02-08-2025
Just 1070 days later...The Glen are back and winning after seeing off Erin's Own
Cork Premier SHC: Glen Rovers 1-22 Erin's Own 1-15
1,070 days. Or, if the context is easier digested this way, try two years, 11 months, and five days. That was the gap. The gap has been eradicated. The Glen are back in Premier Senior and, far more importantly, the Glen are back winning in Premier Senior.
In the end, the Blackpool club's almost three-year gap to their last top-tier victory was comfortably bridged. The 2024 Senior A champions immediately announced their return. Seven points in the opening six and a half minutes. Eight shots, seven stuck. The one that didn't was a Patrick Horgan goal strike inside the first 30 seconds that Erin's Own 'keeper Tom Dillon batted out for a '65.
Hoggie, from play and placed-ball, Luke Horgan, Eoin Downey, and championship debutants Diarmuid Wall and Conor McCarthy all pointed to propel Tomás Mulcahy's side eight clear after only 10 minutes.
The veteran, Eoghan Murphy, opened the Erin's Own account 11 minutes in. Peter O'Shea and Robbie O'Flynn had already commenced a wides tally that would reach eight by half-time. The green flag also stayed rooted on the three occasions Shay Bowen's side engineered the opening. O'Flynn was narrowly off target with his effort, while Glen No.1 Cathal Hickey denied both Finn O'Brien and Conor Lenihan.
Eoin Downey, standing beside Cork teammate Robbie O'Flynn, was superb in the air. Their half-time lead of 0-14 to 0-6 was equally impressive.
The Glen began the second period with a pair of wides and a Micheál Mullins attempt hooked. But such was their almost nonchalant dominance that they still outgunned the Glounthaune side 1-3 to 0-1 in the eight minutes upon the restart. The goal belonged to Eoin Leary. The absence of suspended captain Dean Brosnan was not felt. All starting six forwards were on the mark from play.
Erin's Own's total stood at a paltry 1-8 - just nine scores - 49 minutes in. The goal had arrived eight minutes previous from Finn O'Brien. The Cork U20 was a rare positive in red and blue.
The gap was widest at 11 points - 1-15 to 0-7. A late Erin's Own scoring burst, with the outcome long decided, closed the final gap to seven in this Group 1 opener.
The Glen are back and they are winning.
Scorers for Glen Rovers: P Horgan (0-11, 0-3 frees, 0-1 '65); E O'Leary (1-0); S Lynam, L Horgan (0-2 each); E Downey, R Downey, C McCarthy, M Mullins, R Dunne, D Wall, L Quilligan (0-1 each).
Scorers for Erin's Own: R O'Flynn (0-6, 0-1 free); F O'Brien (1-3); E Murphy (0-3); C Lenihan (0-2); M O'Riordan (0-1).
GLEN ROVERS: C Hickey; A Lynch, B Moylan, L Coughlan; E Downey, R Downey, C McCarthy; A O'Donovan, M Mullins; R Dunne, P Horgan, E O'Leary; D Wall, L Horgan, S Lynam. Subs: J Brosnan for O'Donovan, L Quilligan for Wall (both 44).
ERIN'S OWN: T Dillon; C O'Connor, C Dooley, R O'Regan; S Broderick, C Dunphy, J O'Carroll; B Óg Murphy, C McDonnell; M O'Carroll, P O'Shea, R O'Flynn; C Lenihan, E Murphy, F O'Brien. Subs: R Twomey for O'Shea (28, inj); T O'Connell for J O'Carroll (inj), C O'Callaghan for McDonnell (both 39); M O'Riordan for B Óg Murphy (52).
Referee: M Maher (St Finbarr's).
