Johnny Galvin in top form as Éire Óg minor footballers take down Glanmire

Éire Óg 2-15 Glanmire 1-11

GLANMIRE might have been fancied heading into this Premier 2 MFC semi-final but they ran into a fast and furious Éire Óg at the the Mardyke on Friday evening.

The quality of the fare was excellent on a superb surface and rising above his contemporaries was Cork minor hurler Johnny Galvin. who put on a magnificent display, scoring an invaluable 10 points.

Glanmire started the brighter with Harry Cogan setting the tone early with two great points from solo runs but Éire Óg came into their own.

Both keepers were called into action on more than one occasion. A beautifully floated ball into Éire Óg's Sean Murphy saw him one-on-one with Glanmire's Sam Allen but the keeper stood strong and parried it. Then full-forward Josh McMahon came close for Glanmire but his effort was hit straight at Brendan Lenihan who stayed tall.

The first goal wasn't long in coming though when Seanie Hurley judged a bouncing ball perfectly, his reach for the 50/50 was enough to tap it past keeper Allen to give Éire Óg a two-point lead after 18 minutes.

From this moment the Ovens lads went from strength to strength, 1-8 to 0-7 up at the break. 

Led by an imperious Galvin, they picked Glanmire apart. Seven points alone from star man Galvin was the difference in the second period. While they were impressive going forward, keeper Brendan Lenihan cannot be forgotten, coming through for his side on a handful of occasions.

He made another super save from McMahon, who used his strength to muscle his way past three defenders.

A late goal from substitute Adam O’Mahony was the icing on the cake for Éire Óg as they cruise into a Premier 2 Minor Football final with a chance to ascend to the apex of Cork minor football next year.

Scorers for Éire Óg: J Galvin 0-10 (0-4 f), S Hurley 1-1, A O’Mahony 1-0, D Clifford, E Hyde, M Sheehan, D McCarthy 0-1 each.

Glanmire: H Cogan 1-2, J Austin 0-3 (0-2 f), B Galvin 0-3, B O’Flynn, S Bracken, J Huggins 0-1 each.

ÉIRE ÓG: B Lenihan; D O’Regan, D Dineen, K Murphy; M Sheehan, O McLaughlin, A Hayfield; D Clifford, K Beechinor; D McCarthy, S Murphy, E Hyde; J McCarthy, J Galvin, S Hurley.

Subs: A O'Mahony for J McCarthy (48), S O’Callaghan for D McCarthy (59), P Dineen for M Sheehan (60).

GLANMIRE: S Allen; Z Seymore, R Barry, P O’Brien; J Huggins, R McCarthy, C Austin; C Quirke, H Cogan; S Bracken, B Galvin, C Carroll; J Austin, J McMahon, B O’Flynn.

Subs: R Buckley for P O’Brien (46), B O’Mahony for R McCarthy (46), C Condon for J Austin (53), D McCarthy for S Bracken (59).

Referee: Colm Maher (Buttevant).