Barryroe avoid relegation from the Premier JHC with big win over Meelin

Barryroe 1-21 

Meelin 0-11 

Barryroe avoided relegation from the Co-op Superstores Premier JHC by defeating Meelin in a tense play-off in Blarney on Sunday afternoon.

The Carbery side got it over the line in the second half after going into the break leading 1-10 to 0-9 with Sean Holland’s goal ultimately the difference between the two clubs.

Barryroe took it to another level once the game got back underway by limiting their far away rivals to just two points.

They had ten different players put the ball over the bar over the hour, which was a major factor in getting the win.

Meelin actually lead 0-3 to 0-2 early on and then Barryroe rattled off four in a row with Holland, Adam McSweeney, Tomas O’Buachalla, and Jack Murphy hitting the target.

Things got better when an Olan O’Donovan pass set up Holland to get the game’s only goal with a venomous strike to make it 1-6 to 0-4 in the 15th minute.

The creator followed that up by hitting 0-3, which included two frees from right in front of the posts.

Meelin retaliated by raising five white flags in a row, with Jack Curtin getting two during that sequence.

That made the scoreboard read 1-9 to 0-9 and Barryroe closed out the half with Brian O’Donovan sneaking the sliotar over the bar in the dying seconds.

Meelin, keen to build on what they did in the run up to the interval, changed things around once the game got back underway by bringing on Martin Collins and Darragh O’Keeffe.

They worked together to create a goal chance in the 45th minute and Denis O’Riordan stopped this at the near post.

That kept Barryroe in front at 1-12 to 0-10 and the club went on to limit their rivals to just one more point, put over by Collins in the 40th minute.

Eight players combined to close out the game, with Donal O’Buachalla and Conor Madden scoring off the bench.

Ryan O’Donovan hit the target twice during the closing stretch, which helped stretch out and pad their lead while the back-line stopped a late Meelin push for a goal.

Maurice O’Keeffe had their best effort from a free and this was stopped on the line.

That effectively sealed the win despite time left on the clock, and it made sure Barryroe will play in the Co-op Superstores Premier JHC next year, while Meelin are relegated.

Scorers for Barryroe: S Holland 1-3; O O’Donovan 0-5 (2f); B O’Donovan 0-4; R O’Donovan and T O’Buachalla 0-2 each; D O’Sullivan, C Dineen, J Murphy, C Madden and D O’Buachalla 0-1 each.

Meelin: J O’Callaghan 0-3; J Curtin (1f) and N Linehan (1f) 0-2 each; J Forrest, C Curtin, M O’Keeffe, and M Collins 0-1 each.

BARRYROE: M Whelton; D Moloney, C Sheehy, S O’Riordan; D McCarthy, C Dineen, J Moloney; A McSweeney, R O’Donovan; T O’Buachalla, J Murphy, B O’Donovan; O O’Donovan, D O’Sullivan, S Holland.

Subs: D O’Buachalla for Murphy (36); C Madden for McSweeney (53), J O’Brien for B O’Donovan (60).

MEELIN: D O’Riordan; B Carroll, M O’Keeffe, TJ Twomey; N Linehan, W Murphy, C Curtin; C Curtin, J O’Sullivan; J O’Callaghan, J Forrest, C Curtin; S Hehir, J McAuliffe, J Curtin.

Subs: M Collins for Twomey (20); B O’Sullivan for Linehan (HT), D O’Keeffe for McAuliffe (HT).

Referee: Anthony O Regan (Youghal)