Glenbeigh/Glencar 1-12   John Mitchels 2-06

Glenbeigh/Glencar hosted John Mitchels in their first game of the County League on Sunday afternoon.  This would be Jeremiah Hoare’s last game for a number of weeks as he is heading to the States.   Jeremiah has gone from strength to strength in recent years and has been a big part of the team’s recent successes and will be an undoubted big loss. Glenbeigh/Glencar were happy to have Darran O Sullivan available after Kerry’s drawn National League game with Dublin the evening before.

Glenbeigh/Glencar had got off to a poor start in their last couple of league campaigns and were anxious to get out of the blocks with maximum points from this encounter.  Mitchels had a brilliant start scoring two goals in the opening minutes, as Donal O Neill was left with no chance in goals, as two defence lapses left the Glenbeigh/Glencar goal open for Niall
Sheehy,  who dispatched both into the back of the net.  Kieran Courtney has added great point scoring to his game last season and converted another beauty today as Glenbeigh / Glencar started their fight back. Alan O Donoghue scored Mitchels’ first point of the match, but a great move from Glenbeigh/Glencar and excellent pass from Bernard Murphy was excellently dispatched into the back of Dermot Raggett’s goal by Kieran Courtney to make it 1-01 to 2-01. The home team were in the ascendancy with Pa Kilkenny, in particular,
being very impressive,  as he turned defence into attack on numerous occasions.   Jason McKenna came on for Daniel Griffin late into the first half, as an industrious Bernard Murphy scored a fine point, quickly followed by a converted Tommy Cahill free to bring Glenbeigh/Glencar back to within one point as the halftime whistle blew.   Half-time score Glenbeigh/Glencar1-03 to John Mitchells 2-01.

Jeremiah Hoare replaced Vincent for the second half, as the home team looked to kick on from their strong finish to the first half.  Gavan O Grady got the scoring under way for the homeside with an excellent point.   Pa Kilkenny finished off one of his marauding runs with a point, as Glenbeigh/Glencar took the lead for the first time in the match.   Alan O Donoghue levelled the game ten minutes into the half, but it was Glenbeigh/Glencar that were the
more cohesive unit, as they turned the screw scoring five unanswered points from Colin McGillicuddy (1), Bernard Murphy (1), Darran O Sullivan (1), Gavan O Grady (2).    The second point from Gavan was an outstanding effort, as he slotted over from an ridiculously acute angle.  Niall Sheehy pulled a point back for Mitchels from a free 17 minutes into the half, but two more points from Gavan O Grady and Bernard Murphy made the game look safe 1-12 to 2-03.  Podge Griffin and Shane Riordan replaced Stephen O Sullivan and
Tommy Cahill.   Mitchels rallied well for the final minutes with points from Conor Hurley  and two frees from Sheehy, to make the final score:  Glenbeigh/Glencar 1-12                    John Mitchels 2-06. 

It wasn't a vintage performance, but a great 20 minute spell in the second half from Glenbeigh/Glencar, scoring 8 points from play deservedly got them over the line.