Joy as Dripsey hang on for memorable victory as Glen rue missed chances

Dripsey 1-14 Glen Rovers 1-12

They accounted for Glen Rovers in this Evening Echo County JAHC quarter-final by two points in a game that was rich in endeavour and excitement.

Their triumph was by no means an emphatic one and the six minutes of injury-time created a nervy finale for the Dripsey contingent. They were fortunate as well when Glen Rovers chased a match-winning goal, as the last act of the game saw Glen Keith McCarthy’s 65 flick off a forest of hurls in the Dripsey square and cannon off the post.

Dripsey kept their rearguard intact to ensure survival and the final whistle prompted joyous scenes as they face a semi-final showdown with Carrignavar next week. When they reflect on this encounter, they will realise the win owed much to a glittering attacking display by Diarmuid O’Riordan. He nailed five pressure frees in the last 10 minutes and also banged a stunning finish to the net in the 33rd minute.

Yet the opening plays of the match belonged to Glen Rovers. After 10 minutes they were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead with midfielder Denis O’Callaghan landing two beauties. But their wastefulness in front of goal was critical and they should have been further ahead. Freetaking was a crippling problem for Glen Rovers throughout and they missed seven good chances from placed balls over the hour.

Dripsey atoned for their shaky opening to the game and thundered into it in the second quarter. They attuned their shooting correctly, with wing-back John Carey striking two glorious scores, and at half-time lead 0-7 to 0-5. O’Riordan then pounced for that early second-half goal before Sean O’Neill’s 38th minute penalty for Glen Rovers was tipped over the bar by Dripsey goalkeeper Aidan Buckley.

Dripsey looked in control but the introduction of Robert Brosnan to the Blackpool men’s attack changed the script. In the 45th minute he caught a high ball before booting to the net and a moment later placed Seanie McGrath for the lead point, 1-9 to 1-8.

The match unfolded at a terrific pace in the last quarter as both sides hurtled into the exchanges. With wing-back Liam Leahy starring, the advantage looked with Glen Rovers when Alan Dunlea and O’Neill points pushed them three clear. Dripsey rallied with a four point blast of their own — three O’Riordan frees and a David O’Sullivan score — to creep one ahead but Keith McCarthy’s 58th-minute free locked the sides together at 1-12 apiece.

Yet Dripsey regained the momentum when it mattered most and it was their star turn O’Riordan who kept calm to convert two late frees that sends them sailing into the semi-finals.

Scorers: Dripsey: D O’Riordan 1-8 (0-6f), M O’Sullivan, J Carey 0-2 each, D Foley (0-1f), D O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Glen Rovers: S O’Neill 0-4 (0-2f, 0-1 pen), R Brosnan 1-0, D O’Callaghan, S McGrath, K McCarthy (0-2f) 0-2 each, J Goggin, A Dunlea 0-1 each.

DRIPSEY: A Buckley; B Kelleher, J O’Mahony, L Buckley; J Carey, J O’Riordan, P O’Riordan; D Foley, C Hayes; David Buckley, D O’Riordan, G Murphy; D O’Sullivan, M O’Sullivan, Daniel Buckley. Subs: J Hogan for Daniel Buckley 48.

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; N Murphy, B Murphy, K Spain; L Leahy, G Looney, D O’Toole; D Óg O’Donovan, D O’Callaghan; N Harte, K Herlihy, R Whitty; S McGrath, J Goggin, S O’Neill. Subs: K McCarthy for Whitty (half-time), A Dunlea for Herlihy (half-time), K Barry for O’Callaghan 43, R Brosnan for Goggin 44.

Referee: Michael O’Mahony (Kilbrittain)