No Hoggie, no problem for Glen Rovers against Killeagh

David Noonan saw red for a late tackle on Colm Leahy, and the game seemed to open up for the Imokilly side. The response from the Glen was as impressive as it was emphatic.

Glen Rovers' Steven Lynam celebrates his goal against Killeagh during their Senior AHC clash at Carrigtwohill. Picture: David Keane.

Fri, 02 Aug, 2024 - 21:08

John Coleman

Cork SAHC: Glen Rovers 3-19 Killeagh 0-15

No Patrick Horgan? No problem for Glen Rovers as they settled into life in the Co-op Superstores Cork SAHC with a comfortable win over Killeagh in Carrigtwohill. Their talisman was still suffering the effects of his hamstring injury, but he wasn’t missed here. However, six minutes into the second half it looked like they were in a spot of bother.

Dean Brosnan had traded scores with Dylan McCarthy on the resumption to leave the Glen leading by 2-10 to 0-11, but then they suffered a setback. David Noonan saw red for a late tackle on Colm Leahy, and the game seemed to open up for the Imokilly side.

The response from the Glen was as impressive as it was emphatic. They outscored Killeagh by 1-8 to 0-4 with two of those Killeagh points coming in injury time. The Downey brothers were imperious at the back along with Brian Moylan while up front Eoin O’Leary caught fire as he hit 0-3. Mark Dooley clipped over a pair of fine scores and Brosnan, Moylan and Rhys Dunne also split the posts.

The goal was a beauty too. A Kennefick effort dropped short, and Luke Horgan was there to backhand the ball to the net off the ground. When push came to shove, the Glen had the answers, while Killeagh were overly reliant on McCarthy.

In a pedestrian first half, the only real difference between the sides was the Glen’s eye for goal. At the turn, they led by 2-9 to 0-10 and both were displays of opportunism that arrived at the opportune time.

Dean Brosnan and Steven Lynam had put the northsiders two points up before efforts from David Buckley and the excellent Dylan McCarthy reeled them in. Points from McCarthy and Evan Lane then sandwiched a Brian Moylan score for the Glen to give Killeagh, who were playing with the breeze, the lead for the first, and only time, in the game.

Lynam levelled with a free before Simon Kennefick pounced on a loose puckout to give the Glen their opening goal. The sides kept trading scores and Kennefick’s goal still separated the sides, 1-7 to 0-7, with seven minutes left to the break.

Then came strike two. Some good old-fashioned beavering from Eoin O’Leary then afforded Kennefick the opportunity to feed Lynam, and the youngster didn’t need a second invitation to billow the net. Killeagh kept the scoreboard ticking over as three more points from McCarthy outdid two from Lynam to bring the half to a close.

The Glen will look for more of the same when they take on Inniscarra next time out, while Killeagh face a huge battle with Ballyhea to keep their season and alive.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: S Lynam (1-5, 0-3 frees), S Kennefick (1-2), D Brosnan (0-4), E O’Leary (0-3), L Horgan (1-0), M Dooley and B Moylan (0-2 each), R Dunne (0-1).

Scorers for Killeagh: D McCarthy (0-9, 0-6 frees, 0-1 ’65), D Buckley and E Lane (0-2 each), C Leahy and S Walsh (free) (0-1 each).

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; E Varian, E Downey, L Coughlan; B Moylan, R Downey, D Dooling; G Mulcahy, D Noonan; R Dunne, D Brosnan (c), M Dooley; S Lynam, P Horgan, S Kennefick.

Subs: L Horgan for Mulcahy (49), D Coughlan for R Downey (58-59, blood)

KILLEAGH: C Walsh; B Delaney, A Keniry, D Walsh (co-capt); R Sinclair, R McCarthy, A Walsh; C Leahy, S Long (co-capt); D McCarthy, C Leahy, A Leahy; D Buckley, G Leahy, E Lane.

Subs: S Walsh for A Walsh (inj, 40), R Long for Lane (42)Lane for G Leahy (44), S Smiddy for A Leahy (48)

Referee: Shane Scanlon (Newcestown).