Sweet Blackpool as new Glen generation write fresh chapter in club's story

The northsiders capped their comeback to the top table with a composed win over the Barrs on Sunday.

CHAMPIONS: Glen Rovers players celebrate with the Seán Óg Murphy Cup. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Glen Rovers 2-20 St Finbarr’s 0-23 

As well as wearing relegated status at the end of a dark 2023 season, the Glen also wore the label of an ageing team. It was in no way an inaccurate description.

There were plenty of campaigners throughout that relegated side who’d been back-to-back champions in 2015 and ‘16, and three-in-a-row beaten finalists in 2019-21. There was mileage mixed in amongst the pit-of-your-stomach guilt at being the crowd to lose the Glen’s 97-year top table seat.

The Glen Rovers team that walked behind the Barrack Street Band shortly before 4pm on Sunday showed six newcomers who hadn’t been in the line-up that unspeakable evening in Fermoy three years ago.

The oldest of the newcomer six are the 24-year-old pair of Lee Quilligan and Luke Horgan. One step further down is 23-year-old Micheál Mullins. And while the half-forward's impact was far less substantial than his semi-final-deciding scores, of their opening county final 0-8, he was fouled for two converted frees and raised a white flag himself.

Another step down again is 22-year-old Rhys Dunne. A most effective semi-final showing from the young midfielder was followed by an exceptional final-day contribution. He was this final's breakout performer.

Beyond his three from play, Dunne was fouled for a converted free and provided the assist for Eoin O’Leary’s second goal. Of their final quarter 1-5, he was central to 1-3.

Also 22 is corner-back Eoin Varian, who executed a fine first-half containment job on William Buckley.

The obituaries of 2023 have had to be dusted off and rewritten. The goat has once again broken loose on Grand Parade. The Glen have once again won the county.

And when you factor in the minor wins of 2023 and ‘24, there is a raft of fresh Blackpool talent charging behind those who have been integrated into the senior team sheet over the past three restorative seasons.

The silverware was walked across the Christy Ring Bridge on Sunday evening. Greeting captain Adam Lynch and the Seán Óg Murphy Cup to the Northside was a future full of promise.

“When we went down, we had a lot of young fellas coming through and we knew that they had serious ability. They’re after coming in now, so I had huge confidence in this team,” said Lynch.

“Our goal at the start of every year is to win the county. We have the players. We’re blessed that we still have Patrick Horgan there, and you want to soak up as much as you can from him.

“There’s a good mix between older and younger, and I expected that this is the level we should be at.” 

The mix that won them a 28th county, first in 10 years, and first over the Barrs since 1967 was a defensive effort that sufficiently muted the headline acts in the Barrs attack and the greater number of match-turning threats in their own attack.

Dean Brosnan chipped in with his usual brace. Hoggie, as well as eight frees, hung over three from play, including a beauty from the South Stand sideline on 42 minutes. As for Simon Kennefick, ignore the 0-1 beside his name. He tormented Jamie Burns and was fouled for two converted frees.

And then we come to Eoin O’Leary. Arriving into Sunday as their top-scorer from play with 3-11, he stitched 2-2 onto this already impressive compilation. His fourth and fifth green flags of the campaign ultimately decided the campaign.

The opening half had finished with a Barrs four-in-row. The Barrs' 0-12 to 0-10 half-time lead lasted all of three second-half minutes. They led this final for all of eight minutes.

O’Leary’s opening goal in the 37th minute rubberstamped the Glen’s reassertion upon the change of ends. The green flag stemmed from a William Buckley point attempt that came back down off the post. The subsequent delivery into the Blackrock End was missed by Seán Daly. O’Leary tore in and provided a smart, batted finish.

Having led by four entering the final quarter, the Glen's lead peaked at five - 2-18 to 0-19 - when O’Leary fired in his second on 54 minutes. The isolation he found himself in so close to the Barrs goal did not faze the 22-year-old.

Kept in touch by Ethan Twomey’s latest second-half heroics, the Togher outfit almost found an equalising goal in the final minute of the injury-time three. Buckley weaved inside the sea of green, black, and gold. Cathal Hickey’s feet-first lunge closed the opening. A penalty could so easily have been awarded.

Those dramatic final moments were largely out of sync with a final that clicked and flowed but sporadically.

All the ingredients were lined up for a classic. A pair of city giants. A first-coming together on the concluding Sunday in 38 years. A rake of present and former Cork acts. Heavyweight matchups at either end. Hayes on the taller Downey. Hoggie on the eldest Cahalane. A sideline of highly respected coaching pedigree.

Wayne King threw in possession and it quickly became apparent quality was an absent ingredient. The strange flatness emanating from the packed stands - 19,041 the attendance - was reciprocated by shocking shooting on either side.

From open play, the Glen were successful with just one of their opening nine attempts. The Barrs went one from seven. The first quarter saw 11 wides dwarf eight scores.

Florence + The Machine’s 'Dog Days Are Over' rang out at full-time. A single green flare was released in triumph. The Glen’s dog days are well and truly over. That now redeemed relegation chapter sits firmly in the rearview mirror.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: P Horgan (0-11, 0-8 frees); E O’Leary (2-2); R Dunne (0-3); D Brosnan (0-2); S Kennefick, M Mullins (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Finbarr’s: B Cunningham (0-6, 0-5 frees); E Twomey (0-5); B Hayes, W Buckley (0-3 each); S Cunningham (0-2); C Doolan, A Barry, C Walsh, R Barrett (0-1 each).

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; E Varian, R Downey, A Lynch; L Horgan, E Downey, L Coughlan; R Dunne, C McCarthy; D Brosnan, M Mullins, L Quilligan; S Kennefick, P Horgan, E O’Leary.

SUBS: B Moylan for Quilligan (36); D Noonan for McCarthy (55); A O’Donovan for Dunne (60).

ST FINBARR’S: S Hurley; S Daly, D Cahalane, J Burns; E Finn, C Doolan, C Cahalane; C Walsh, E Twomey; J Wigginton-Barrett, B Cunningham, J O’Kelly; S Cunningham, B Hayes, W Buckley.

SUBS: A Barry for Walsh (36); J Cahalane for O’Kelly (38); R Barrett for S Cunningham (53).

REFEREE: W King.