U11 Premier Football
Glenville versus Glanmire
Glenville got off to a great start in the U11 league on Monday morning.. Playing in the top division we are going to be up against the top teams in the county, but our performance and Saturday showed that this bunch of lads are more than ready for the challenge.
The format for this league requires the team to divide into two and play two separate matches. Team 1 got off to a slow start with the wind at their backs. Sam Dennehy was very effective in this half to win possession for Glenville. Despite huge efforts from the likes of Liam Foley, Ben Sullivan and Callum O'Mahony Glenville went in at half time ahead by only a point to nil.
Team 2 also started with the breeze, but got off to a great start with lovely points by Brendan Lehane and Ciaran O'Riordan. Jamie Curtain was very effective at holding the ball in the forward line. We got a great break when Ciaran O'Leary hit a high sideline in which was caught by the keeper. But a tenacious tackle by Ben Flanagan saw the ball spill into the net. A lapse in concentration saw Glanmire come back into it but Glenville still lead 1.6 to 1.2 at half time.
It appeared Team 1 might have had a tough task ahead in the second half. But whatever inspiring words were said by team selectors Conor FitzGerald and guest celebrity selector Sam Bracken seemed to work as Glenville went out to steamroll their Glanmire opponents. Powerful performances from Ross Hennessy, Eoghan Knapp and Eanna FitzGerald who began to score with ease throughout the half. Special mention has to be made to defenders Donal Sheehan, who didn't put a foot wrong all day, and Fionn FitzGerald, the youngest player on the pitch who showed that despite his age, he was well up to the pace. Glenville ran out 6.9 to 0.1 winners in the end.
Team 2 made harder work of their battle. A recurring theme with this team is having all the possession but not being able to score. This appeared to be the case in the second half where scores were hard to come by. Only for the tireless work of Mike O'Driscoll and Patrick Ryan in defence, and Joseph O'Riordan in goal, Glanmire may well have pushed on to win his one. The sides were level with a few minutes to go, but two great goals by Ciaran O'Leary and Colm O'Regan sealed the win for Glenville by 4.7 to 2.7.
Mallow are up next on Friday which will take place in Glenville at 7pm