Louth GAA: Last gasp score sees Glyde pip Plunketts

GLYDE RANGERS 0-10

OLIVER PLUNKETTS 0-09

Glyde Rangers have played their way into form and yet another Louth Junior final after Dion Conlon’s last gasp score knocked out Oliver Plunketts. Conlon’s score was a worthy winner in Clogherhead.

A free in the own half back line was worked to Brian Duffy who did ever so well to get up the field and find Niall Sharkey who kept the move going by flicking the slippy ball in the path of Conlon to fire the Tallanstown men into their fifth final in seven seasons.

Another tight game, and Rangers had the know-how to get over the line. As well as that, Peter Duffy’s side had more than their fair share of possession. Some wild kicks and wasteful wides were of their own doing rather than Plunketts pressure.

To be fair to Emmet Kelleher’s men, the loss of Dean Carolan and Cian Matthews inside the opening quarter were blow’s they did well to recover from but their inability to hit high scores all season would catch up with them. 

Despite trailing to three points on the zip, Glyde were never out of reach and patient in the Plunketts dominant period. The organised bunch never panicked and were happy to probe without forcing their way back into the semi final.

With the injuries forthcoming and David Brennan pulling off a fine save, Glyde hung in the game thanks to points from influential duo of Ciaráin Sheridan and Niall Sharkey.

Relying on placed efforts and goalkeeper Luke Haggans, the Drogheda men shrugged into a 0-4 to 0-3 interval lead.

The third quarter was a dominant one for Glyde as they were able to create openings a lot more easier than their opponents. Tadhg Kellett soon had the sides level as they outscored the Mell men four to one in that match winning period.

Ciaráin Sheridan’s brace was worthy of a final place alone and put Duffy’s men three ahead.

Plunketts will have worthy cause for complaints however when Aaron Devlin tripped Stephen Keeley after he was caught in possession with the whole field in front of him.

Referee Cathal O’Brien gave Devlin a yellow card and he was quickly substituted. It was a key moment in the game. Despite this Plunketts dug deep and bridged the three point gap with great heart.

Barry Reynolds, Cian Brady (free) and a well worked Stephen Keeley looked to be enough to bring the game to extra time but Dion Conlon had other ideas. 

GLYDE RANGERS: David Brennan; Conor McCullagh, Jack McKeever, Fiachra Sheridan; Tadhg Kellett 0-1, Niall Sharkey 0-1, Gerard Bourton; Dion Conlon 0-2, Brian Duffy; Killian Scott, Aaron Devlin, Lee Finnegan 0-1; Conor Sheridan, Ciaráin Sheridan 0-4 (2f, 1m), Alan Kirk 0-1 (1f). SUBS: Oisín Lynch for Devlin (42), Ultan Larney for Bourton (48), Trevor O’Brien for Finnegan (56).

OLIVER PLUNKETT’S: Luke Haggans 0-1 (1f); Cillian Matthews, David Mcteggart, Gary Keogh; Barry Reynolds 0-1, Dean Carolan, Cillian Smith; Robert Brodigan 0-1, Luke Carley; Shaun Smith, Stephen Keeley 0-1, David Lambe; Seán Callaghan 0-2 (1m), Cian Matthews 0-1 (1f), Kristian Nolan 0-1 (1f). SUBS: Jamie Byrne for Carolan (16), Cian Brady 0-1 (1f) for Cian Matthews (23), Adam Brodigan for S Smith (44), Conor Haggans for Lambe (50), Seán Brassil for Byrne (57).

REF: Cathal O’Brien (Geraldines).