By RONAN FAGAN : Oylegate-Glenbrien 3-12, Shelmaliers 2-12
An astonishing 21 wides came back to haunt Shelmaliers as closing points from Seamus Casey (2) and Jamie Reck edged close rivals Oylegate-Glenbrien through Sunday afternoon’s Pettitt’s county senior hurling championship quarter-final at a sunny but blustery Innovate Wexford Park.
In stark contrast, Oylegate struck just four wides, and as a consequence Shelmaliers will be left fuming after applying such self-inflicted damage to their own prospects of making the last-four of the hurling chase for the first time since 2014, a year when they eventually won the competition outright.
Oylegate opened with points from Shane Reck and Conor Heffernan before Shelmaliers tied after eight minutes through Ross Banville and Brian Malone (0-2 apiece).
But Heffernan edged the Blues back in front before they received the considerable boost of seeing Podge Doran’s goal drive partially saved before the ball trickled over the goal-line off the far post for a 1-3 to 0-2 breakthrough on 12 minutes.
However, Shelmaliers thundered back with a Ross Banville goal, when a line-ball from Benny Barron found its way to the teenager, who whipped to the Clonard-end net, before Simon Donohoe balanced the books at 1-3 apiece on 17 minutes.
Seamus Casey asserted Oylegate-Glenbrien clear by 1-6 to 1-4 after 23 minutes.
In truth though, Shelmaliers could have been ahead but for their poor shooting.
Ross Banville did peg it back to 1-6 to 1-5 from a free on 30 minutes before Oylegate applied some real damage in the dying embers of the half – Casey extending the gap to 1-7 to 1-5 before Damien Reck’s free from midfield somehow went all the way to the net three minutes into added-time, to blow open a 2-7 to 1-5 gap at the change-of-ends.
There needn’t have been any concerns amongst Shelmaliers’ connections though as the black-and-amber goaled within 70 seconds of the resumption – Seán Keane-Carroll whipping home a breaking-ball after Eoghan Nolan had initially forced a block (2-7 to 2-5).
Yet the Shels’ prime concern – inaccuracy – grew with the quick addition of two more wides.
Regardless, Shelmaliers eventually shot clear by 2-9 to 2-7 after 41 minutes as Ross Banville (2), Ciarán O’Shaughnessy and Conor Hearne brought some satisfaction.
However, Oylegate-Glenbrien got their noses back in front by 3-7 to 2-9 in the 43rd-minute when Podge Doran rifled a penalty to the net after Conor Heffernan was impeded.
Ross Banville levelled, and excitement built as the sides shared the next four points to leave it tied on 3-9 to 2-12 after 55 minutes.
But, as the Shels added a fistful of wides, their opponents applied the decisive blows, with two points from Seamus Casey frees and one from play by Jamie Reck ensuring passage for MJ Reck’s men to the semi-finals at the expense of their wasteful rivals.
Oylegate-Glenbrien – John Foley, Ciarán Hourihane, Michael Heffernan (capt.), Bryan McCormack, Mark Kavanagh, Damien Reck (1-0 free), Mike Kelly, Jamie Reck (0-1), Shane Reck (0-2), Tom White, Seamus Casey (0-6, 4 frees), Jack Reck, Fiachra Hourihane, Pádraig Doran (2-0, 1 penalty), Conor Heffernan (0-3).
Subs: Robbie O’Connor for Bryan McCormack; (temporary, Daithí O’Mahoney for Tom White); Daithí O’Mahoney for Fiachra Hourihane; Fergie Heffernan for Michael Heffernan.
Shelmaliers – Brian Murphy, André O’Brien, Eoin Doyle, Craig Parker, Conor Walsh, Simon Donohoe (0-1), Jody Donohoe, Ciarán O’Shaughnessy (0-1), Benny Barron, Seán Keane-Carroll (1-0), Brian Malone (capt., 0-1), James Cash, Conor Hearne (0-2), Eoghan Nolan (0-1), Ross Banville (1-6, 0-4 frees).
Subs: (temporary, Glen Malone for Conor Hearne); Tommy Barron for Benny Barron; Conor Byrne for Seán Keane-Carroll.
Referee – John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue).
