Glengarriff 0-15

Castlelyons 2-7

TOM LYONS REPORTS

SHEER grit and courage were the characteristics that got Glengarriff over the line in this thrilling McCarthy Insurance confined county junior B football quarter-final in Enniskeane on Saturday.

Having forced extra time with a last-gasp point from Shaun O’Sullivan, and with their players falling victim to cramp, they found the determination somewhere to hold Castlelyons scoreless in extra time while kicking two winning points themselves.

‘That was tough, we were out on our feet there at the end but credit the lads with showing great heart,’ said a delighted Glen manager Seán Hurley.

‘We are where we want to be now. We reached the quarter-final last season but were beaten by a very strong Ballyphehane side and in the open county we were beaten by Carrigaline. Now we’re in the semi-final, a step further.

‘We’re down three players from last year, but to make up for that we got a couple in, our goalie came from Bantry, and he’s vital to us.

‘We still have work to do. We had 18 attacks in the first half but only four scores and we struggled for breaking ball around midfield.’

Glengarriff's Gavin O'Sullivan in control against Castlelyons' Oisin Morrisson. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Against the cutting breeze, Castlelyons had most of the possession in the first half and kicked the opening two points from Cees Kouwenberg and Declan Morrison. Glengarriff settled and, with defences on top, Jack Harrington’s point was the only other score of the first quarter.

Both sides kicked three points in the second quarter but a vital score came in the 28th minute when Castlelyons’ corner back Oisín Morrison was up in attack to finish to the net. Glengarriff answered with a two-pointer from their best player, Brian O’Sullivan O’Connell. It was 1-5 to 0-5 at the break, advantage Castlelyons with the breeze in the second half.

Just as Castlelyons played their best football in the first half against the breeze, the Beara men did likewise in the second. Points from Darragh O’Shea and Callum McElhinney (free) had the gap down to one before Darragh Spillane answered for Castlelyons. 1-6 to 0-7 at the end of the third quarter.

A two-point free from McElhinney had the sides level in the 50th minute and when the Glen hit the front for the first time when Gavin O’Sullivan edged the Glen in front for the first time, with Brian O’Sullivan O’Connell dominating midfield.

Glengarriff's Callum McElhinney goes past Seanie O'Callaghan of Castlelyons. (Photo: Paddy Feen)

Their lead only lasted a minute as Seán Leneghan set up centre back Matthew Rosner for a cracking Castlelyons’ goal in the 51st minute.

Gearóid O’Sullivan and Cees Kouwenberg traded points but with five minutes remaining, the Glen were staring defeat in the face, two points in arrears. The Glen showed immense courage to pick off two late points and force extra time. Gearóid O’Sullivan pointed a free and Shaun O’Sullivan was the hero with a great equaliser from out on the wing in the 64th minute. 2-7 to 0-13, extra time to come.

Two exhausted teams battled through extra time with scores at a premium. Wing back Darren Harrington kicked the only point of the first half, for Glengarriff. In the second half, Darragh O’Sullivan doubled the lead.

The staunch Glengarriff back line kept the opposition scoreless but there was drama as Castlelyons were awarded a penalty only to have the decision overturned when the referee consulted the umpires.

Glengarriff had the ball in the net from Philip Harrington only for it to be disallowed for square infringement. Castlelyons missed a late goal chance as the Glen survived to reach the semi-final.

OUR STAR: Glengarriff midfielder Brian O’Sullivan O’Connell was the class footballer on view, kicking a fine two-pointer and playing through the pain barrier right to the last whistle.

Scorers 

Glengarriff: Callum McElhinney 0-4 (2pt, 2f); Brian O’Sullivan O’Connell (2pt), Jack Harrington, Gearóid O’Sullivan (2f) 0-2 each; Darragh O’Shea, Gavin O’Sullivan, Darren Harrington, Darragh O’Sullivan O’Connell, Shaun O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Castlelyons: Cees Kouwenberg 0-4 (2f); Oisín Morrison, Matthew Rosner 1-0 each; Declan Morrison, Jack Kenny, Darragh Spillane 0-1 each.

Glengarriff: Eoghan O’Donoghue; Thomas Harrington, Denis McCarthy, Darragh O’Shea; Gavin O’Sullivan, Seán Power, Darren Harrington; Philip Harrington, Brian O’Sullivan O’Connell; Callum McElhinney, Darragh O’Sullivan O’Connell, Gearóid O’Sullivan; Jack Harrington, Shaun O’Sullivan, Stephen MJ O’Sullivan.

Subs: Teddy McCarthy for D O’Sullivan (15), Paddy Harrington for S O’Sullivan (ht), Darragh O’Sullivan for G O’Sullivan (66), Alan Dunne for G. O’Sullivan (68).

Castlelyons: Stephen Hickey; Declan Morrison, Steven Giffney, Oisín Morrison; Shane Flynn, Matthew Rosner, Gearóid McCarthy; Shane Cotter, Jack Barry; Cees Kouwenberg, Conor McCarthy, Seán Óg Maguire; Seán O’Callaghan, Shaun Lenaghan, Jack Kenny.

Subs: Darragh Spillane for S Giffney (15), John O’Neill for J Kenny, Stephen Roche for J Barry (63).

Referee: Anthony O’Regan (Kilbrittain).