Match of the Week: Five-star show from Glenmalure

AN EOIN Leonard hat-trick was just one of the highlights of this 5-0 win for Glenmalure Rovers, when they entertained Shelbourne SSC in Walkinstown Park on Saturday afternoon.

Both Leonard and his co-striker, Ciaran Collins who bagged the other two, were a constant menace for a quite young Shels squad who found the going tough on the day in only their first competitive game in Junior football.

However, things will get better for them as the season progresses.

Make no mistake the heat played a big part in this clash, as after a very fast opening half the pace somewhat dropped in the second period as the temperature rose.

This is Rovers second win in three outings and they will hope to go better than last season, when they were flying until coach Tommy Kelly had to call it a day and they finally fell off the pace.

Glenmalure Rovers Eoin Leonard and Shelbourne SSC William Lasso

But with Leonard and Collins, who netted two hat-tricks already this season, up top, they have an attack that will cause defences all matters of problems in the UCFL Division 3.

They got off the mark on 25 minutes as Collins chased a through ball, rounded a defender and, from a tight angle, slipped the ball home.

Collins was involved in number two on 25 minutes as he was taken down inside the area, when sandwiched between two defenders, and Leonard cooly slotted home the spot kick.

Glenmalure Rovers Ciaran Collins takes on Shelbourne SSC Matthew O’Brien

The pair were at it again on 40 minutes this time as Leonard tried to lob the ball over keeper Jack Bolger, who could only parry the ball to Collins for him to volley home.

A 3-0 lead at the break and the home side could afford to take their foot off the gas, and rightly so, due to the rising heat.

And for a time Shels finally came into the game but really didnt trouble Aaron Brennan in the Rovers goal, as the efforts from both Kevin Moran and Caio Chung went wide.

However, the home side always had something more in the tank and, after Collins was withdrawn, Leonard seized the chance to add to his tally when he slotted home number four with a neat finish and five, from the penalty spot, to gram both the points and headlines on the day.

GLENMALURE ROVERS: A. Brennen, D.O’Brien, N Pavlov. B. Murphy, S. Lyons, C. Stafford, J. Wall, N. O’Reilly, E. Leonard, C. Collins, J. Gahen, E. Seery.

SHELBOURNE SSC: J. Bolger, W. Lasso, C. Lumley, D. Comiskey, J. Tuite, S. O’Kane, C. Nannery, T. Rafferty, D. Duggan, M. O’Brien, P. Zadra, C. Chun, J. Martinz.

REFEREE: B. Coleman.

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