Roanmore rally to gain revenge on rivals Mount Sion
Roanmore's Gavin O'Brien looks on as another long range point goes over the Mount Sion crossbar during their JJ Kavanagh & Sons Senior Hurling Championship clash at Azzurri Walsh Park. Photos: Noel Browne
Roanmore made amends for last year’s county semi-final defeat at the hands of rivals Mount Sion, as they comfortably dispatched of their fiercest foes with an eight-point success at Azzurri Walsh Park on Sunday.
Gavin O’Brien starred with 0-10 in what was by no means a classic, as Mount Sion always faced an uphill battle following the dismissal of Ben Frisby on 38 minutes.
Roanmore played with the aid of a strong breeze for the opening period, but it was Mount Sion, without talisman Austin Gleeson - who opened the scoring. Stephen O’Neill found Stephen Roche in acres to split the posts within a minute.
The Sky Blues then marauded upfield and very nearly yielded a goal, a superb run from Shane Mackey nearly had the perfect ending but Ian O’Regan was on hand to deny him before Sean Roche was denied on the follow-up.
The impressive Gavin O’Brien pointed the resultant ‘65 before Rory Furlong was afforded time to give his side the lead. Jamie Gleeson levelled with his first free of the afternoon, before Roanmore found their rhythm.
A huge strike from a dead ball by Billy Nolan kickstarted a run of seven unanswered points as they began to take advantage of the elements. Dean Walsh was next in on the act before O’Brien added on from distance. On 14 minutes, O’Brien brilliantly dispossessed PJ Fanning and nonchalantly knocked the sliotar over as Roanmore assumed a four-point lead.
A fine strike from Lee Hearne, an O’Brien effort through a crowd of bodies and a Sean Roche effort made it 0-9 to 0-2, before the bright Tadhg Corcoran arrested the slump for Mount Sion - providing a timely first score in 14 minutes.
Corcoran was again left unmarked to score his second, before Stephen Roche was first on to a breaking ball and the lead was reduced to four points.
Sean Roche then flashed an effort narrowly wide of goal, before Charlie Chester planted his feet to add his name to the scoresheet. A great strike against the breeze from Stephen O’Neill made it 0-10 to 0-6 at the interval, but it was anyone’s game as Mount Sion would have the aid of the elements for the second period.
A Jamie Gleeson free moved Sion back within arms length, but a great run and score from Ethan Flynn and another expertly-taken O’Brien free had Roanmore 0-12 to 0-7 ahead before disaster struck for Sion on 38 minutes.
Substitute Ben Frisby, who had earlier replaced the injured Donal Power, was involved in an off the ball incident which saw Billy Nolan hit the deck clutching his head. Referee Nicholas Barry consulted his umpires and Frisby received his immediate marching orders. Down to 14, Mount Sion’s sizeable task was suddenly insurmountable.
A well-taken Bradley Penkert strike galvanised them temporarily as Adam Regan and Tommy Kennedy were introduced, but Roanmore were in unforgiving mood as another O’Brien free, a beauty from Eoin Burke and a Sean Burke effort made it 0-15 to 0-8, in a period where the Monastery men struck an agonising five wides.
Tadhg Corcoran added his third, before O’Brien and Gleeson exchanged frees. Brian Nolan got in on the act as Roanmore kicked for home, before a Jack Kirwan goal attempt at the other end was blazed just over the bar.
With five minutes added, Sion pushed for a goal but it proved elusive, as two more from man-of-the-match O’Brien and a fine point from youngster Steven Cooke came either side of a Tommy Kennedy strike, ensuring a 0-20 to 0-12 final scoreline.
Roanmore are two from two in Group B alongside Fourmilewater, and this was another impressive statement of intent from the Sky Blues who look an improved side on the early evidence of 2026.
Gavin O’Brien (0-10; 0-6f; 0-1 ‘65); Billy Nolan (0-1; 0-1f); Dean Walsh, Lee Hearne, Sean Roche, Charlie Chester, Ethan Flynn, Eoin Burke, Sean Burke, Brian Nolan, Steven Cooke (0-1 each)
Jamie Gleeson (0-3; 0-3f); Tadhg Corcoran (0-3); Stephen Roche (0-2); Stephen O’Neill, Bradley Penkert, Jack Kirwan and Tommy Kennedy (0-1 each)
Jack Chester; Alex Furlong, Conor Ryan, Charlie Chester; Eoin Burke, Billy Nolan, Dean Walsh; Sean Burke, Gavin O’Brien; Brian Nolan, Shane Mackey, Ethan Flynn; Lee Hearne, Rory Furlong, Sean Roche.
Paul O’Sullivan for Lee Hearne (46); Callum Carroll for Shane Mackey (54); Steven Cooke for Sean Roche (57); Frank McGrath for Dean Walsh (60)
Ian O’Regan; Aaron Coughlan, Stephen O’Neill, Bradley Penkert; Mikey Daykin, PJ Fanning, Gavin Power; Jamie Gleeson, John Kennedy; Tadhg Corcoran, Stephen Roche, Alan Kirwan; Martin F O’Neill, Jamie Meaney, Donal Power.
Ben Frisby for Donal Power (23; inj); Adam Regan for Jamie Meaney (41); Tommy Kennedy for Alan Kirwan (41); Jack Kirwan for Martin F O’Neill (51)
Nicholas Barry (Passage)
