadhg Brosnan had them in front. Wall might have even added a goal but Jack Austin saved brilliantly from him – but they hardly needed it as they moved four clear.
While Kyle Cronin was doing his best to frustrate Barry O’Flynn, the Cork U20 star displayed his ever-present threat with a shot that flashed over before setting up Cogan on 22.
O’Flynn’s brother Tom almost marked his entry to the field with a goal, Goulding saving well, but had a point soon after and Dunlea’s fourth left them one behind, 0-8 to 0-7, before O’Callaghan and Wall were on hand to send the Glen in with a three-point lead.
That was wiped out within 75 seconds of the restart as Barry O’Flynn latched on to a break before firing to the net but the Glen’s response was strong.
When the lead stretched to six, it looked like it would be their night – it was, but with plenty of twists and turns to follow.
As The Night The Goat Broke Loose on Grand Parade provided the soundtrack to the celebrations in the Glen dressing room, they knew they had won an epic.
Scorers for Glen Rovers: D Wall 2-6 (1-3f, 0-3 65), MT Brosnan 0-6, G O’Callaghan, C McCarthy (0-1f) 0-3 each, Josh Brosnan 0-1.
Sarsfields: A Dunlea 0-9 (0-7f, 0-1 65), B O’Flynn, H Cogan 1-1 each, C Condon 1-0, F O’Connor 0-2, B Galvin, T O’Flynn 0-1 each.
GLEN ROVERS: J Goulding; M Gayfer, K Cronin, O O’Connell; C Connolly, C McCarthy, J Murphy; Josh Brosnan, Jake Brosnan; J O’Sullivan, D Wall, G O’Callaghan; E McGuckin, C Walsh, MT Brosnan.
Subs: J O’Mahony for McGuckin (46), C Burke for O’Callaghan (57).
SARSFIELDS: J Austin; J McMahon, R Barry, J Tierney; R Higgins, J Huggins, C Quirke; S Bracken, B Galvin; A Dunlea, H Cogan, R McCarthy; C Austin, B O’Flynn, D O’Donovan.
Subs: T O’Flynn for McCarthy (27, injured), C Condon for Galvin (40), Galvin for O’Donovan (41), F O’Connor for C Austin (50).
Referee: M Maher (St Finbarr’s).
Shandrum and St Finbarr’s must meet again
By John Coughlan
St Finbarr’s 0-17
Shandrum 0-17
A magical point four minutes into added time from James Murray ensured the Barrs and Shandrum will meet again in the Rebel Óg Premier 2 MHC final following an epic game at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday.
Shandrum looked to be heading for the title before Murray leaped and flicked the ball onto his sliotar before splitting the posts from 60 yards, bringing his tally to 0-5 from play from out the field. The point was so spectacular it would have graced any pitch in this country.
The shooting was wayward in the opening three possessions with four wides (two each) as the tension seemed to be affecting both sides. Finally, Ben Jordan Reidy ended the drought in the fourth minute with Eoin Malone levelling proceedings two minutes later.
The striking of Christopher Dunne kept the north Cork side in control and when he landed his third point in the 14th minute it edged his side ahead by the minimum.
The Barrs were relying on the superb shooting of centre-back James Murray to keep them within striking distance but with Shandrum’s Johnny Murphy producing consecutive points they edged into a 0-5 to 0-3 lead in the 17th minute.
Indeed the Barrs should have raised the opening green flag a minute later when Sean Doolan blasted a shot towards goal only for the Shandrum keeper PJ Nonan to show tremendous agility in parrying it to safety.
When Ben Farrissey split the posts with eight minutes remaining to the interval it extended the Shandrum lead to three points but suddenly the Barrs responded to the wake-up call.
A couple of Ricky Barrett points got them back in the mix and they followed up with two more white flags that edged them ahead by the minimum in the closing minute.
The city side were now on top and when Sean Doolan was left through on goal he was fouled, and referee Diarmuid Kirwan had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Up stepped Conor O’Donoghue but his tame shot was easily parried to safety, but his side went in at the break commanding a 0-8 to 0-7 lead.
A superb Barrett point got the Barrs up and running in the 34th minute but Shandrum responded with consecutive points.
Suddenly the North Cork side showed their class and with Cork minor Johnny Murphy and Christopher Dunne driving them forward they surged into a three-point lead with ten minutes remaining.
Credit to the Barrs they kept battling and although it took the point of the season to level the game both teams will enjoy another day out to settle this championship.
Scorers for St Finbarr’s: J Murray 0-5, R Barrett 0-3 (0-1 f), C O’Donoghue 0-3, E Malone, T Howe 0-2 each, C O’Sullivan, S Doolan 0-1 each.
Shandrum: C Dunne 0-7 (0-5 f), J Murphy 0-4, BJ Reidy 0-3, B Farrissey, T O’Neill, L Coughlan 0-1 each.
St FINBARR’S: J Cuddihy; E Hurley, T Egan, D Burke; D O’Kelly, J Murray, M Aherne; J Millard, C O’Donoghue; J Brady, A Philips, E Malone; S Doolan, R Barrett, C O’Sullivan.
Sub: T Howe for M Aherne (12 inj).
SHANDRUM: PJ Noonan; J Morrissey, E Keating, E Sheedy; D Ryan, J Hogan, P O’Connor; C Finn, T O’Neill; C Dunne, J Murphy, L Coughlan; B O’Gorman, B Jordan-Reidy, B Farrissey.
Sub: J D Egan for B Farrissey (36).
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg).
