Patrick Horgan fires two goals as Glen Rovers hold Blarney to seal Premier Senior return
Glen Rovers' Patrick Horgan is tackled by Blarney's Alan McEvoy during the Co-Op Superstores SAHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Leading from start to finish, there was never any doubt. Glen Rovers were at their very best as they overcame Blarney in the Senior A Hurling Championship final in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday.
Ninety-seven years in the top flight for the Glen, it’s time to restart the counter.
Glen Rovers are back and at Blarney’s expense.
Patrick Horgan’s 2-6 along with sub Lee Quilligan’s 1-1 ensured last year’s runners-up have suffered the same fate once more.
They were always going to be tested playing against the wind, but they couldn’t make that advantage count in the final quarter.
After Cathal McCarthy hit a crucial goal for Blarney in the 47th minute, Cian Barrett caught Rob Downey in possession, and fired over, roaring Blarney into life.
Two points from Coleman, the first from a free and the second from play – and suddenly the gap had gone from 11 to five with 10 minutes to go.
But as they did against Castlelyons in the semi-final, Glen Rovers held their nerve.
With the score at 2-14 to 1-12, Rovers closed out in style. Simon Kennefick hit the post from close range, but it didn’t matter. They followed up with 1-3 from play.
Dean Brosnan, who starred, Simon Kennefick and Quilligan all hit the target – before the latter sealed the win in added time with an outstanding solo effort.
He ran from the end line straight at goal, got by his man and as he lost control of the sliotar – he whipped on it. It flew in along the ground, ensuring the northsiders return to Premier Senior.
It was tough for Blarney, who had to deal with two storms in the first half – Ashley and Hoggie.
Ashley came into play first with Brian Moylan’s effort from his own 65 sailed between the posts after two minutes.
Then, it was time for Storm Hoggie.
He hit two frees in two minutes, before Barrett struck Blarney’s first. Glen Rovers went on a 1-4 run in response, with 1-3 from that man, Patrick Horgan.
Horgan and Dooley hit the first two, before the former forced a turnover and pointed, shortly before hitting the first goal after 18 minutes.
The Cork talisman struck it with top spin from a free outside the 20, and it deflected off Paul Hallisey’s hurley and flew into the roof of the net.
He then combined with Eoin O’Leary to make it 1-7 to 0-1, giving Rovers a nine point lead, which would be stretched to 10 by half time.
Eoghan Kirby and Barrett hit back for Blarney, but that would be the end of their first half scoring with 26 minutes on the clock. Sweeper Mark Coleman had impressed, but his distribution was hampered by the wind.
The impact of the wind was clearest at the end of the half when Patrick Crowley tried to play the ball in, but by the time it started to drop, the sliotar was already moving backwards.
It landed inside the 65 in front of Barrett and he shot for a score. And it again fell short, at the Glen’s 13 metre line.
By that stage Blarney were 1-10 to 0-3 behind but with Glen’s wide count at nine and two squandered goal chances, their lead could have been far greater.
Blarney swapped Barrett and Cathal Hegarty on the resumption and within 12 seconds the two had combined for a score, but their joy didn’t last long.
A superb free from Moylan brought the gap back to 10 – but Storm Hoggie was to the fore once again.
An excellent ball in from Moylan was picked up by Horgan, and once he had the space to shoot across goal there was never any doubt.
He buried it into the far corner, 2-11 to 0-4 with 34 minutes gone. By the three-quarter hour mark the 10 point gap from the break remained.
Blarney finally did get their comeback on track as Cian Barrett did brilliantly to come away with the ball, and he set up Cathal McCarthy – who thundered it off the crossbar and in. Ultimately, they couldn’t keep hold of momentum, and Glen Rovers finished strong to close out the win.
P Horgan 2-6 (1-4 f), D Brosnan 0-4, L Quilligan 1-1, B Moylan 0-2 (0-1 f), S Kennefick, M Dooley, S Lynam, L Coughlan 0-1 each.
S Barrett 0-4 (0-2 f), M Coleman 0-3 (0-2 f), C McCarthy 1-0, P Power 0-2, C Hegarty, E Kirby, D Hanlon, C Barrett 0-1 each.
C Hickey; A Lynch, E Downey, S McDonnell; B Moylan, R Downey, D Dooling; L Coughlan, R Dunne; S Kennefick, D Brosnan (c), M Dooley; S Lynam, P Horgan, E O’Leary.
L Horgan for Dooley (51), L Quilligan for Lynam (54), D Noonan for Dunne (60).
P Halllisey; A McEvoy, C Power, S Crowley; D Hanlon, P Crowley, M Coleman (c); O Hegarty, C Hegarty; D McSweeney, S Barrett, E Kirby; C Barrett, P Power, C McCarthy.
S Mulcahy for Kirby (39), C Dunlea for McSweeney (60), D Murphy for S Crowley, J O’Keeffe for C Hegarty (both 60+2).
Wayne King (Banteer)
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