Glanmire land Seandún Junior C title by seeing off Lough Rovers

Glanmire 1-14 (1-2-10) Lough Rovers 1-10 (1-1-8)

Glanmire were crowned AOS Security Seandún Junior C Football Champions as they defeated Lough Rovers before a good-sized attendance in blustery conditions at Ballinlough.

Despite playing against a slight breeze, Glanmire were on top for most of the opening half, before Lough Rovers levelled matters approaching the interval. The second half was more evenly contested, with two two-pointers from frees for Glanmire proving to be the difference between the sides.

Thomas Lonergan opened the scoring with a pointed free for Glanmire after four minutes. Glanmire’s Matthew O'Callaghan and Gavin Duggan of Lough Rovers traded points from play, before Glanmire took a grip on proceedings.

Lonergan set up Patrick Henry for Glanmire’s goal in the 13th minute. Conor MacMahon, Matthew O’Callaghan and Henry, each tagged on unanswered points to give Glanmire a lead of 1-5 to 0-1.

Lough Rovers began to get to grips with the game as Cian Allen slotted over three unanswered points, which included a two-pointer from a free. Shane Long also added a point from play. Long was also credited with Lough Rovers’ goal following a free by Rory Shine, deep into stoppage time. This tied the scores at 1-5 apiece at the interval.

Ger O’Callaghan restored Glanmire’s lead with a two-pointer from a free, but Emmett Sheehan reduced the margin to a single score with a free.

Jordan O’Connor levelled matters with the first score from play of the second half, but this was cancelled out by Lonergan’s first point from play for Glanmire.

Persistent fouling was proving to be costly for Lough Rovers approaching the final quarter, as Ger O’Callaghan converted two frees for Glanmire, including a two-pointer. Adam Long added a point from play to extend Glanmire’s lead to 1-12 to 1-7.

Lough Rovers outscored Glanmire by three points to two in the closing stages, before the final whistle was greeted by jubilant scenes by the Glanmire supporters.

Scorers for Glanmire: G O’Callaghan 0-6 (2 2pt f, 0-1 f), P Henry 1-1, T Lonergan 0-3 (0-2 f), M O’Callaghan 0-2, C MacMahon, A Long 0-1 each.

Lough Rovers: S Long 1-1, E Sheehan 0-4 (0-2 f), C Allen 0-3 (1 2pt f), J O’Connor, G Duggan 0-1 each.

GLANMIRE: C Kingston; J Kelleher, J O’Sullivan, C Beirne; L Carty, L Hogan, T O’Brien; T Leahy, M Cogan; C MacMahon, T Lonergan, P Henry; M Burke, M O’Callaghan, J Sparrow.

Subs: G O’Callaghan for Burke, A Long for Sparrow (both h/t), C Wharton for M O’Callaghan (44), O Shanahan for Beirne (51), C Murray for MacMahon (60).

LOUGH ROVERS: R Corcoran; I King, N O’Sullivan, D Ward; J Cronin, R Shine, G Duggan; C Allen, T McSweeney; R Goldsmith, A Buckley, J O’Connor; S Long, D Holland, E Sheehan.

Subs: D Arundle for Shine, B Lynch for Holland (both 44).

Referee: Trevor Lyons (Douglas).