Sean Reynolds' masterclass sees Stabannon comfortably defeat Glen Emmets

CTI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

GROUP 1 ROUND 2

Stabannon Parnells 5-4 Glen Emmets 0-11

Stabannon Parnells secured their second win within the space of six days to become the first team to secure their passage through to the Intermediate Championship quarter finals, with a hattrick of penalties from Harry Butterly setting Wayne Kierans’ side on their way on a wet afternoon in Tallanstown.

Sean Reynolds once again stood out like a beacon, alongside Butterly, with the pair having now bagged an impressive 5-16 between them in two championship outings.

Reynolds wasted no time in making his presence felt inside the first minute when he collected a long ball from David Cluskey to secure and convert an advanced mark for the game’s opening score.

That combination of turning the ball over, before moving out of defence and kicking directly to Reynolds once again worked wonders for Parnells, with the Louth U20 star collecting another long ball, following a timely interception from Colm Giggins in defence.

He looked for Reynolds, who was adjudged to have been impeded in the box by referee Cathal O’Brien, with Harry Butterly dispatching the first of two first half penalties to the bottom corner, leaving the Glen Emmets shellshocked.

Another Butterly free increased that Stabannon lead to five points, which was quickly cancelled out by Keelan O’Neill, which got the Tullyallen side off the mark, making it 1-2 to 0-1 approaching the 8th minute.

The only blot on the Stabannon copy book was the fact that they only won eight out of 16 on their own kickout over the hour, with Glen Emmets’ Alex Carolan capitalising to combine with Cian Talbot, to set up the lively Eoghan Maguire to convert from play, to make it 1-2 to 0-2.

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Harry Butterly continued to find the range from frees, before another turnover thanks to some impressive grafting from Parnells forwards like Robbie Callaghan and Dean Lynch, saw Sean Reynolds win another penalty.

This was again converted by Butterly despite slipping in the wet conditions, to make it 2-3 to 0-2 in Stabannon’s favour, approaching the end of the first quarter.

Stabannon were not done yet, as another long ball was collected by Reynolds. With the Glen Emmets’ defence seemingly anticipating that, the forward would put his hand up to take the mark. Reynolds played on, planting the ball to the net, to give his side a nine-point lead.

The Glen Emmets’ needed to respond, and two scores from Alex Carolan (1 free), and a terrific strike from county man Conor Grimes at least managed to close the gap to six by the time the first half was brought to a close, with Stabannon ahead by 3-3 to 0-6.

Following another Butterly free, Alex Carolan and Cian Talbot found the range from play, with Conor Grimes (31 possessions) and Keelan O’Neill (20 possessions) influential.

Talbot and Eoghan Maguire combined to set up Grimes for another score from play, and you felt that that a possible fightback was on, with another score from Talbot leaving just a goal between the sides after 42 minutes.

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However, another long ball into the square proved to be the 2021 Junior Championship winners’ undoing, with Sean Reynolds grabbing his second goal, after a Harry Butterly free fell short.

Try as they might, a sole effort from Conor Grimes was all the Emmets could muster, as Sean Reynolds earned another penalty, which was sent to the top corner by Butterly for his hattrick.

And with that Stabannon are into the quarter finals as group winners, leaving a winner takes all clash between Roche and Glen Emmets to see who joins them.

Stabannon Parnells: Padraig Malone; Alan Reynolds, Barry McCoy, Ryan Halpenny; Johnny McGee, Shane McCoy, David Cluskey; Colm Giggins, Niall Cluskey; Jake Corrigan, Bobby Butterly, Dean Lynch; Robert Callaghan, Sean Reynolds (2-1, 0-1 mark), Harry Butterly (3-3, 3-0 pen, 0-3 frees). Subs: Aonghus Giggins for Corrigan (55), Thomas McBride for Dean Lynch (55), Barry Lynch for Colm Giggins (57), Niall Fanning for Sean Reynolds (60).

Glen Emmets: Damien Grimes; Cathal Maguire, Emmet Delaney, Keith Boylan; Andrew Mooney, Evan English, Sam Kenny; Conor Grimes (0-3), Darragh Russell; Sean Byrne, Keelan O’Neill (0-2, 0-1 free), Keefer Carolan; Alex Carolan (0-3, 0-1 free), Cian Talbot (0-2), Eoghan Maguire (0-1). Subs: James Breen for Russell (41), Tom Grimes for Byrne (50), Davy Bracken for Keefer Carolan (50).

Referee: Cathal O’Brien (Geraldines).