Buckley scores 0-8 from play as Barrs thump Glen Rovers in league opener
Ciaran Steele, St Finbarr's tries to get away from Glen Rovers' Eoin O'Leary during their RedFM Hurling League Division 1 clash. Picture: Denis Boyle
St Finbarr’s got their league season off to a flyer scoring a staggering 23 points from play in the Glen field to get the better of their historic rivals, with All-Ireland U20 winner William Buckley tallying eight of those scores on Friday evening.
From start to finish they were better in every aspect of this RedFM Hurling League Division 1 encounter, and their from play conversion rate of 88% showed just how dominant the Barrs were as they retained the Eucharistic Cup.
While not quite the spectacle it once was, the iconic trophy was brought along by the Togher outfit, who retain it for another year.
The Barrs led for 54 minutes, reaching a game high advantage of 12 in added time after an outrageous effort from play by William Buckley.
Dean Brosnan concluded the contest with the Glen’s final score to bring their tally to 0-15 a few seconds later, but it was their first point since the 51st minute.
That white flag 10 minutes prior also came from the hurl of Brosnan, but it got the Barrs lead down to six points.
The Glen could have halved the deficit a minute later as Luke Horgan snatched possession when a defensive error from the southsiders saw Shane Hurley caught off his line, but Jamie Burns did well to get back and block the shot.
From there the Barrs reeled off seven points in a row – just one of those from a placed ball through William Buckley.
Wing-back Aidan Barry had the pick of the scores with his third point, an outrageous solo effort that drew a laugh of disbelief from the Barrs’ bench.
Ultimately they were far better than a Glen Rovers side down many key players – but there were positives for the northsiders.
Minor stars Diarmuid Wall, Conor McCarthy and Jake Brosnan got their first taste of senior hurling, even if they had to wait until the second half for their introductions.
By that stage the Glen were already nine points adrift – thanks to a blistering start with the breeze from the Barrs.
The hosts scored first but St Finbarr’s responded in style as Buckley took flight –tormenting the Glen’s half back line and running them into the ground.
He got three of their first four points with Adam Buckley on the other wing firing over the other, leaving the Barrs 0-4 to 0-1 up after eight minutes.
Combined the two were deadly – their movement and positioning from puckouts key, while midfielder Ciaran Steele ensured they had aerial superiority from start to finish.
Only one shot at goal occurred in the first half with Eoin O’Leary forcing a great save from Shane Hurley. When O’Leary converted the resulting 65 in the 14th minute, the St Finbarr’s lead was at 0-6 to 0-2.
Four minutes later the score was 0-8 to 0-3 with William Buckley adding another outrageous point from a tight angle.
A brilliant team move involving five different players 40 seconds later saw Sam Cunningham get his first of three scores. Three more followed from the Barrs, who moved 0-13 to 0-3 clear with 24 minutes elapsed.
Eoin O’Leary slowed the bleeding in the closing stages of the half with two points, but when the short whistle was blown the Barrs were nine to the good. It would need a monstrous turnaround from the Glen.
Steele picked up two assists in the first half, but his greatest contribution was on the defensive end – hoovering up any danger in the middle.
Barry was phenomenal at half back for the Barrs, while Eoin Keane and Ciarán Doolan also impressed defensively.
The three ensured Rovers were unable to turn it around.
E O’Leary 0-7 (0-4 f), D Brosnan 0-4, L Quilligan, R Dunne, G Mulcahy, L Horgan 0-1 each.
W Buckley 0-11 (0-3 f), A Buckley 0-4, S Cunningham, A Barry 0-3 each, K O’Flynn 0-2, C Doolan, C Crowley, C Keane 0-1 each.
C Hickey; A Lynch, E Varian, Z Lynch; B Moylan, D Coughlan, D Noonan; G Mulcahy, R Dunne; E O’Leary, L Horgan, M Dooley; L Quilligan, D Brosnan (c), E Murphy.
D Wall for Murphy, C McCarthy for Mulcahy, A O’Donovan for Dooley (all HT), J Brosnan for Coughlan (47), F O’Driscoll for O’Leary (58 inj).
S Hurley; E Keane, J Burns (c), S Kennedy; T Egan, C Doolan, A Barry; C Crowley, C Steele; W Buckley, C Keane, A Buckley; K O’Flynn, S Cunningham, D Murray.
J O’Brien for Crowley, B O’Connell for Murray (both 47), M Nason for Steele (51), M Ahern for C Keane, J Kennefick for Kennedy (both 60).
Ciaran O’Regan (Ballyhea)
App?
