Glen Rovers edge league champions Sars without Patrick Horgan and Cork stars

RISING HIGH: The Glen's Dean Brosnan rises and catches the dropping ball from Sars player Sam McNamara. Pic: David Creedon.

Sarsfields 0-20 Glen Rovers 1-21

Despite being without the injured Patrick Horgan and their Cork crop, Glen Rovers inflicted defeat on defending league champions Sarsfields at Riverstown on Friday evening.

Stephen Lynam’s 41st minute goal gave the Glen a four-point buffer they would not cede in the opening round of the league.

Both teams would finish with 14 men after Eoghan Murphy and Mark Dooley were sent off for an off-ball tussle in the 54th minute.

The first half was split evenly, Sars on top early but the Glen strong in the second quarter to lead 0-13 to 0-11 at the break.

Luke Horgan and Lee Quilligan were both excellent for the northsiders in exploiting the space down Sars’ left flank, while Jack O’Connor blew off some steam as he fired over 0-4 from play inside the first 10 minutes.

Jack O'Connor clears the ball out of defence during the Red FM Division 1 Senior Hurling League between Sarsfields and Glen Rovers. Pic: David Creedon.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: S Lynam (1-7, 0-4 frees), L Horgan, L Quilligan (0-4 each), D Brosnan (0-3), R Dunne, D Wall, M Dooley (0-1 each).

SARSFIELDS: D McCarthy; D English, K Crowley, C Roche, S McNamara; E Murphy, L Elliott; K Murphy, B Nodwell; J O’Connor, D Hogan, C Darcy; L Hackett, S O’Regan, Colm McCarthy.

Subs: S King for Nodwell, R O’Brien for Hackett (both 47).

GLEN ROVERS: B Heffernan; E Varian, A Lynch, L Coughlan; L Horgan, B Moylan, D Noonan; C McCarthy, J Brosnan; L Quilligan, D Brosnan, R Dunne; D Wall, S Lynam, M Dooley.

Subs: F O’Driscoll for Wall (HT), Z Lynch for Noonan (43), G Mulcahy for J Brosnan (47), C Healy for Lynam, C Connolly for A Lynch (inj) (both 58), D Coughlan for Dunne (60+1).

Referee: C Walsh (Nemo Rangers).