Glenbeigh Glencar had clearly learned lessons from our league encounter and adopting a defensive-minded set-up, kept our scoring to a minimum in the opening half. They limited our chances and regularly doubled up on our danger man, Darragh O’Connor, with two players tracking his every move and restricting his possession. Their approach stifled our forward play and slowed the tempo, but it also came at a cost — their own attacking threat was muted, yielding just four points in that period, just the one from play. 

We had the opening score from Ben Hanafin which was quickly negated by Caolim Teahan but we had control of the scoreboard and by the mid point of the first half had surged into a 4 point lead following good scores from Gazza from a free, the raiding Gearóid Dillane and  two from Tomás Kennedy. We had goalkeeper Rob O’Connor to thank for two outstanding saves in quick succession when wing back Liam Roche breached our defence but Rob stood tall and averted the danger. 

A contentious score then ensued when GG were awarded a free for a 3 up indiscretion with Caolim Teahan gratefully accepting the gift. However, Gazza from play and Darragh from frees had us on 8 points as we approached half time with GG replying through Adrian O’Connor from play to leave the half  time score at 0-08 to 0-04. 

We appeared rusty at times — a combination of nerves and recent layoffs — but were still full value for our lead at the break, with the slight breeze to come in the second half. 

Jack Savage, just back in the country 24 hours, was introduced in the second half - just  ten minutes into the second half, GG’s defensive approach looked to have unravelled. We began to dominate the middle third, winning clean possession and moving the ball with purpose. Jack was combining his experience with vision and skill, creating more openings and stretching the earlier defiance in defence. A blistering spell saw us hit 1-03 without reply, and the scoreboard suggested we were on our way to a comprehensive victory.

The goal, when it came, was the result of some lovely combined play which saw Darragh cut inside following a blistering run from Ben Hanafin and he cooly slotted to the net to extend our advantage - Barry John’s speculative shot took a bounce and went over the bar and it was now 1-12 to 0-05 with just 6 minutes of the second half gone. 

Glenbeigh Glencar were now more competitive, were winning key battles around the middle and hoovering up breaking ball; our supremacy was being eroded score by score, with momentum and self-belief seeping through Micheál O’Sé’s side. With each point, their confidence grew, the crowd found its voice, and the momentum began to tilt. By the closing stages, what had seemed a procession had become a tense, hard-fought battle — proof that in sport, no lead is ever truly safe.

Darragh & Gearóid Dillane steadied the ship and we were 6 in front again as the clock entered the final 10 minutes - we looked to have weathered the storm however and when Darragh burst through the baideoir Cian Knight was equal to his goal bound effort - the resultant “45” brought some relief as Ryan Carroll slotted over to stretch the lead to 5 entering the final minutes. 

The next play summed up our performance however - we were in possession on the terrace side looking to press home our advantage, but a pick up from the ground saw us turnover possession and quicker than it takes to tell, veteran Gavan O’Grady hit a low shot across Rob and into the far corner of the net - two points in it now but we just held our nerve and it was Jack who restored our lead to 3 before a last desperate effort from play whistled over the bar to leave us winners on a final scoreline of 1-17 to 1-15. 

Credit must go to our players for digging deep and seeing the game out. We were missing a number of regulars, but those who stepped in delivered when it mattered, ensuring not just the win but also guaranteeing us a home fixture next week at Strand Road against Gneeveguilla.

Team: Rob O’Connor, Darragh McElligott, Jake Foley, TJ Heaphy, Gearóid Dillane ( 0-02), Ryan Carroll ( 0-01, “45”), Daniel Bowler, Tomás Kennedy ( 0-02), Padraig Griffin, Ben Hanafin ( 0-02), Diarmuid O’Sullivan, Gearóid Savage ( 0-02), Darragh O’Connor ( 1-04), Barry John Keane ( 0-02). 

Subs: Jack Savage ( 0-02), Jake Hoare, Ben O’Brien.