McGlynn shines as Glenfin secure opening day win over Naomh Pádraig

Glenfin opened their U21 Championship campaign with an impressive win away to Muff on Saturday afternoon.

Two first-half goals from Odhran O’Connor and another from Luke McGlynn helped keep them in touch during a period when Naomh Padraig were mostly on top. In the second half, McGlynn hit five two-pointers – two from play and three from frees – to help the visitors open up a seven-point lead against a battling home side for whom Oisin McIntyre, Andy McCarron and Cillian Doyle impressed.

Naomh Padraig finished strongly, hitting the final three points of the game, but they never fashioned a clear goal chance to test Glenfin keeper Jamie O’Donnell.

Glenfin ran out four-point winners in the end and, with eight of the ten teams in the U21B Championship qualifying for the quarter-finals, they already have one foot in the knockout stages. Coaches Frank McGlynn and Stephen McDermott will welcome the opportunity to learn more about their side in the remaining group games against St Naul’s and Milford.

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Cillian Doyle opened the scoring for Naomh Padraig with two early points, before Daire Quigley responded for Glenfin.

The first goal arrived five minutes in when corner-forward Odhran O’Connor peeled away from his marker and fired high to the net. An outside-of-the-boot two-pointer from Andy McCarron, along with points from Doyle and Jason Lynch, edged Muff ahead. O’Connor then struck again, racing along the end line and palming to the net after his initial shot had rebounded off the crossbar.

Referee Ryan Walsh penalised the Naomh Padraig bench after hearing something he didn’t like and, under the now-permanent new rules, awarded a free to Glenfin that McGlynn tapped over from close range.

Doyle added an excellent point and Finn McClafferty levelled matters, but McGlynn and O’Connor combined for Glenfin’s third goal to move them 3-2 to 0-8 ahead with five minutes of the half remaining.

Muff finished the half strongly, with Andy McCarron landing another two-pointer and Oisin McIntyre and Michael McCarron adding scores to leave them 0-12 to 3-2 in front at the break.

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The third quarter was evenly contested, with Doyle, Michael McCarron, Jamie McCauley and the impressive McIntyre all on target for Naomh Padraig. McGlynn replied with two two-pointers from play and a point.

Two points from Daniel Marley, either side of a huge two-point free from the ground by Michael McCarron, had the sides level at 0-18 to 3-9 after 51 minutes.

A close finish seemed in store, but three two-point frees from McGlynn – all from similar positions on the edge of the arc, two of which Muff bitterly contested – put daylight between the sides. When he added another point just shy of the hour, Glenfin were seven clear, rounding off the centre-forward’s remarkable personal tally of 1-13.

Muff rallied in injury time to narrow the margin, but Glenfin never looked in danger of leaving Ture without the points.

Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin scorers: Cillian Doyle 0-6 (4f); Andy McCarron 0-5 (two 2pts); Michael McCarron 0-4 (one 2pt free, 2f); Finn McClafferty 0-2; Oisin McIntyre 0-2; Jamie McCauley 0-1; Jason Lynch 0-1.

Glenfin scorers: Luke McGlynn 1-13 (two 2pts, three 2pt frees, one free); Odhran O’Connor 2-0; Daniel Marley 0-2; Daire Quigley 0-1.

Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin: Oisin Quigley; Daniel McMenamin, Evan McColgan, Jason Lynch; Michael McCarron, Conor Kelly, Rory Crossan; Jamie McCauley, Oisin McIntyre; Andy McCarron, Cillian Doyle, Peter McLaughlin; Darragh Doherty, Jamie McColgan, Conor Doherty. Subs: Finn McClafferty for J McColgan (3 mins); Mark Farren for R Crossan (ht); Eoin Maguire for D Doherty (36 mins); Eamon Doherty for D McMenamin (46 mins); Dermot Grant for C Doherty (57 mins).

Glenfin: Jamie O’Donnell; James McGlynn, Ross Bradley, Conor McMenamin; Callum Long, Jack Long, Oisin McGlynn; Tommy McNulty, Daniel Marley; Daire Quigley, Luke McGlynn, Eoghan McNulty; Odhran O’Connor, Niall Marley, Harry McGlynn. Subs: Jamie Gallagher for N Marley (41 mins); Jake Doherty for E McNulty (53 mins); Eoin Moy for Senan Campbell (58 mins).

Referee: Ryan Walsh (Naomh Bríd)