Minor Football: Douglas get back on track with victory over Glanmire

Douglas 2-9 Glanmire 1-5

Douglas led all through as they kick-started their Cork ETB Rebel Óg U18 Premier 1 FC campaign with victory at home to Glanmire on Wednesday night.

Having lost their opener to Clonakilty a fortnight ago while Glanmire beat Na Piarsaigh, the hosts had little margin for error here but an early goal from Liam Cregan helped them to a 1-2 to advantage and they were never ahead by less by than three points thereafter.

By half-time, it was 2-5 to 1-3 and the first three points of the second half tightened their grip on the game. A seven-point winning margin could yet be crucial if there is a three-way tie and scoring difference is required to separate the two sides and Clonakilty.

While Glanmire enjoyed early possession, with midfielder Tom O’Flynn a key influence for them throughout, they found the Douglas rearguard difficult to pierce and, when the ball was turned over, Douglas moved it well.

They had scored the opening two points before a superb delivery by Adam Kelly was won by midfielder Cregan, who kept his composure to finish well to the net.

Glanmire did respond to that with a point from O’Flynn before he set up Matthew Sullivan for another. In the wake of a Darragh Barry score for Douglas, Glanmire’s Alex Bollard almost got in for a goal, denied by good Tadhg Curtin defending, but while a Cathal Kelly point accrued, Douglas doubled their lead soon after.

A superb interception by Conor McLoughlin was the catalyst for another good break as Darragh O’Connor picked out Ben Herlihy and he did well to get a pass away under pressure – Thomas Murray’s initial shot was saved but he converted the rebound.

James Naughton’s point after a good period of retention moved them seven ahead, though Glanmire gave themselves some hope coming up to half-time as Cuan McMahon started a move involving Bollard and Considine before finishing it with a deft shot to the net.

That left it 2-4 to 1-3 but Kelly had the final say of the half for Douglas and Barry, Herlihy and Naughton extended the advantage on the restart – they would have had another goal but Zach Deane saved brilliantly from O’Connor.

Cathal Galvin and Considine did reduce the Glanmire arrears somewhat but a goal never looked likely for them – instead, they needed important interventions from Darragh Pomeroy and McMahon at the other end before Douglas won a penalty.

Another marvellous aerial win by Cregan was the catalyst and he was fouled as he landed – Deane again pulled off a great save though, denying Murray. Douglas were not to rue the miss though and capped the victory as sub Ciarán Fitzgerald laid on the clincher for Kelly.

Scorers for Douglas: J Naughton 0-3, T Murray, L Cregan 1-0 each, B Herlihy (f), D Barry, A Kelly 0-2 each.

Glanmire: C McMahon 1-0, T O’Flynn, M Sullivan, C Kelly, C Galvin, E Considine 0-1 each.

DOUGLAS: D Kelleher; R McCarthy, P Rudden, T Curtin; C McLoughlin, D O’Donoghue, J Gordon; J Naughton, L Cregan; T Reddington, D Barry, D O’Connor; B Herlihy, A Kelly, T Murray.

Subs: I Butler for Reddington, C Fitzgerald for Gordon (both 42), C McAuliffe for Naughton (50), C Crowley for Herlihy, E Cronin for McLoughlin (both 58).

GLANMIRE: Z Deane; R Dennehy, A O’Sullivan, A Soltani; F Conway, D Pomeroy, C McMahon; T O’Flynn, E Considine; B Murphy, C Galvin, C Kelly; M Sullivan, A Bollard, D Healy.

Subs: A McCarthy for B Murphy, R Murphy for Bollard (both 38), M Cronin for McMahon (58), A Naughton for Galvin (60).

Referee: T Manley (Inniscarra).