“Injury Time Ciaran Sheridan Two-Pointer Sends JFC Final To Replay”

DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship Final

From The Grove Castlebellingham

Glyde Rangers 1-13 | Oliver Plunketts 2-10

A breathless and dramatic DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship Final at The Grove ended all square as Ciaran Sheridan’s stunning late two-pointer rescued Glyde Rangers from the jaws of defeat against Oliver Plunketts.

After trailing by nine points inside the opening 11 minutes, few could have predicted the Glyde comeback that followed. But Wayne Callan’s men showed steel, composure and belief to claw their way back and force a replay — and in doing so, delivered one of the most gripping finals seen in recent memory.

Oliver Plunketts exploded out of the blocks. Their attack — powered by Stephen Keeley and Kristian Nolan — tore through Glyde’s defence in the early stages.
Keeley opened with a powerful score before Cian Brady added a close-range free. Then came a double hammer-blow:

• 9th minute: Nolan pounced on a long Luke Haggins 45’ that dropped short and finished clinically to the net.
• 10th minute: Keeley followed up just seconds later with a slick team move that ended with another Plunketts goal.

Glyde were reeling, down 2-3 to 0-0 after just ten minutes.
But slowly, they steadied. Olan Crosbie opened their account before Ciaran Sheridan and Niall Sharkey added classy points. By half time, the deficit stood at 7 — Glyde Rangers 0-4 | Oliver Plunketts 2-5 — with no great sense that the tide was beginning to turn.

The second half was all about resilience.
Brian Duffy fired early before Killian Scott lit up the final with a spectacular two-pointer from distance. Then came the lifeline:
Cormac Lundon finished brilliantly to the net after great work from Crosbie — suddenly it was game on.

From there, the Glyde momentum was in full flow for periods. Sheridan, Sharkey, and Duffy kept the scoreboard moving, and when Sheridan landed a monster effort from outside the arc for two, the Tallanstown side led for the first time — an incredible turnaround.

But the Plunketts aren’t easily beaten. Brady, Barry Reynolds, and the ever-dangerous Keeley rallied late, retaking the lead with minutes to go. Kristian Nolan added a free in injury time, and it looked like the silverware was heading to Mell.

Then, deep into stoppage time — up stepped Sheridan.
After Glyde were awarded a free for a three up breach from the Plunketts. Ciaran Sheridan drilled over a two-point free from distance to level matters.
The final whistle followed — 1-13 to 2-10.

We’ll do it all again next Saturday at the same venue.

 Standout Performers

• Niall Sharkey (Glyde Rangers) – The heartbeat of the comeback. Hit 0-2 but drove at the Plunketts time and time again. Made several vital interceptions and went on menacing runs through the center.
• Ciaran Sheridan (Glyde Rangers) –Kicked 0-5 (three frees) including that outrageous two-pointer to save the day.
• Stephen Keeley (Oliver Plunketts) – Led the line superbly with 1-3, his power and directness causing chaos early on.
• Dean Carolan (Oliver Plunketts) – Carolan was simply everywhere — linking play from deep, winning dirty ball, and driving his team forward when the pressure came on.
• Barry Reynolds (Oliver Plunketts) – A leader in the middle third, his late score underlined his composure.
  

  ---

Glyde Rangers Team:

David Brennan; Darren McKeever, Liam Gallagher, Gerard Bourton; Shane Byrne, Jack McKeever, Sean Devaney; Ciaran Sheridan (0-5, 3f), Adam Sweeney; Tadhg Kellett (0-1, 1f), Niall Sharkey (0-1), Killian Scott (0-2); Olan Crosbie (0-2), Brian Duffy (0-2), Cormac Lundon (1-0).

Subs: Aaron Devlin for Liam Gallagher (15 Mins), Conor McCullagh for Shane Byrne (55 Mins), Cein Sheridan for Jack McKeever (57 Mins), Aaron Myles for Sean Devaney (60 Mins).

Oliver Plunketts Team:

Luke Haggins (0-1, 1’45); Ricky Bateson, David McTeggart, Cillian Smith; Adam Lambe, Jamie Byrne, Barry Reynolds (0-1); Robert Brodigan, Shaun Smith; Adam Smith (0-1), Dean Carolan, Ben Boyce; Cian Brady (0-2, 2f), Stephen Keeley (1-3), Kristian Nolan (1-2, 2f).

Subs: Conor Haggans for Ricky Bateson (40 Mins), Jack Taaffe for Ben Boyce (46 Mins), Niall Murtagh for Adam Smith (60 Mins), Cian Matthews for Kristian Nolan (62 Mins).

Referee: David J. McArdle (St Brides)

Photo credit: Ciaran Culligan