Glen Rovers show class to secure semi-final spot with win over Ballyhea

The city side made it three wins on the trot, even without Patrick Horgan.

HUNT IN PACKS: Stephen McDonnell, Brian Moylan and Adam Lynch of Glen Rovers chase down Joseph Hickey of Ballyhea at Kanturk. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Glen Rovers 3-23 Ballyhea 0-15 

GLEN ROVERS claimed a third straight victory to book a semi-final position thanks to a 17-point victory over Ballyhea in the Co_Op SuperStores Co. SAHC at Kanturk.

Having recorded whopping wins already over Killeagh and Inniscarra to head the Group 3 table with a healthy point difference, the Glen were in no mood for slacking off without the services of the legendary Patrick Horgan.

The Glen were strong up the spine under the colossus of Rob Downey at centre back while Simon Kennefick, Dean Brosnan and Steven Lynam had the alarm bells ringing upfront for the opposing rearguard. After the sides traded early points, the Glen set out their stall, a Rhys Dunne delivery won by Eoin O’Leary found Lynam to blast home.

Though John Morrissey and Maurice O’Sullivan answered with Ballyhea points, they were let down with wayward shot selection, shooting five wides in the opening quarter. Already without Pa O’Callaghan and Jamie Copps, their forces were further depleted with injuries forcing the withdrawal ofTom Hanley and Kieran Morrissey.

And the North Cork men had a mountain to climb from the 18th minute, O’Leary placed Kennefick for a second Glen goal. After the Glen added on four of the next five points, Ballyhea’s battling qualities surfaced for a brief spell, Eugene O’Leary, John Morrissey and Joseph Hickey delivering much needed points to trail 2-11 to 0-10 at the interval.

However the Glen carried their good form into the second spell, their hurling touch much crisper, three quickfire points added by Lynam, Eoin Downey and Brosnan. Ballyhea were operating second best and any hopes of a concerted bid to arrest the slide was emphasized on relying on Hickey for all of their scores in the second half.

As the contest continued and tensions rose, the Glen weren’t as economical as earlier with a string of wides accumulated. Still, they enjoyed ample possession, O’Leary and Brosnan did find the target to widen the gap.

Clearly with an eye on a semi final position, the Blackpool side weren’t intent to ease on the accelerator, evident when Brosnan picked out Kennefick for his second green flag.

That added to Ballyhea’s pain coupled with Killeagh’s emphatic victory over Inniscarra sees the East Cork men secure a quarter final slot thanks to a superior points difference after all three sides finished on the Table with two points apiece.

No such problem for Tomás Mulcahy and his Glen charges, justifying the favourites tag here, also offering indication that their sights are on the ultimate prize.

They leapfrog a quarter final slot and advance to play Castlelyons or Na Piarsaigh in the penultimate hurdle.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: S Kennefick 2-4, S Lynam 1-6 (0-3 f), D Brosnan 0-5, E O’Leary 0-3, E Downey, R Downey, D Dooling, M Dooley, L Horgan 0-1 each.

Ballyhea: J Hickey 0-9 (0-8 f), E O’Leary, J Morrissey (f), M O’Sullivan 0-2 each.

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; A Lynch, S McDonnell, L Coughlan; B Moylan, R Downey, E Varian; D Dooling, R Dunne; D Brosnan, E Downey, M Dooley; S Lynam, S Kennefick, E O’Leary.

Subs: L Horgan for S McDonnell (29, inj), G Mulcahy for S Lynam (56).

BALLYHEA: M Browne; W Carroll, A Barrett, C Cox; M Morrissey, T Hanley, F O’Sullivan; J Morrissey, L Crowley; D Copps, M O’Sullivan, K Morrissey; E O’Leary, J Hickey, G Morrissey.

Subs: N Crowley for T Hanley (10, inj), D Curtin for K Morrissey (17, inj), M Mortell for N Crowley (ht), K Copps for F O’Sullivan (57), S Walsh for D Copps (61).

Referee: Mark Maher (St Finbarr’s).