Premier SHC: Glen Rovers mark their return with win over Erin's Own

Glen Rovers 1-22 

Erin’s Own 1-15 

Glen Rovers marked their return to the Co-op SuperStroes Premier SHC in impressive fashion as they eased past Erin’s Own at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.

Last year’s SAHC winners asserted themselves without huge fuss as a 0-14 to 0-6 half-time lead was turned into a 1-17 to 0-7 advantage in the opening stages of the second period, Eoin O’Leary with a well-taken goal for them.

Erin’s Own did reply as Finn O’Brien found the net and, having fallen 12 behind after that, did score seven of the last nine points but the Glen’s supremacy was not in doubt.

Tomás Mulcahy’s side obviously benefited from the input of Cork seniors Robert and Eoin Downey, Patrick Horgan – who finished with 11 points – and Micheál Mullins, the latter was also one of four debutants, underlining the strength in depth being built up.

Early on the Glen showed a keen appetite to make up for lost time. Patrick Horgan tested Tom Dillon with an early goal effort and converted the 65; that set in train a run of seven points in as many minutes, with Luke Horgan, Eoin Downey and two of those making their championship bows, Diarmuid Wall and Conor McCarthy, all among the scores.

With Erin’s Own wasting opportunities at the other end, the Glen continued to make the running and a good Eoin Downey delivery to Stephen Lynam yielded another chance but Cian O’Connor defended well.

The lead had stretched to eight before Erin’s Own opened their account, but Eoghan Murphy’s effort from the sideline was followed by another from him and one by Robbie O’Flynn – the Cork panellist also had a goal half-chance wide while good Adam Lynch pressure snuffed out danger from Conor Lenihan.

On 22 minutes, the score was 0-9 to 0-4 in favour of the Glen when Cian Dunphy’s pass found Conor Lenihan, who in turn looked to play in Finn O’Brien but Cathal Hickey was out well to clear; seconds later, Stephen Lynam had the ball over the Erin’s Own bar and further scores from Rhys Dunne and Horgan – his fifth – had them eight in front.

The same advantage pertained at the interval and O’Leary’s goal, following good play by Horgan and Dunne, opened up a 1-15 to 0-7 advantage, followed by points from Mullins and Horgan.

Conor Lenihan’s driving run did set up Finn O’Brien’s goal for the Caherlag side to cut the deficit to ten, but the Glen ensured that the lead was never significantly eroded, even if their shooting in the second half was not up to levels of before.

O’Brien finished with 1-3 and O’Flynn 0-5 as Erin’s Own reduced the arrears in the closing stages – all but their final point was from play – but they will have a lot to work on ahead of a local derby with Sarsfields. The Glen, meanwhile, will know that victory over Fr O’Neills will almost certainly have them in the knockouts with a game to spare.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: P Horgan 0-11 (0-4 f, 0-1 65), E O’Leary 1-0, S Lynam, L Horgan 0-2 each, E Downey, R Downey, C McCarthy, M Mullins, R Dunne, D Wall, L Quilligan 0-1 each.

Erin’s Own: R O’Flynn 0-6 (0-1 f), F O’Brien 1-3, E Murphy 0-3, C Lenihan 0-2, M O’Riordan 0-1.

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; A Lynch, B Moylan, L Coughlan; E Downey, R Downey, C McCarthy; A O’Donovan, M Mullins; R Dunne, P Horgan, E O’Leary; D Wall, L Horgan, S Lynam.

Subs: J Brosnan for O’Donovan, L Quilligan for Wall (44).

ERIN’S OWN: T Dillon; C O’Connor, C Dooley, R O’Regan; S Broderick, C Dunphy, J O’Carroll; B Óg Murphy, C McDonnell; M O’Carroll, P O’Shea, R O’Flynn; C Lenihan, E Murphy, F O’Brien.

Subs: R Twomey for O’Shea (28, injured), T O’Connell for J O’Carroll (injured), C O’Callaghan for McDonnell (both 39), M O’Riordan for B Óg Murphy (52).

Referee: M Maher (St Finbarr’s).