Delanys crowned AOS Security Seandún Division 2 Football League champions after victory over Glanmire

Delanys 2-11 (2-1-9)

Glanmire 0-13 (0-1-11)

Delanys were crowned AOS Security Seandún Division 2 Football League champions as they defeated Glanmire in the decider at Ballinlough.

Glanmire made the better start to this closely contested game, with Delanys’ first goal midway through the opening half proving decisive. 

In the second half, Delanys could have won by a bigger margin, had it not been for wayward goal-bound shots.

Glanmire made the better start as Aidan Roche traded two points from play with Delanys Gary Gould and Darren O’Sullivan. 

Roche converted the game’s first free to give Glanmire a 0-3 to 0-2 lead, before Delany’s seized the initiative.

Delany’s began to have Glanmire pinned back as Darren O’Sullivan equalised with a point from play. 

Wayward kick-outs were proving to be costly for Glanmire, as Gould put Delany’s in front for the first time in the contest with his second point from play.

Aaron Spriggs extended Delany’s’ lead with a further point, before Kenneth Spriggs pounced for the game’s opening goal, following a save by Glanmire net-minder Luke Cotter.

Glanmire responded with a point by Brian Kelleher.

Points by Kenneth Spriggs and Eoin Quirke increased Delanys’ lead to 1-7 to 0-4.

In stoppage time at the end of the opening half, Timmy O’Donoghue landed the game’s first two-pointer from a free for Glanmire. 

Darren O’Sullivan responded with his second point from play for Delanys.

This left the half-time scoreline reading 1-8 to 0-6 in favour of Delanys.

Glanmire upped the ante after the interval as they had Delanys on the back foot for most of the third quarter. 

Keith Crowe tagged on two points from play and David McCarthy also got on the scoresheet with a pointed free, to reduce the deficit to two points.

Delanys had to wait until midway through the second half to put the game beyond Glanmire. 

Darren O’Sullivan won possession from a Delany’s kick-out to send Gould on a soccer-style dribble for their second goal. 

This left Delanys leading 2-8 to 0-9.

Kelleher and Gould exchanged points from play, before Glanmire gained the upper hand for the final quarter.

Callum Ausitn got a point from play for Glanmire, while Ciaran McCarthy converted a free for Delany’s from outside Glanmire’s 40-metre arc.

With Glanmire six points in arrears, Naoise Marron added a point from play, followed by David McCarthy’s second pointed free.

With time almost up, Delanys created several goal-scoring opportunities, but wayward shooting was proving to be costly. 

The final whistle was greeted with jubilant scenes by the Delany’s supporters.

Scorers for Delanys: G Gould 1-3; K Spriggs 1-1; D O’Sullivan 0-3; C McCarthy 0-2 (1 2pt f); A Spriggs, E Quirke 0-1 each.

Glanmire: A Roche 0-3 (0-1f); D McCarthy 0-2f; T O’Donoghue 0-2 (1 2pt f); K Crowe, B Kelleher 0-2 each; C Austin, N Marron 0-1 each.

Delanys: N Foley; M Walsh, J Hosford, E O’Callaghan; S O’Connor, V Keating, R Foley; A Spriggs, G Gould; R Quirke, C McElhinney, E Quirke; K Spriggs, D O’Sullivan, C McCarthy.

Subs: Eddie O’Brien for O’Connor (45), Evan O’Brien for E Quirke (59).

Glanmire: L Cotter; L Hogan, J O’Sullivan, C Ó Corcora; S Crowe, A Roche, C Austin; A O’Donovan, D McCarthy; K Crowe, T O’Donoghue, N Marron; J Delaney, B Kelleher, C Wharton.

Subs: B Crehan for Delaney, E Boyle for Marron, J Sparrow for Wharton (all h/t), Marron for Hogan (49).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).