Glyde Rangers will take on Young Irelands in this year’s Junior Championship Final after the teams came through their semi-finals on Sunday.

Neither side had it easy as the Tallanstown side had to fight all the way before overcoming Lannleire on a 3-9 to 0-15 scoreline at The Grove, while Young Irelands defeated Roche Emmets by 0-11 to 0-8 at Clan na Gael Park.

Glyde were strong favourites to advance in their game but were made to fight all the way by a brave Lannleire side who will be bitterly disappointed not to have come out on top in what proved to be a very lively encounter.

The Dunleer side started very brightly and points from Colin Murphy, Pierce Hawkins and Paul Callan helped them lead by 0-6 to 0-2 after the first quarter, only for Glyde to hit the front thanks to a Ciaran Sheridan penalty goal as they cut the gap to 0-8 to 1-4 at half time.

Niall Sharkey hit the net for the first score of the second half to put the Tallanstown men back in front, but Lannleire responded and scores from Shane Kennedy, Killian Gregory and Murphy saw them lead by 0-14 to 2-5.

However, they couldn’t sustain the effort and Gareth Moran added a third goal for Glyde while points from Paul Noone and Trevor O’Brien saw them complete the win.

The second semi-final of the day at Clan na Gael Park didn’t produce the same level of entertainment but few in the Young Irelands camp will be complaining as their side claimed a deserved two-point lead.

The Irelanders were the better of the sides throughout and they made sure of the victory thanks to three points apiece from Cian O Naraigh and Dermot Mone, while a fine save from Fergal Sheekey in the dying minutes also proved crucial.

The Dundalk men were guilty of missing chances in the first half but scores from O Naraigh (2), Dermot Mone and Dean Maguire helped them go in at the break with a 0-4 to 0 3 lead.

Roche’s attacking threat was diminished by the absence of Barry O’Hare through injury, but scores from Kevin Callaghan and Shane Byrne kept them in touch.

With Jordan O’Donoghue, Derek Maguire and Mone on target in the second half the Young Irelands opened up a 0-10 to 0-6 gap before Roche hit back with two points. They almost snatched the lead when Dan O’Connell’s effort was saved by Sheekey before a late point from Mone settled the issue.

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