Garryspillane reel Glenroe in late on in final round Limerick premier intermediate hurling clash

AN INJURY time Callum Sheehan goal saw Garryspillane snatch a dramatic 1-20 to 3-14 draw with Glenroe in their Lyons of Limerick final round Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship clash with Glenroe in Kilfinane on Saturday afternoon.

The concession of that goal ensures Glenroe’s place in a relegation playoff with South Liberties after both sides finished on four points following the final series of round robin fixtures.

Second half goals from Oisin Browne and Daithi Dennehy looked to have Glenroe in a strong position but Sheehan’s late leveller clinched a point for the Bouncers, who finish second in the table having already qualified for the county semi-finals.

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It was a tense opening half hour with the sides level no fewer than seven times. Hugh Flanagan and Darren Frewen were the scorers in chief throughout and they traded points in the opening stages.

Flanagan’s third of the game and Colin Ryan then put Garryspillane into a sliver of breathing space, leading 0-4 to 0-2 after 10 minutes. However, two Frewen frees squared the game up for a third time inside the opening quarter.

That trend continued in the next few minutes but three Flanagan placed balls saw Garryspillane two clear once more heading to the 25 minute mark but Browne’s first goal saw Glenroe back in front.

A Stephen Walsh long delivery was batted away from danger by Bouncers keeper Adam Sheehan and it was Browne that arrived first on the scene with a sublime touch and finish that saw Glenroe lead by one heading to half time.

The sides went into the break level for a seventh time with Sheehan landed two scores with Frewen’s reply leaving the score at 0-10 to 1-7.

Frewen was on target twice more in the early stages of the second half but, again, Garryspillane were able to claw them back with Bryan Heavey and Flanagan on target, before Declan Heavey saw the Bouncers move ahead with a long-range strike.

A David McCarthy free and then Daithi Dennehy’s slick finish to the net saw Glenroe swing the game in their favour, now leading 2-11 to 0-14 ahead with 12 minutes remaining.

Flanagan replied for Garryspillane but Browne’s second goal suddenly had Glenroe with a five-point advantage.

Garryspillane didn’t panic, however, with Sheehan and Bryan Heavey landing important points.

Glenroe were able to keep the Bouncers at arm’s length heading into added time but it was Sheehan that provided a late plot twist with a first time pull into the bottom left hand corner of the net.

SCORERS: Garryspillane: Hugh Flanagan 0-11 (0-10 frees), Callum Sheehan 1-4, Bryan Heavey 0-2, Colin Ryan, Michael Donovan and Declan Heavey 0-1 each; Glenroe: Darren Frewen 0-10 (0-7 frees), Oisin Browne 2-0, Daithi Dennehy 1-0, Liam Dennehy 0-3 and David McCarthy (free) 0-1 each.

GARRYSPILLANE: Adam Sheehan; James O’Sullivan, Robert Sampson, Ciaran Sheehan; Jamie Morrissey, Declan Heavey, Ryan Tobin; John English, Josh Dineen; Cian Ryan, Bryan Heavey, Hugh Flanagan; Colin Ryan, Michael Donovan, Callum Sheehan. SUBS: Roibeard Donovan for Cian Ryan (40 mins), Shane Ryan for Dineen (43 mins), Rossa Stapleton for Donovan (59 mins).

GLENROE: David McCarthy; Darren Carroll, Patrick Holian, Shane O’Donoghue; Sean O’Donnell, Stephen Walsh, Jordan Sheehy; Daniel Murphy, Brian O’Connell; Daithi Dennehy, Oisin Browne, Liam Dennehy; Adam Frewen, Mark O’Connell, Darren Frewen. Subs: Ciaran Kelly for Adam Frewen (48 mins), Eoghan Fitzgerald for Carroll (54 mins), Zach McCarthy for Browne (60 mins).

REFEREE: John O’Halloran (Bruree).