Kanturk end 97-year run at senior level for Glen Rovers

Despite some wasteful shooting, Kanturk have relegated one of Cork hurling's standard bearers

Sat, 16 Sep, 2023 - 19:20

Eoghan Cormican, Fermoy

Cork Premier SHC Relegation Playoff:

Kanturk 1-16 Glen Rovers 1-13

Despite hitting 19 wides, Kanturk prevailed in this Cork hurling relegation playoff to end Glen Rovers’ 97-year involvement in the top tier of the county championship.

Behind by the minimum - 1-7 to 1-6 - at the break, back-to-back points from Kanturk’s Alan and Colin Walsh within a minute of the restart moved the Duhallow men in front. And while the Glen did twice restore parity thereafter, they never succeeded in recapturing the lead at any moment throughout an error-ridden and desperately tense second period.

Outhurled for so much of that second period, what left the Glen in this contest right up until the last shrill of Cathal McAllister’s whistle was Kanturk’s dreadful accuracy.

Ten second half wides followed nine in the first half. It was a level of wastefulness that nearly came back to haunt them.

Indeed, it would have haunted them had their ‘keeper Grantis Bucinskas not produced an outstanding save to deny Mark Dooley in the 47th minute. A Glen goal there would have put the city side two in front and possibly been the spark to revive their flailing effort.

Not for the first time this season, the Glen faded in the third and fourth quarters. Their attacking efforts were repeatedly frustrated by former Cork senior Lorcán McLoughlin. He gave a masterclass in the sweeping role. Anytime Darren Browne succeeded in breaking a delivery between himself and Glen targetman Patrick Horgan, there was McLoughlin to immediately hoover up. The 33-year-old even managed to get forward for a second half point.

The aforementioned Colin and Alan Walsh, Brian O’Sullivan, from play and the deadball, and Liam O’Keeffe were the main second half contributors for the winners. Mind you, it was these same men and more who were equally guilty of some shocking wides.

A Lee Quilligan point on 57 minutes brought the Glen back within one, 1-14 to 1-13. No equaliser could be found during the next five scoreless minutes. Eventually, it was Brian O’Sullivan who broke the deadlock with a quick brace at the other end to keep Kanturk up and relegate the Glen.

Intermediate champions in 1925, the Glen first joined the top table of Cork hurling in 1926. They went on to win 28 county championships. On this Saturday evening in Fermoy, their 97-year top-tier status was removed. They’ll forage in the second-tier Senior A championship next year.

A first half of 15 scores and 15 wides finished with the Glen ahead by the minimum, 1-7 to 1-6. It was their opponents who were ahead on the misses count, registering nine wides to the Glen’s six.

Green flags had also been left behind in the opening half an hour. Patrick Horgan had his shot superbly blocked by Bucinskas, while Alan Walsh batted left and wide when Glen ‘keeper Cathal Hickey batted a Ryan Walsh delivery straight back into the danger area.

The tireless Dean Brosnan provided the Glen goal on 15 minutes. Liam O’Keeffe replied six minutes later.

From there until second half injury-time, there was never more than two between them. In the second half, though, that closeness had more to do with Kanturk’s shooting than anything the Glen were offering at the far end.

The unthinkable for Glen Rovers, relegation has darkened their door.

Scorers for Kanturk: B O’Sullivan (0-8, 0-4 frees, 0-1 ‘65); L O’Keeffe (1-1); Alan Walsh (0-3); C Walsh (0-2); L McLoughlin, I Walsh (0-1 each).

Scorers for Glen Rovers: P Horgan (0-7, 0-3 frees); D Brosnan (1-1); B Moylan, D Noonan, S Kennefick, S Busteed, L Quilligan (0-1 each).

Kanturk: G Bucinskas; R Walsh, D Browne, J McLoughlin; C Mullane, J Browne, T Walsh; L McLoughlin, P Walsh; C Walsh, I Walsh, Aidan Walsh; B O’Sullivan, Alan Walsh, R Sheehan.

Subs: L O’Keeffe for Sheahan (3 mins, inj).

Glen Rovers: C Hickey; A Lynch, E Downey, B Murphy; D Dooling, R Downey, B Moylan; E O’Leary, D Noonan; D Brosnan, M Dooley, L Coughlan; S Lynam, P Horgan, S Kennefick.

Subs: S Busteed for Lynam (42); Z Lynch for Murphy, L Quilligan for Coughlan (both 54); S McDonnell for Noonan (56, inj); C Dorris for Dooley (61).

Referee: C McAllister.