Micheál Mullins shines as Glen Rovers squeeze past Fr O'Neill's and into knockouts
Micheál Mullins of Glen Rovers reaches out for the sliothr ahead of Fr O'Neill's Mark O'Keeffe during the Premier Senior Hurling Championship match in Midleton. Picture: Howard Crowdy
Never comfortable, but never really in any doubt, either. It was a testing one for Glen Rovers, but they got the job done to secure passage to the knockout stages of the Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship after defeating Fr O’Neill’s in Midleton on Sunday evening.
They had done well against the breeze in the first half and stretched their lead to six by the 33rd minute, after a couple of good scores from lively midfielder Micheál Mullins.
But O’Neill’s would not go away. Time and time again, at the same venue they caught St Finbarr’s out last year, O’Neill’s kept themselves within striking range, leaving the Glen no room for comfort.
That O’Neill’s pressure kept building. In the 52nd minute, they finally got the gap back to three after a Declan Dalton 65, but that should have been the goal they needed. O’Neill’s had a free brought right up to the penalty spot after two Glen infractions. Dalton’s shot was powerful, but blocked by Adam Lynch, and out for the 65.
By the 57th minute, the three-point difference lingered, after Michael Wall teed up Kevin O’Sullivan to keep O’Neill’s desperately hanging on. Mullins was fouled for a free, but Patrick Horgan – who had been faultless from placed balls up to that point – skimmed the outside of the post.
Added time to go. Just maybe O’Neill’s would do it again.
Peter Hassett fouled, Dalton free. Score. Two in it.
But Mullins hit back with a beauty over the shoulder. Hoggy added another after he was fouled to leave them four up again, and while Kevin O’Sullivan got one more back for the east Cork side, they couldn’t forge the goal they needed.
The Glen hung on, only just. They join Sarsfields, who they face in the next round, on four points. O’Neill’s and Erin’s Own are left to battle it out for survival.
It was a tight affair from start to finish, but never a brilliant one. Placed balls the story of the game. Dalton versus Hoggy. The Cork seniors going head-to-head from frees.
At conclusion, it was Horgan’s goal that was the difference. His sixth minute major came from the penalty spot, after Adam O’Donovan had surged through and popped it off to Eoin O’Leary, who was brought down.
Horgan struck low and left, giving the Glen a 1-2 to 0-1 advantage, but O’Neill’s were unable to get in front, or draw level at any point.
Scores usually came in pairs for both teams. Either Horgan or Dalton from a placed ball. Momentum never swinging one way for too long.
There were just seven scores from play in the first half, and as Stephen Lynam teed up Mullins for the seventh from play on 28 minutes, the Glen moved five in front. Dalton would get one back from a free to leave it 1-9 to 0-8 at the break.
Even against the breeze, the Glen were that bit on top. Defensively they were in control, only allowing O’Neill’s to slip through once in the opening 30, in a move that was well shut down by Rob Downey. Simon Kennefick was lively up front, too.
In midfield, Micheál Mullins had acres of space. He was a constant, relentless threat.
A strong Glen third quarter left O’Neill’s with too much to do against a team who do not give an inch. O’Neill’s succumbed in the end, and will rue the lack of first half scores with the wind.
P Horgan 1-9 (1-0 pen, 0-6 f, 0-2 65), M Mullins 0-4, S Kennefick 0-3, E O’Leary, S Lynam, L Quillligan 0-1 each.
D Dalton 0-12 (0-8 f, 0-2 65), K O’Sullivan 0-3, John Millerick 0-2, R Cullinane, M Wall 0-1 each.
C Hickey; A Lynch, D Dooling, L Coughlan; B Moylan, R Downey, E Downey; A O’Donovan, M Mullins; E O’Leary, P Horgan (c), R Dunne; S Kennefick, L Horgan, S Lynam.
C McCarthy for Dooling, L Quilligan for L Horgan (both 45), J Brosnan for O’Donovan (54), D Wall for Lynam (55).
P O’Sullivan; M Millerick, D Harrington (jc), E Motherway; M O’Keeffe, G Millerick (jc), T Millerick; K O’Sullivan, R Kenneally; P McMahon, R Cullinane, Joe Millerick; B Dunne, D Dalton, John Millerick.
M Wall for Dunne (13 inj), P Hassett for O’Sullivan (14-16 temp), Hassett for Kenneally (59), Kenneally for G Millerick (60+2 inj).
W King (Banteer)
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