Junior Championship Group 3: Glyde Rangers back in the hunt after big victory

DKIT SPORT JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 3 ROUND 2

GLYDE RANGERS 1-12 ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS 2-4 

Could they do it on a rainy night in Darver? That was the question put to both Annaghminnon Rovers and Glyde Rangers players last Friday night. It was Tallanstown full forward Brian Duffy that raised his hand in defiance with the emphatic answers on a dreadful night for football.

With both sides coming into the game without a win, there was an air of desperation in many passages of play. However, it must be stated again, that storm Betty really played a part as both struggled with and without the ball.

Dwyane Markey provided Rovers with the perfect footing in the game. Perfectly laid in by Aidan Lee Martin, Markey did what all good forwards should do on a greasy surface. Aim low. With that in mind, Markey found the net past David Brennan.

Glyde welcomed back Alan Kirk and Conor Sheridan to the side after a suspension that carried over from last season. Kirk settled his sides anxiety with two frees before Duffy and Colin Campbell swapped points.

Duffy was beginning to find his groove and his cross-field ball before halftime to Ciarain Sheridan defied the conditions and allowed Sheridan to give Rangers the slender 1-4 to 1-3 lead at the break.

Second half with the wind, Duffy controlled the game with four well taken points, topped up with a brace from Kirk.

Annaghminnon could not sustain their efforts against the gale, but James O’Connor put himself in line for goal of the season. A counter attacking run from deep in his own half saw O’Connor compose himself to match the run with a stunning finish.

Rovers have a glimmer of knock out football if they beat St Nicholas in the final game and hope Finbarrs go unbeaten. Glyde’s season however got better with the late introduction of Trevor O’Brien from long term injury.

ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS: Ciarán O’Reilly; Tiernan O’Brien, Niall Brennan, Paul McArdle; Ronan McRedmond, Colin Campbell (0-1), Pádraig Russell; Conor Russell, Tony Brennan; Aidan Lee-Martin, James O’Connor (1-1), Ronan Byrne; Rory Phelan (0-1 free), Dylan McArdle, Dwayne Markey (1-1). SUBS: Tomás Byrne for McArdle (48), Fergal Markey for P Russell (54).

GLYDE RANGERS: David Brennan; Jack McKeever, Aaron Myles, Gerard Farrell; Ultan Larney, Conor McCullagh, Gerard Bourton; Dion Conlon, Ciaráin Sheridan (1-1, 0-1 free); Lee Finnegan, Alan Kirk (0-5, 0-3 frees), Aaron Devlin; Conor Sheridan, Brian Duffy (0-5, 0-1 free), Oisín Lynch (0-1). SUBS: Seán Devaney for Lynch (43), Fiachra Sheridan for Conor Sheridan (49), Trevor O’Brien for Finnegan (54).

Referee: Cathal O’Brien (Geraldines).

Senior Championship Group 4: Ardee's depth of talent justifies their favourite's tag

Senior Championship Group 4: Ardee's depth of talent justifies their favourite's tag

NAOMH FIONBARRA 0-11 ST NICHOLAS 0-7

Tardy points from Naomh Fionnbarra saw them take all the points on offer against the much-improved St Nicholas at the Protection and Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre in Darver on Saturday night.

The Drogheda men were full of confidence after their opening day win over Glyde Rangers and carried that well until Philip Kirwan received his marching orders after half time.

This is where the game hinged off. Kirwan was key to how Kubie Downey set up his side and the validity of the sending off was also in the grey area. Regardless of the questioning of Paul Finnegan’s decision, be it right or wrong, the game altered massively afterwards.

Adam Hanratty’s deployment at cornerback this season has been a masterstroke by Barrs’ manager Stuart Reynolds. Hanratty knows where the points are and has the pace to both defend and attack.

The youngsters two points at the tail end of an unanswered seven point run really turned the screw for the unbeaten Togher men. Nicks couldn’t find the range in the second half and could not get out of their half with their numerical disadvantage.

Brian Carter was exceptional in the first half for the Rathmullan men, two points from midfield along with Paudi Downey’s accuracy had the Nicks’ hearts racing, as they led 0-6 to 0-3 at half time.

Come the second half, Jack Butterly whizzed over the bar and Ciaran Markey again guided his side through the comeback to secure the win from a tricky position against a spirited Nicholas outfit.

With the tightness of the group, it will come down to the final round.  

NAOMH FIONNBARRA: Fionn McQuillan; Adam Hanratty (0-2), Kalum Regan, Cormac Reynolds; Hugh McGrane, Chris McGlynn, Ronan Callaghan; Josh Crosbie (0-1), Brendan Simms; Conor Osborne,  Jack  Butterly  (0-1),  Niall Woods; Michael McArdle, Ciarán Markey (0-4, 0-2 frees), Hugh Osborne (0-2). SUBS: Jack Regan for McArdle (h/t), Máirtín Murphy (0-1) for Callaghan (38), Ciarán Murphy for H Osborne (58).

ST NICHOLAS: Shane Finegan; Stephen Finegan, Andrew Starrs, Dylan O’Rourke; Aaron Flanagan, Ruairí Hanlon, Rían Farrell; Brian Carter (0-2), Sam Reilly; Fionn Meagher, Lee Kavanagh, Phillip Kirwan; Declan Heeney; Paudi Downey (0-3 frees), Con Sheehan (0-2, 0-1 frees).  SUBS; Caebhan Housidari for Kavanagh (41), Matt Onianwa for O’Rourke (48), Tadgh Martin for Heeney (48), Nuel Onianwa for Reilly (48).

Referee: Paul Finnegan