O'Connor's goal propels Granagh-Ballingarry past resilient Glenroe in Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship

AN IMPROVED second half showing propelled Granagh-Ballingarry past a resilient Glenroe side 1-18 to 0-19 in their opening round Lyons of Limerck county premier intermediate hurling championship fixture played at Kilmallock on Friday night.

A well-taken 48th minute goal from Sean O'Connor, set up by Brian Sheedy's pinpoint pass, proved the crucial score of the game as Granagh-Ballingarry, under coach/manager John O'Connor, from Newtownshandrum, opened their campaign with a hard fought win.

O'Connor's goal saw the winners, who had trailed their opponents by two points, 0-7 to 0-9, at half-time, into a precious 1-13 to 0-14 advantage. 

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However, a pointed free from their topscorer Darren Frewen edged Glenroe back to within a point of their opponents a minute later.

The see-saw nature of the scoring continued, however, as two points in quick succession from Paudie Murphy, followed by a third of the game from Darragh Casey edged Granagh-Ballingarry four points in front, 1-16 to 0-15, on 55 minutes.

The influential Casey scored three points from play in the game as did team mate Michael Russell, while the industrious Luke Flynn fired over six points for the winners, including a brace of scores from play.

To their credit, Glenroe showed admirable resolve and three points without reply from goalkeeper David McCarthy, via a long range free, and two pointed frees from Darren Frewen, left a single point between the sides, 1-16 to 0-18, at the end of normal time. 

The drama was far from done, however, with Granagh-Ballingarry, who racked up 18 wides in total, firing over crucial points from substitute Jack Harnett and O'Connor to regain a three point advantage deep in injury time.

Glenroe did force an opening in stoppage time. However, captain David McCarthy's blast for a goal from a 20m free was deflected over the crossbar for a late point. It proved to be the final score of the contest.

Adam Frewen fired over a hat-trick of points for Glenroe during the course of the game, while Liam Dennehy hit a brace.

Both sides can take positives from this keenly-contested opening round fixture. Granagh-Ballingarry will be pleased to have gotten their campaign off to a winning start ahead of their second round meeting with South Liberties on Saturday next in Adare. 

After a first half in which they amassed 12 wides, the winners play improved after the break, and they showed admirable composure and an impressive workrate to edge past their opponents in a contest which went right down to the wire. 

Room for improvement for sure, but Granagh-Ballingarry will take winning momentum from this game into next weekend's clash with 'Liberties'.

While Glenroe will feel disappointed that ultimately they didn't manage to retain the advantage they held on the scoreboard for much of this opening round fixture, they will, nonetheless, be encouraged with several aspects of their play.

Next up for the Danny Murphy-managed side is a crucial meeting with Effin in Kilfinane on Thursday evening next.

Glenroe's use of the ball was impressive, while they hurled with a real sense of purpose and confidence for long periods of the contest.

When Granagh-Ballingarry and Glenroe met in the group stages of the 2024 premier intermediate championship last October, Granagh-Ballingarry ran out convincing 12 point winners, 3-14 to 0-11.

However, it was clear from the throw-in of this latest meeting that this was going to be a much, much tigether affair.

The sides were level 0-3 each after nine minutes of Friday night's game, the pick of those scores coming from Glenroe's Darren Frewen from right on the sideline in the eighth minute.

Glenroe, backed by the breeze in the opening half, moved 0-4 to 0-3 in front in the 10th minute when Jordan Sheehy and Ciaran Kelly combined to create the opening for Liam Dennehy to land a terrific team score. 

While both sides produced some excellent approach play in that opening half, their shooting let them down, the sides racking up five wides each in the opening 13 minutes.

Glenroe had moved into a useful 0-7 to 0-3 advantage on 17 minutes when Darren Frewen split the uprights after good play from centre half-back Stephen Walsh.

A Luke Flynn point for Granagh-Ballingarry reduced the gap, before Shane O'Donoghue surged upfield to create the opening for Darren Frewen to point once more, 0-8 to 0-4, after 21 minutes.

While Glenroe added one further point before half time through Adam Frewen, Granagh-Ballingarry remained well in the contest after rifling over three further scores through Flynn, with two, including a free, and Michael Russell before the break.

The sides were level, 0-12 each, 10 minutes into the second hald, after scores from Russell and Darragh Casey.

Granagh-Ballingarry lost Jack Cagney to an injury in the 46th minute, before David McCarthy's long range free helped Glenroe into a one point lead, 0-14 to 0-13.

However, Sean O'Connor's well-taken goal powered Granagh-Ballingarry into the lead soon after and it was an advantage they never relinquished. 

SCORERS: Granagh-Ballingarry: Sean O'Connor 1-3, Luke Flynn 0-6 (0-4 frees), Michael Russell, Darragh Casey 0-3 each, Paudie Murphy 0-2, Jack Harnett 0-1. Glenroe: Darren Frewen 0-8 (0-4 frees), David McCarthy 0-4 (all frees), Adam Frewen 0-3, Liam Dennehy 0-2, Brian O'Connell, Mark O'Connell 0-1 each.

GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY: Denis O'Connor; Eoghan Casey, John Kealy, Mark O'Shea; Eoin Horgan, Jack Cagney, Ronan Mullane; Darragh Casey, Brian Sheedy; Michael Russell, Luke Flynn, Tom Horgan; Eoin Lynch, Sean O'Connor, Paudie Murphy. SUB: Jack Harnett for Cagney (injured, 46 mins).

GLENROE: David McCarthy (Capt); Shane O'Donoghue, Patrick Holihan, Darren Carroll; Sean O'Donnell, Stephen Walsh, Jordan Sheehy; Daniel Murphy, Brian O'Connell; Ciaran Kelly, Mark O'Connell, Liam Dennehy; Adam Frewen, Darren Frewen, Cillian O'Brien. SUBS: Daithi Dennehy for O'Brien (40 mins), Oisin Browne for Kelly (44 mins). 

REFEREE: Donnacha O'Callaghan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)