Glen Rovers 2-17
Sarsfields 1-13
GLEN ROVERS ENDED a 26-year wait for the Cork SHC title as two late goals helped them to secure victory over Sarsfields at Páirc Uí Rinn this afternoon.
Leading by 0-15 to 0-11 with 11 minutes of normal time left, the Glen got a huge boost as David Cunningham finished well after good work by Conor Dorris and David Busteed allowed him a chance.
While Sars had a Cian McCarthy point in response, in the 54th minute Glen defender David Dooling found him in space on the end of a clearance and he fired past Alan Kennedy to open up a 10-point lead.
Sars — aiming for a fifth title in eight years and what would have been back-to-back titles for the first time — did reduce the gap slightly as McCarthy pointed and then found the net, but Cork star Patrick Horgan made sure of victory with a late free in injury time.
Horgan finished with nine points while former inter-county player Graham Callanan played a captain’s role for the Glen, a force of nature at right half-back.
Sars led by two points twice in the first-half, with Gavin O’Loughlin impressing for them early on, but Dean Brosnan was on song as the Glen stayed in touch.
Frees by Horgan were important as the sides were level on six occasions in that first-half and two from him sandwiched one by Cunningham as they surged 0-10 to 0-8 in front by the interval.
Early in the second period, David Busteed was unlucky not to push the Glen further clear but Kennedy made a brilliant save to tip his shot over the bar. They continued to add points though and fine defending repelled Sars, while goalkeeper Cathal Hickey produced an outstanding stop when McCarthy went for goal on 48.
The resultant 65 brought Sars back to within four, but Cunningham goaled immediately after and from there the Glen were not to be denied their 26th title.
Scorers for Glen Rovers: Patrick Horgan 0-9 (0-7 frees), David Cunningham 1-2, Dean Brosnan 0-3, David Dooling 1-0, Graham Callanan, Conor Dorris, David Busteed 0-1 each.
Scorers for Sarsfields: Cian McCarthy 1-6 (0-4 frees, 0-1 65), Gavin O’Loughlin 0-3, Éanna Martin 0-2, Robert O’Driscoll, Ronan Murphy 0-1 each.
Glen Rovers
1. Cathal Hickey
3. Stephen McDonnell
2. Ben Murphy
5. David Dooling
7. Graham Callanan
6. Brian Moylan
4. Gavin Moylan
8. Donal Cronin
9. Dave Noonan
10. Dean Brosnan
11. Patrick Horgan
12. David Cunningham
13. Conor Dorris
14. Brian Phelan
15. David Busteed
Subs
17. Shane Kennefick for Phelan (52)
19. Glen Kennefick for Cunningham (56)
Sarsfields
1. Alan Kennedy
2. Conor O’Sullivan
3. Craig Leahy
4. William Kearney
5. Daniel Roche
6. Ray Ryan
7. Éanna Martin
8. Daniel Kearney
9. Eoin Quigley
10. Ronan Murphy
12. Cian McCarthy
11. Gavin O’Loughlin
13.Eoin O’Sullivan
14. Kieran Murphy
15. Robert O’Driscoll
Subs
17. Tadhg Óg Murphy for Ronan Murphy (33)
22. Liam Healy for Kieran Murphy (44)
21. Cormac Duggan for O’Driscoll (51)
19. Paul Leopold for Martin (54)
Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg)
