Beann Éadair defeated in Leinster Junior Football Championship

BEANN ÉADAIR 0-7 OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN 5-10

It proved a disappointing day for Beann Éadair as they succumbed to Oylegate-Glenbrien by eighteen points in their one-sided AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship Round 1 encounter at a sunny St Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy on Saturday afternoon. 

The writing was on the wall by half-time as the Dublin champions trailed by 3-8 to 0-5 and while they continued to battle after the break, they were unable to place persistent pressure on the home defence with their chances undermined by a series of poor wides. 

Beann Éadair started brightly but spurned a couple of presentable chances that came their way and from Oylegate-Glenbrien’s first attack, Seamus Casey fired to the net after a strong run down the middle by Wexford senior hurler Damien Reck. 

Mike Kelly extended the home lead when pointing in the 4th minute before Beann Éadair opened their own account thanks to a 6th minute free by Darragh McGhee. 

While Oylegate-Glenbrien’s Sean Rowley made an instant impact when pointing within twenty seconds of his introduction off the bench, Beann Eadair’s confidence grew as they kicked successive points courtesy of Rohan O’Shea and James O’Neill. 

At the opposite end of the field, Jack O’Gorman made a great save in the 14th minute to deny Mike Kelly but he was powerless to prevent Fiachra Hourihane from kicking a superb two-pointer to increase the home lead to four points by the end of the first quarter. 

Oylegate-Glenbrien’s Shane Doran and Shane Barrett of Beann Éadair traded points in the early stages of the second quarter but Beann Eadair suffered another body blow as Rowley’s low shot found the back of the net off the foot of O’Shea. 

Doran and Conor Shields put further distance between the sides and Beann Éadair’s task was made even tougher as Casey coolly slotted home for his second goal in the 26th minute. 

Reck kicked a deserved score two minutes later as Oylegate-Glenbrien moved twelve points clear at the turnaround with the fitness of their senior hurlers evident from the outset. 

Beann Éadair were in need of some inspiration at the start of the second-half and it duly arrived in the form of a sumptuous two-pointer from former Mayo star James Burke in the 34th minute. 

Sadly, from their perspective, that proved the highlight of their attacking play as Darragh Harris kicked two frees in succession to restore Oylegate-Glenbrien’s twelve-point buffer.  

They proved the sole scores of a stop-start third quarter as Beann Éadair defended far more tightly but missed numerous chances to trim their deficit as the contest evolved. 

The hosts were happy to protect their lead in the final quarter, retaining possession with a fair degree of comfort and they put the contest to bed in the closing minutes through goals by Harris (penalty) and substitute Podge Doran. 

Scorers – Beann Éadair: J Burke 0-2 (P2); D McGhee (f), J O’Neill, R O’Shea, S Barrett, B Kennedy 0-1 apiece. Oylegate-Glenbrien: S Casey 2-0; D Harris 1-2 (1-0pen, 2f); S Rowley 1-1; P Doran 1-0; F Hourihane (P2), S Doran 0-2 each; M Kelly, C Shields, D Reck 0-1 apiece.

Beann Éadair: J O’Gorman; A Keogan, C Bradley, D Weston; R Fitzpatrick, R O’Shea, J Burke; M Haas, L Kellett; D McGhee, B Kennedy, D Flanagan; J Kenehan, J O’Neill, S Barrett. Subs: H Sanfey for Weston (half-time), M Hughes for D Flanagan (35), C Flanagan for Kellett (47), R McCarrick for O’Neill (50).

Oylegate-Glenbrien: P Burns; J Hennessy, C Hourihane, C Shields; P Casey, S Reck, J Nolan; D Reck, M Kelly; S Casey, E Kelly, F Hourihane; J Dunne, S Doran, D Harris. Subs: S Rowley for C Hourihane (9), O Loughran for S Casey (42), J Ronan for Dunne (45), M Kavanagh for Shields (54), P Doran for D Reck (55). 

Referee: Ciaran McManus (Laois).