Glenfin and Aodh Ruadh produced an excellent semi-final of the Under 21B Championship in Convoy with the Glenfin lads, who had led throughout and by seven points at one stage, just holding on to win by a point.
Glenfin 1-12 Aodh Ruadh 1-11
By Charlie Collins
After an excellent Aodh Ruadh comeback Glenfin book a meeting with Glenswilly in the final.
Glenfin started well and raced to a 1-7 to 0-3 lead by the 24th minute and looking in total control.
By half time that situation had changed dramatically as Aodh Ruadh had responded with 1-3 without reply to leave just a point in it at the break, 1-07 to 1-06 and the game set-up for an exciting second-half.
Gavin McCormick and Luke McGlynn got Glenfin off to a flying start with early points. Cian Rooney replied for Aodh Ruadh but McGlynn and Donal Marley added Glenfin points before Rooney again replied to make it 0-04 to 0-02.
Glenfin hit a purple patch with Gavin McCormack drilling home an excellent goal and after Colm McGloin had pointed from a narrow angle for Aodh Ruadh, Odhran O’Connor scored two super points from play for Glenfin and Jack Long added another to leave it 1-7 to 0-3 and Glenfin in control, or so it seemed.
Aodh Ruadh had other ideas however and scored 1-3 in a five minute period.
Damian Weber cracked home a brilliant goal from 20 meters out and then sub Jack Gallagher pointed twice while in between those two Cian Rooney got his third point of the game to leave it 1-7 to 1-6 and game on at the break.
The excellent Luke McGlynn kicked two frees early in the second-half but Jack Gallagher and Weber quickly replied to leave the minimum in it yet again.
McGlynn’s free and Jack Long’s fine point made it a three point lead, but Cian Rooney’s free reduced that quickly to two.
Luke McGlynn stretched it to three again with a beauty from play and once again Glenfin looked in control as the minutes ticked away.
Two outstanding long range frees from Jack Gallagher left one in it and as Glenfin got careless with possession it was no surprise when Aodh Ruadh got the chance to send it to extra-time.
This time however from probably closer than the previous two but still very difficult, Gallagher pulled his effort wide of the goal frame and Glenfin had won it by a single point 1–12 to 1-11 to set up a big derby final against neighbours Glenswilly next weekend.
Aodh Ruadh: Aaron Horan; Ryan Keenaghan, Shane Gillespie, Daire Gallagher, Shane Delahunty, Kyle Murray, Eoghain Kelly, Odhran McGarrigle, Colm McGloin (0-1), Cian Rooney (0-4/3f’s), Senan Rooney, Harry Howarth; Damian Weber(1-1), Matt Gillespie, Mark McGlynn.
Subs: Jack Gallagher (0-5 /3f’s) for Howarth (23mins), Eoin Doherty for Keenaghan (h-t).
Glenfin: Niall Campbell McMenamin; Niall Doherty, Jack Marley, Darragh Carroll; Eoin McGarrell, Odhran McGlynn, Ross Brady; Jack Long (0-2), Kane McGlynn, Donal Marley (0-1) , Matthew Wootton, Shaun Marley; Odhran O’Connor (0-2), Gavin McCormick (1-1), Luke McGlynn(0-6/3f’s).
Referee: Greg McGrory.
