Glyde Rangers win the war over Dublin champions

Glyde Rangers 0-9

Man O’War 0-7

Glyde Rangers prevailed in yet another tight, and intense Leinster affair to set up a provincial decider with Milltown of Kildare in two weeks time, following this victory over Dublin champions Man O’War in the Naul on Saturday.

In a match where there was never more than two points separating the sides at any given moment, Glyde Rangers held their nerve when it mattered, with that man again Ciaran Sheridan popping up with the all-important scores to send his side through to that Leinster decider.

With eight minutes remaining, the sides were deadlocked at 0-7 each, thanks to a fine strike by Man O’War’s Sam Clancy.

However, the presence of Sheridan at the edge of the square has been invaluable in the Tallanstown side’s campaign, and so it proved again, with the rangy number 9 latching onto a Niall Sharkey delivery, before firing over from play.

The same player converted a late free following a foul on sub Oisin Lynch who played a key role following his introduction.

Alongside Sheridan, manager Peter Duffy’s side include so many historical figures who will never be forgotten by the Tallanstown faithful.

Alongside Sheridan, county man Niall Sharkey was a rock at centre half back, driving the team on with hard running, and some telling defensive interventions, while Tadgh Kellet also deserves a mention for a magnificent block from a Man O’War shot which led to Sharkey feeding Sheridan for that key score late on.

Finishing with 24 possessions over the, Kellet played a key role, as did sweeper Conor Sheridan, who had 32 touches over the hour, as well as cutting out several long balls kicked into the Man O’War inside line.

Early on, Man O’War who were aided by a breeze, were quicker to settle down, leading by 0-3 to 0-1 in the opening quarter, with fine scores from Dublin under 20 captain Conor Dolan, and Sam Clancy coming either side of a Willie Moore free, which cancelled out an early Brian Duffy strike for Glyde.

Man O’War were keen to kick early into that inside line, however, there were times when some of that kick passing did not come off, dribbling over the endline, in a breeze which was becoming harder and harder to judge.

Glyde struggled in that difficult wind, but a fine move involving Dion Conlon, the lively Killian Scott, and Ciaran Sheridan, saw Alan Kirk fire over the bar moments later.

Conor Dolan and Ciaran Sheridan traded frees to leave it at 0-4 to 0-3 in the Dublin side’s favour inside 20 minutes, with Sheridan’s free sweetly struck from range.

Upon reflection, Man O’War will rue only converting, 3 scores from 19 shots in open play, with Sam Clancy firing wide from close range. However, referee Kieran Harris called the play back having allowed an advantage, with Dolan converting to leave two scores between the sides.

Some nice work by Alan Kirk, set up Ciaran Sheridan for another fine effort from range to leave just the minimum between the sides at the break, with Rangers trailing 0-5 to 0-4.

Second Half:

The second half continued to be nip and tuck, but two wonderful scores early on from Glyde’s Killian Scott with both feet, levelled things up at 0-6 each after 42 moments, two rare moments of quality in this scrappy, closely fought clash.

Not for the first time in this championship, Glyde Rangers subs Oisin Lynch and Trevor O’Brien would play key roles coming off the bench, with Lynch’s strike from play putting Glyde ahead for the first time since the opening minutes at 0-7 to 0-6.

Sam Clancy who was lively throughout, restored parity for the Dublin side with 8 minutes remaining.

However, crucially that would prove to be their last score of this clash, as Glyde proved that little bit more clinical in front of the posts, converting 0-7 from 14 shots in open play.

That fine block from Tadgh Kellet saw Niall Sharkey feed Sheridan for that excellent score from play, before a move which also involved Trevor O’Brien saw Oisin Lynch fouled, with Sheridan landing the subsequent free to put two between the sides, as we headed into stoppage time.

Along with players previously mentioned, Glyde’s keeper David Brennan also deserves his name up in lights, with a heroic save from Fintan McCluskey late on denying the home side an elusive major, with players like Jack McKeever, Conor McCullagh, and Conor Sheridan throwing their bodies on the line, producing some marvellous interventions, to go with Kellet’s block earlier, as Glyde held on for a thrilling victory, and a Leinster final to look forward to in a fortnight’s time, as the Wee County triumph over the might of Dublin!

Glyde Rangers: David Brennan; Jack McKeever, Conor McCullagh, Fiachra Sheridan; Tadhg Kellett, Niall Sharkey, Gerard Bourton; Dion Conlon, Brian Duffy (0-1); Killian Scott (0-2), Aaron Devlin, Lee Finnegan; Alan Kirk (0-1), Ciaráin Sheridan (0-4) (2f), Conor Sheridan.

Subs: Oisín Lynch (0-1) for Devlin (36), Trevor O’Brien for Kirk (48), Leigh Byrne for Finnegan (60), Gerard Farrell for McKeever (60).

Man O’War: Kieran Fleming; Matthew Cassin, Anthony Kelly, Jason McGlynn; James Kelly, David O’Hara, Niall Hughes; John Fleming, Rob Lynch; Fintan McCluskey, Willie Moore (0-1) (1f), Kevin O’Neill; Sam Clancy (0-2), Conor Dolan (0-4) (3f), Seán Hussey.

Subs: Ben Moore for J Kelly (42), Darren McGuckian for O’Neill (47), Fionn Slattery for O’Hara (60), Shane Moore for Hughes (60).

Referee: Kieran Harris (Wicklow).