Dean Brosnan and Eoin O’Leary hit the net as Glen Rovers rally against Douglas

Glen Rovers 2-20 Douglas 1-14

GLEN Rovers signed off on their campaign in Division 1 of the RedFM Hurling League by staging a seven-point comeback and defeating Douglas.

Goals from Dean Brosnan and Eoin O’Leary were the difference, and a haul of 0-7 from play by Simon Kennefick, though Douglas started well and were five points up at half-time.

The Glen rallied to outscore their city rivals 2-12 to 0-4, an impressive turnaround. 

Early on, Stephen Moylan, Conor O’Donovan, Charlie Lucas put them 0-3 to no score up and then a David Maher delivery led to a Stephen St Ledger goal.

Gearoid Mulcahy, Stephen Lynam, and Eoin O’Leary all responded but it was 1-10 to 0-8 at the break.

Evan Murphy came on at half-time and injected a sense of place into the Glen, immediately scoring, which was followed by a brace from Simon Kennefick. That made it 1-10 to 0-11 and a whole new game had been created in a matter of seconds.

Brosnan’s goal came from a soccer-like finish putting them ahead for the first time in the 44th minute, followed by a Murphy free. 

Douglas hit back through Lucas: 1-14 to 1-12. Kennefick got another within seconds of Maher’s puck-out before O’Leary goaled during their next spell around the square.

That was the moment that effectively ended the game, as the Glen were in front 2-15 to 1-12 and Douglas were struggling for fluency in attack.

Brosnan got another, increasing the advantage, before Evan Murphy converted a 65 with ease.

Douglas did empty their bench, but the introduction of Eoin O’Flynn, Michael O’Callaghan, Dylan Murphy, Rob Hanley, and Gavin O’Shea did very little to kickstart some form of comeback.

The Glen were in charge, and they comfortably held their city rivals at arm’s length until the referee blew for full-time, officially starting the countdown to the club’s first game of the Cork Senior A Hurling Championship, against Killeagh on August 2 in Carrigtwohill.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: S Kennefick 0-7, D Brosnan, E O’Leary 1-2 each, E Murphy 0-4 (0-1 f, 0-1 65), S Lynam 0-3 f, G Mulcahy, R Dunne 0-1 each. 

Douglas: S St Ledger 1-1, C Baldwin 0-4, C Lucas (0-2 f), S Burke 0-3 each, S Moylan 0-2 each, D Maher 0-1 (f).

GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; A Lynch, E Varian, L Coughlan, S McDonnell, B Moylan, A O’Sullivan, D Noonan, G Mulcahy, L Quilligan, D Brosnan, R Dunne, S Lynam, E O’Leary, S Kennefick.

Subs: E Murphy for O’Sullivan (HT); Z Lynam for S Lynam (55).

DOUGLAS: D Maher; S O’Donohue, D Murphy, K McSweeney, D Kelly, M Howell, S O’Leary, D O’Callaghan, I Lucey, C Lucas, S Moylan, C Baldwin, S Burke, C Donovan, S St Ledger.

Subs: E O’Flynn for O’Callaghan (40); M O’Callaghan for McSweeney (40), D Murphy for St Ledger (50), R Hanley for Lucas (54), G O’Shea for Burke (57).

Referee: Mark Maher (St Finbarr’s).