Premier 1 MHC: Glen Rovers dominate second half to see off Na Piarsaigh, but both advance to semi-finals
Glen Rovers' Michael Forde reaches for the sliotar against Na Piarsaigh. Picture Chani Anderson
This northside bout – with neither Glen Rovers nor Na Piarsaigh certain of their progression before throw in – was never going to disappoint.
In the end, Glen Rovers’ margin of victory was five, and it could have been much greater in this Cork ETB Premier 1 Minor Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 3 clash. They had been ten clear heading into added time, but coughed up 1-2 late on Wednesday evening at the Glen Field.
They won’t care, though. Everything that could have gone right for Rovers, did. Carrigaline held Ballincollig to a draw, meaning the Glen leap from third to first, topping the group to set up a semi-final with Midleton, who crept through after beating Sarsfields.
Rarely is the first half a far more dramatic affair than the second, but it’s the place to start here.
The first eight scores had been traded – Glen first with a Na Piarsaigh reply – Micheál Forde’s effort in the fourth minute the pick of them for the Blackpool side.
In the 17th minute, Gavin O’Callaghan split the posts with a beautiful sideline cut. Josh Brosnan’s white flag from distance shortly after gave us the first consecutive scores on the night, as the Glen led 0-6 to 0-4.
Then, disaster struck for Na Piarsaigh after Jack Burke was shown a straight red card. Protests brought the free forward, and O’Callaghan slotted the gift between the uprights to increase Rovers’ lead to three.
Na Piarsaigh weren’t down and out just yet, though. Callum Coffey was fouled two minutes later, a penalty was awarded, and Craig O’Sullivan thundered to the bottom corner.
And 45 seconds was all it took Glen Rovers to reply, Michael Tadhg Brosnan to Robert O’Callaghan, O’Callaghan to the net.
Now, down to 14, Na Piarsaigh had no choice but to scrap the use of Nathan Coffey as a sweeper, while Conor Cunningham remained in the roaming role for the Glen.
Rovers, however, would only increase their advantage to four by the break, 1-11 to 1-7. And they were fortunate too that it wasn’t at the minimum, after Luke Hurley won a second penalty for the Fair Hill club before the break.
This time O’Sullivan went high, and this time he was met with an outstanding save from Shane McCarthy.
While Na Piarsaigh got the first second-half point after 39 minutes to leave the gap at three, the Glen would answer with seven of the next eight to ensure they would be playing knockout hurling.
Whether that would be in the form of a playoff or a semi-final, well, that was now out of their hands.
Understandably, the game fizzled out. In the end, news from Carrigaline brought the best outcome for both. A late second yellow for Forde restored parity in players, but Na Piarsaigh remained too far back to turn it around and win.
Ryan Cronin’s 66th minute goal was well-taken though, after he was set up by the ever prominent O’Sullivan, but it was merely consolation.
Now, semi-finals await both sides.
G O’Callaghan 0-9 (0-7 f, 0-1 65, 0-1 sideline), MT Brosnan 0-5, R O’Callaghan 1-0, E McGuckin, M Forde 0-2 each, J Brosnan, R Crean 0-1 each.
C O’Sullivan 1-8 (1-0 pen, 0-6 f), R Cronin 1-1, C Coffey 0-2, J Coughlan 0-1.
S McCarthy; K Foley, C Burke, C Singleton; C Cunningham; R O’Callaghan, J Brosnan, L Woods; R Crean, J Murray; G O’Callaghan, MT Brosnan, E McGuckin; M Forde, J O’Mahony.
C Turnbull for O’Mahony (HT), C O’Brien for Burke (55), T Murphy for G O’Callaghan (60 inj), C Barrett for Crean (60+2).
C Quinn; R Quinlan, J O’Connor; N Coffey; D O’Leary, R Manley, D Casey; R Cronin, J Coughlan; J Cahalane, C O’Sullivan, J Burke; C Coffey, L Hurley, J Constant.
J Cregan for Constant (47), S O’Neill for N Coffey (60).
N Fahy (Brian Dillons)
App?
