The Michael Murphy Senior Championship for 2023 got underway at a wet and windy Pairc Taobhoige tonight and a Jack Long goal midway through the second-half gave Glenfin a winning start to their campaign against St.Micheals in a low scoring game , 1-05 to 0-05.
By Charlie Collins at Pairc Taobhoige
The home team played with the elements in their favour in the opening half and their 0-04 to 0-02 lead hardly looked enough, both teams kicking some bad wides, a theme that was also a feature of the second-half.
And even though the conditions were difficult, some of those misses were poor.
Paul Johnston gave the visitors an early lead and then both teams had goal chances in quick succession, Packie O Neill for St.Micheals and then Ciaran Brady for Glenfin, both failed to convert.
Glenfin lost Frank McGlynn with injury, but Daniel Marley and Shaun Ward both scored from frees and Andrew Kelly replied to leave it 0-02 apiece.
Ordhan O Conner from a Mark and an excellent point from play by Mark McGinty left Glenfin 0-04 to 0-02 ahead at the break.
Kelly and Ward exchanged early points and a fine score from St.Micheals Hugh O Donnell left just one between them.
The visitors introduced Carlos O Reilly but before he could make an impact, Glenfin hit the game’s crucial score.
Young Jack Long pounced on Luke McGlynn’s pass and steered a lovely shot with the outside of his right foot to the far bottom corner of the net.
O Reilly pointed immediately for the visitors but that would prove to be the last score of the game to give Glenfin 1-05 to 0-05 victory and great start to their championship campaign.
Glenfin: Andrew Walsh; Gary Herron, John Harkin, Martin O’Donnell; Ross Marley, Mark McGinty (0-1), Jack Long (1-00),
Jason Morrow, Frank McGlynn; Daniel Marley (0-1, 1f), Ciaran Brady, Shaun Ward (0-2, 2fs); Odhran O’Connor (0-1, 1m), Luke McGlynn, Daniel McGlynn. Subs: Aaron McGlynn for F.McGlynn (10 mins), Gerard Ward for Brady (49 mins).
St Michael’s: Mark Anthony McGinley; Stephen Doak, Liam Paul Ferry, Jamie Hunter; Hugh O’Donnell (0-1), Ciaran Kelly, Martin Breslin; Martin McElhinney, Colin McFadden; Antoin McFadden, Kyle McGarvey, Conan Brennan; Paul Johnston (0-1), Packie O’Neill, Andrew Kelly (0-2, 1f). Subs: Carlos O’Reilly (0-1) for O’Neill (45 mins), Michael Cannon for Breslin (52 mins), Eoghan Kelly for Brennan (54 mins). Referee : Pat Barrett ( Milford ).