Late Heffernan points secure win for Glen over Douglas in Pharmacare U21 hurling championship semi-final

Glen Rovers 1-14

Douglas 1-12

Two late points, from a 65 and a free, by Glen keeper Ben Heffernan saw them get the better of Douglas in their Pharmacare City Division U21 A hurling championship semi-final clash at Douglas on Wednesday night.

The game was close all through, and it looked like going to extra time, but up stepped Heffernan to ensure his side came out on top in a highly entertaining game.

They will now face Blackrock in the final on November 9.

The Glen took the lead when Michael T Brosnan scored, with Eoin O’Leary adding a second to double their advantage.

Ronan Dooley got Douglas off the mark in the third minute, before the first goal chance came. Stephen Lynam burst past the Douglas defence, but his shot went wide with the goal at his mercy.

Rhys Dunne extended the Glen’s lead before Mark O’Brien pointed from a free for Douglas, to make it 0-4 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.

Douglas then missed a goal opportunity when Sean O’Leary played a great ball to Dooley. His pass found Charlie Lucas, but his effort went just wide of the post.

Diarmuid Wall scored his second free to keep the Glen in front, before O’Brien replied at the other end, from another free.

Wall and O’Leary were on target for the Glen to stretch their lead, before O’Brien hit back for Douglas, to make it 0-7 to 0-4 after 25 minutes.

Dooley and Lucas narrowed the gap, with Dunne getting the last score of the half as the Glen led by 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time.

Dooley got the first point of the second half, before Jake Brosnan burst forward to score the game’s opening goal.

Two frees from O’Brien had Douglas back in contention, as he made it 1-8 to 0-9 after 40 minutes.

Chris O’Keeffe pointed for Douglas to put a point between them, before points from Dunne and Wall restored the Glen’s three point lead.

O’Brien and O’Keeffe replied for Douglas to make it a one point game again, 1-10 to 0-12, after 50 minutes.

Eoghan O’Sullivan replied with two points for the Glen, before O’Brien burst forward to goal for Douglas to level it, with four minutes to go, 1-12 each.

But Heffernan’s late points, the first from a 65 and the second a free, ensured the Glen advanced to the final.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: Jake Brosnan 1-0, D Wall 0-4 (2f), R Dunne 0-3, E O’Leary, B Heffernan (0-1 65, 1f), E O’Sullivan 0-2 each, MT Brosnan 0-1.

Douglas: M O’Brien 1-6 (4f), R Dooley 0-3, C O’Keeffe 0-2, C Lucas 0-1.

GLEN ROVERS: B Heffernan; Josh Brosnan, E Varian, O O’Connell; MT Brosnan, C McCarthy, Z Lynch; Jake Brosnan, F O’Driscoll; E O’Sullivan, D Wall, R Dunne; J O’Sullivan, E O’Leary, S Lynam.

Subs: E Corby for S Lynam (ht), C Walsh for J O’Sullivan (43), J O’Mahony for E O’Sullivan (54).

DOUGLAS: P O’Sullivan; S O’Rourke, C MacPhaidin, J O’Callaghan Maher; L Kelleher, S O’Leary, D O’Callaghan; O Barry, J O’Brien; C Lucas, J Hartnett, C O’Keeffe; E O’Sullivan, M O’Brien, R Dooley.

Sub: A Sinnathambi for E O’Sullivan (54).

Referee: Niall Fahy, Brian Dillons.