Glenanne men were crowned champions of the Leinster Division 1 after a shootout victory over Kilkenny
Glenanne men lift league title
GLENANNE Men’s 1s have been crowned champions after securing the Leinster Division 1 League title following a dramatic shootout victory over Kilkenny in the Trinity Grounds, Santry.
In a tightly fought league final between two evenly matched sides, chances were limited throughout with both defences on top for long periods.
Glenanne took the lead in the first quarter only to see a well worked goal ruled out in the second.
This was a moment that could have unsettled lesser teams, instead they responded with composure and continued to press.
Kilkenny found the net from a short corner routine in a tense third quarter of the game which led the teams positioned at one goal apiece at the final whistle.
With nothing to separate the two sides, ,the contest was to be decided by shuttles.
It was here that Glenanne demonstrated their class, showing calmness under pressure they executed their attempts flawlessly.
Goalkeeper Marco Lanovic played a key role in the win also, denying Kilkenny to secure the 3-0 shootout victory.
The result sparked scenes of celebration as Glenanne claimed the Leinster Division 1 crown.
That success capped a hugely positive outing for the club last weekend with Glenanne’s Men’s 2s also delivering a statement performance in their own title push.
The Men’s 2s strengthened their position at the top of the table with a hard earned 1-0 win over second place Suttonians in a tense top of the table clash.
In a game decided by fine margins, Glenanne controlled possession for long stretches and limited Suttonians attacking opportunities. With both sides defensively disciplined, clear chances were at a premium.
The breakthrough came midway through the game from a well executed short corner.
Andy Sparshot’s delivery into the circle was met by Jason Kehoe who applied a deft deflection to guide the ball home and give Glenanne the lead.
Glenanne looked comfortable for much of the remainder, managing the temp effectively though the closing stages of the game brought high drama.
A series of cards reduced Glenanne to eight players, shifting momentum firmly in Suttonian’s favour.
Under intense late pressure, Glenanne were forced deep, defending resolutely as Suttonians pushed for an equaliser. The decisive moment came with the final play of the game as Suttonians won a short corner.
What followed was a defining contribution. A powerful strike heading for the bottom corner was met by a superb save from the Glenanne goalkeeper Waide Jacobs who stretched brilliantly to preserve the lead and secure all three points.
The result keeps the Men’s 2s firmly on course for the title. Victory against Mullingar next week will seal the divisional crown with a game against Clontarf still to spare.
