SAHC: Glen Rovers outclass Inniscarra despite Patrick Horgan's absence again

Glen Rovers 2-26 Inniscarra 1-12 

Glen Rovers showed their class when easily disposing of Inniscarra in the Co-Op Superstores Senior A Hurling Championship at blustery Blarney.

The Blackpool outfit went into the game without their ace forward Patrick Horgan but led by the inspirational Downey brothers Robert and Eoin they were seldom troubled by their Muskerry outfit.

Both teams went into this clash on the back of wins with Glen Rovers overcoming Killeagh and Inniscarra defeating Ballyhea.

The Glen captain Dean Brosnan led by example when breaking through the Inniscarra defence in the second minute and splitting the posts with relative ease. Inniscarra went into the game without Cork captain Seán O’Donoghue and Liam Ryan and they amassed four wides in the opening six minutes.

After going seven minutes without a score a Stephen Lynam free edged them two points ahead but the Glen were making basic errors when in possession. Cork ace Patrick Horgan was also side-lined with David Dooling but a brace of points surged the Glen into a four-point lead.

It took Inniscarra 14 minutes to open their scoring courtesy of a David O’Keeffe point. Just when the Glen needed inspiration Eoin O’Leary produced a moment of magic as the Blackpool extended to five points.

Three unanswered points for the Glen and suddenly the lead was extended to eight points but again we had a mini-revival from Inniscarra with a couple of white flags. On the rare occasion the Glen were under pressure they responded and Stephen Lynam was unlucky not to raise the opening green flag but corner-back David Keane parried the ball to safety.

The energetic Lynam showed his class again but this time he was on target when taking a pass from Rhys Dunne and billowing the back of the net with precision.

Trailing 1-13 to 0-5 at the break Inniscarra needed huge improvement for the restart but they were punished with consecutive points. Scarra were further punished just four minutes into the half when a tame high ball from Robert Downey into the square wasn’t dealt as it dropped into the net.

In the remaining minutes, the Glen toyed with their opponents as their ability to score points at will was always evident.

Next up for Glen Rovers is their final game against Ballyhea and judging by their display in this game they are definitely making great strides towards the latter stages of this championship.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: S Lynam 1-7 (0-5 f), S Kennifick 0-5, D Brosnan, B Moylan, E O’Leary 0-4 each, R Downey 1-1, R Dunne 0-1 each.

Inniscarra: J Enright 0-7 (0-6 f, 0-1 65), S O’Mahony 1-1, D O’Keeffe, M Murphy 0-2 each.

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; S McDonnell, E Downey, L Coughlan; B Moylan, R Downey, E Varian; R Dunne, L Horgan; E O’Leary, D Brosnan, M Dooley; S Lynam, G Mulcahy, S Kennifick.

INNISCARRA: J O’Keeffe; D Keane, B O’Mahony, J O’Sullivan; S Sheehan, C O’Leary, J Enright; S O’Mahony, M Murphy; A McCarthy, A Doyle, C Lynch; F O’Leary, P Holland, D O’Keeffe.

Sub: C O’Leary for P Holland (45).

Referee: Brian Murphy (Carrigtwohill).