Glenhest leave Manulla feeling blue
Cillian Murphy of Glenhest Rovers (wearing 10) watches on as Manulla's Darragh Byrne and Glenhest's Chris Rowland vie for the ball. Picture: John Corless
Glenhest Rovers produced another fine performance in brushing aside Manulla 5-0 on Saturday evening to continue their fine form in the Mayo Super League.
Glenhest manager Stephen McLoughlin praised his side’s effort. “We’re delighted with the result,” he told the . “I put it down to work rate and when we got on the ball we showed a bit of quality. We look good when we have the ball in the final third. We create chances. We score goals. We could have had more tonight. There’s a good starting eleven and there’s just as good to come off the bench. So that’s the difference this season.” The hosts needed just two minutes to break the deadlock. Cillian Murphy finished well after Niall Kirby found him with a clever ball inside. Glenhest, already on nine points heading into the match, looked confident and moved the ball comfortably in the opening half while Manulla never really got going, having no real outlet. Matty Nolan and Diarmuid Beirne tried to drive some sort of response, but the Glenhest defence smothered their efforts.
Glenhest should have gone further ahead on 42 minutes. Levi Barrett put Paddy Mulchrone through but he shot wide. Moments later, Eoin McNulty created another for Mulchrone, but he took too long and was denied by the intervention of Darren Fernandes. At that stage it should have been three-nil.
Manulla’s first half was flat. Their only contribution of note was a corner won by Cian Benson late on. And then, right before the break, to compound their problems, Gavin Jennings brought down Murphy in the box. Referee Eric Eaton pointed to the spot, and Levi Barrett stepped up for the second week in a row to dispatch the penalty clinically.
The visitors needed a reaction after the break but nearly conceded immediately when Kirby intercepted a lame pass to send Mulchrone through, but his shot was saved.
Despite Manulla possession and pressure, it was Glenhest that threatened when, ten minutes in Mulchrone again came close, his low drive curling past the post.
Glenhest conceded possession for the opening twenty minutes of the half, but they never looked in any danger. Adrian Rowland, Paul McLoughlin, Ciaran McCormack and Levi Barrett were sharp and disciplined, with Chris Rowland operating in front of the back four, denying Manulla any real chances.
Strangely, Manulla never utilised Ethan Hosty, recently signed from Kiltimagh Knock United, on the wing. He was free on the left again and again, but the ball never came. He’s a right good player and knows where the goal is, and Manulla should have used him to try and get through. It was only near the end, when the game was gone, and when he moved to the right, that he finally saw some service. He earned a corner, forcing the ball over via a deflection. It was Manulla’s only half-chance, and it came far too late.
Glenhest’s third came in the 74th minute. Ethan Barrett found Mulchrone, who finished low. The fourth, on 81 minutes, came from Shane Finnerty’s corner; Eoin Wright finishing it in a goalmouth scramble. With four minutes left, Glenhest added a fifth. Mulchrone robbed a defender near the box and ran it in.
Glenhest are on form and playing with purpose this season. They’ve scored five in their last two outings. While they had good performances all over the park and from the bench, Eoin Wright was Player of the Match. Chris Rowland was outstanding too, as were the entire defence.
Matty Nolan was bright for Manulla. Cian Benson showed some good touches. Diarmuid Beirne worked hard, but Manulla were second best all over the pitch and never really threatened.
“I thought it was one of our best team performances this year,” Eoghan Wright said. “Everyone played their part. We had more chances that we could have taken. We can’t complain at 5-0, and a clean sheet as well. It’s a different team this year. We’re looking to get up towards the top of the table anyway. Winning the Premier League last year gave us a big boost. We know how good we are.”
With twelve points on the board before Easter, this is Glenhest’s best ever start to the Super League. They were without the unavailable Connor McCarthy on Saturday evening yet they didn’t miss him.
