Gleeson inspires Mount Sion to last gasp win over city rivals
Adam Regan of Mount Sion with the winning score of the game against Roanmore. Photo: INPHO/James Lawlor
Two injury-time stunners from Austin Gleeson and Adam Regan saw Mount Sion secure their passage in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. Senior Hurling Championship Final for the first time since 2022 in an epic battle with city rivals Roanmore at a windswept Walsh Park.
When it looked as if Roanmore were going to hold out for the win, Gleeson caught a ball near the sideline of the North Stand to split the posts in levelling the game before the former hurler of the year caught PJ Fanning free to offload to Adam Regan for what proved to be the winner.
Wind-assisted, Sion led at the break, 1-8 to 0-7, thanks to Jamie Meaney’s third-minute goal after finishing a pass from Regan before the Monastery Men were reduced to fourteen men on 11 minutes when Luke O’Brien saw red after an altercation with Cian Wadding in front of referee Thomas Walsh.
The inter-county official infuriated both teams with some of his decisions during the course of that opening half that saw Martin O’Neill land 0-6, five from placed ball, whilst Gavin O’Brien and Brian Everard kept the scoreboard ticking for the Sky Blues.
It was down to a point two minutes before the break before O’Neill rallied over three frees to see Jamie O’Meara’s side lead 1-8 to 0-7 at the short whistle as one of the Mount Sion management made his way to referee Walsh to seek clarification on O’Brien’s red. A striking action on Wadding was the ultimate verdict.
Points from Sean Burke and O’Brien had narrowed the Roanmore gap early in the second-half before O’Neill and Jamie Gleeson saw Sion steady the ship. Three points in quick succession from Paul O’Sullivan, Billy Nolan, and Brian Nolan had it back to a point, 1-10 to 0-12, before the 41st minute.
Rory Furlong levelled for Roanmore on 44 minutes before Frank McGrath was shown a straight red card by referee Walsh eight minutes later for a high tackle on Jamie Meaney, who needed blood treatment, and O’Neill edged his side back in front.
With Mount Sion a point to the good with three minutes remaining on the clock, two Gavin O’Brien frees were sandwiched by a Shane Mackey effort from play. Sideline official Jack Bray showed three added minutes, and it was time for Gleeson to step up.
That he did. He sent over an incredible 62nd-minute equaliser before setting up Adam Regan for the winner to the sound of the final whistle. An incredible finish to a game that was nip and tuck throughout the course of the hour.
Martin O’Neill 0-10 (7f, 1 ’65), Jamie Meaney 1-0, Adam Regan 0-2, Stephen Roche 0-1, Jamie Gleeson 0-1, Austin Gleeson 0-1
Gavin O’Brien 0-6 (5f, 1 ’65), Brian Everard 0-2, Brian Nolan 0-2, Billy Nolan 0-2, Sean Burke 0-1, Paul O’Sullivan 0-1, Rory Furlong 0-1, Shane Mackey 0-1, Ethan Flynn 0-1.
Ian O’Regan; Stephen O’Neill, Luke O’Brien, Ben Flanagan; John Kennedy, Austin Gleeson, Gavin Power; Jamie Gleeson, PJ Fanning; Martin O’Neill, Stephen Roche, Donal Power; Adam Regan, Mikey Daykin, Jamie Meaney.
Martin F O’Neill for Donal Power (30), Ben Frisby for Stephen O’Neill (41), Evan Curran for John Kennedy (46), Alan Kirwan for Jamie Meaney (52-54 temporary), Emmanuel Adebayo for Gavin Power (59)
Jack Chester; Oran Hartney, Frank McGrath, Charlie Chester; Brian Nolan, Billy Nolan, Cian Wadding; Rory Furlong, Sean Burke; Conor Ryan, Gavin O’Brien, Shane Mackey; Ethan Flynn, Paul O’Sullivan, Brian Everard.
Callum Carroll for Brian Everard (42), Lee Hearne for Gavin O’Brien (47- 49 temporary), Lee Hearne for Paul O’Sullivan (53), Ethan Hayes for Ethan Flynn (60) Thomas Walsh (Modeligo).
