Premier SHC: Patrick Horgan on form as Glen Rovers overcome Charleville to reach semi-finals
Patrick Horgan, Glen Rovers, gets his shot away to score the secon Glen Rovers goal under pressure from Finbarr Cagney, Charleville.
Another trip out around the county proved fruitful for Glen Rovers as they secured a place in the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC semi-finals for the first time in five years.
Having opened their campaign with defeat to Blackrock in Páirc Uí Rinn, the Glen had beaten Kanturk in Castletownroche and Fr O’Neill’s in Carrigtwohill – Charleville in Mallow can be added to that list as a return to the city, and a last-four clash with Midleton, was achieved.
It was a victory that looked likely once they struck for a pair of first-half goals, from Simon Kennefick and Patrick Horgan and reeled off eight unanswered points in a 12-minute period straddling half-time to lead by 2-14 to 0-11.
Charleville did respond, aided by the introduction of Darragh Fitzgibbon, who had been unable to start due to a quad-muscle injury. He was to finish with five points and it was his surging run that led to Conor Buckley’s 62nd-minute goal to briefly give them hope at 2-20 to 1-20.
Jack Buckley did win the resultant puckout for Charleville but they couldn’t hold possession and Glen sub Mark Dooley’s fine pass allowed Horgan to fire over a point to bring his tally to 1-12 before half-time addition Dean Brosnan capped an influential display with a long-ranger.
There was a late goal effort for Charleville midfielder Jack Callaghan, who was one of their brightest performers, but Cathal Hickey pulled off his third important save and the Glen’s victory was confirmed.
While they were favourites, especially given Fitzgibbon’s expected absence, they had to endure a strong Charleville start, with David Forde, Seán Bresnan and Tim Hawe impressive as Charleville moved into an 0-8 to 0-4 lead by the 13th minute, but it was soon eradicated.
The first goal came as Kennefick claimed a Micheál Mullins sideline cut and got away a shot that bounced off the crossbar and down behind the line, before Horgan had them level from a free.
Eoin O’Leary, who along with Kennefick was a lively presence and always available in the inside line, might have raised a green flag but Conor McCarthy’s pass was just over his head; however, they didn’t have too long to wait as Luke Horgan’s delivery was marvellously taken down by Horgan to give himself space before a smart finish.
Charleville almost replied in kind but Hickey did brilliantly to deny Cathal O’Carroll and with some bad wides registered by the north Cork men, the Glen showed efficiency as the half approached, with Lee Quilligan and O’Leary on target as they retired with a 2-10 to 0-11 advantage.
The pattern continued on the restart – after another Charleville wide, Brosnan’s first act was to catch Hickey’s puckout feed Horgan for his seventh point and Brosnan got on the scoresheet himself while at the other end Robert and Eoin Downey made important interventions to stymie Haw and Bresnan respectively.
Fitzgibbon’s arrival gave Charleville a lift and he pointed with his first touch as they went on to enjoy a fruitful period – his third, on 44 minutes, had it back to the half-time margin of five but the Glen responded once more.
Again, an experienced sub made an impact – Brian Moylan on this occasion – while Horgan was flawless from dead balls and corner-back Liam Coughlan carried out his primary duties as well as showcasing some excellent distribution.
In the closing minutes, Forde went close for Charleville, having a shot tipped over the crossbar by Hickey before Robert Carroll and a huge Fitzgibbon free left it 2-19 to 0-20.
After a Kennefick point, the gap was halved with Buckley’s goal but the Glen were not going to be denied.
P Horgan 1-12 (0-8f), S Kennefick 1-2, E O’Leary, L Quilligan, D Brosnan, B Moylan 0-2 each.
D Forde 0-6 (0-4f, 0-1 65), D Fitzgibbon 0-5 (0-3f), C Buckley 1-1, Z Biggane, S Bresnan, T Hawe 0-2 each, R Carroll J Callaghan 0-1 each.
C Hickey; A Lynch, R Downey, E Varian; L Horgan, E Downey, L Coughlan; C McCarthy, D Noonan; R Dunne, M Mullins, L Quilligan; S Kennefick, P Horgan, E O’Leary.
D Brosnan for Noonan (half-time), B Moylan for McCarthy (46), C Leahy for O’Leary (59), M Dooley for Quillligan (60).
C Reynolds; D Butler, F Cagney, J Meade; D Casey, J Buckley, A Dennehy; J Callaghan, C O’Carroll; G Gleeson, S Bresnan, Z Biggane; C Buckley, D Forde, T Hawe.
D Fitzgibbon for Gleeson (36), O O’Connell for Hawe (43), J Madigan for Butler (53), R Carroll for Biggane (54), G Kelleher for Bresnan (58).
P O’Mahony (Kilbrittain).
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