Graham Callanan: Patrick Horgan did tog out but we didn't want to risk him

Glen Rovers got their bid to return to the top flight of club championship hurling off to a winning start at Carrigtwohill on Friday night.

The famed Blackpool side were far too strong for Killeagh in their Co-op Superstores SAHC clash and even had the luxury of playing most of the second half with 14 and still never looking like they were in any real trouble.

Of course, they won’t have been happy going down to 14, when David Noonan was sent off for a late tackle on Colm Leahy. Add in the fact that they didn’t risk Patrick Horgan, who was carrying a slight knock since the All-Ireland final, and they still ran out comfortable winners by 3-19 to 0-15.

This was a quality team performance, with Eoin and Robert Downey outstanding in defence, along with Brian Moylan and David Dooling.

Gearoid Mulcahy came in at midfield for the injured Horgan to partner Noonan and up to the sending off they were on top.

Rhys Dunne moved from midfield to attack, where captain Dean Brosnan led by example, with Steven Lynam and Simon Kennefick also in top form.

Work rate was a key ingredient, something that selector, Graham Callanan was delighted with.

“This was our first championship match and nobody knows where they really are at yet, but we're delighted to get the win. 

"Bit disappointed with the sending-off, just a small bit of ill-discipline there from David, but in fairness I think we actually came into the game when we did go down to 14 and it shows a good fighting spirit as well.

“It could have gone either way after the sending off and the extra man can be hard to play against. I actually think it created a bit of room for us in the forwards and our backs were magnificent, particularly in the half-back line and around the middle of the pitch.

UNSELFISH

“Rhys Dunne came out from half-forward into the middle and got on a lot of ball and got in plenty of tackles as well. He broke up a lot of ball and let other fellas come in and it really helped us.

“Once you have a player sent off you have to be smart about things, but we're delighted with the win as I said.”

Their two first-half goals came from their work rate, where they broke up Killeagh balls coming out and Graham said they were delighted with that.

“Both of them came off a bit of work-rate from the forwards. You'd be talking about creating goals and you end up getting two from making them fumble one or two balls. They had a few short puck-outs and we overturned the ball and got the two goals from that.”

With the Glen well in control they opted not to bring Horgan on, but Graham said they hoped he would be back for their next game against Inniscarra.

“Patrick did tog out and we made a call not to start him because we didn’t want to risk him, because there's plenty matches coming up. Look it’s an overhang from the All-Ireland final as well. 

"So we made a decision not to start him and he was happy enough with that. 

He was there if we needed him, but we didn't want to risk it and we were happy to get the win without him.”

They now face Inniscarra in their second game and Graham said they hadn’t looked beyond Killeagh.

“We hadn't looked past Killeagh, so we'll do a bit of homework on Inniscarra when we get a chance, but we will enjoy this win for now."