Starlights 3-9 Glynn-Barntown 0-8

Although there was a certain inevitability about the outcome once they got into their stride, two rapid early second-half goals propelled title-holders Starlights past a disappointing Glynn-Barntown in Friday’s round-two Tom Doyle Supplies county senior football championship Group B tie at floodlit Hollymount.

Starlights were actually on the back-foot early on as Glynn forced the pace to lead 0-3 to no-score after eight minutes, although James Carty had gone close to goaling for Starlights.

Young Aaron Breen (2 frees) and Michael O’Regan registered the early blows for the challengers.

But the defending champions eventually began to find their awesome pitch as the first-half progressed, although they took their time to eventually gain parity on 0-4 apiece at half-time after Alan Tobin tied matters for the first time with his third score late in the half.

Glynn-Barntown were twice off cue on the resumption before Starlights essentially put them to the sword between the 34th and 37th minutes, as Dylan Redmond pointed before James Carty reacted quickest to net as a shot from Darragh Pepper crashed off the crossbar, before Carty turned provider for Nick Doyle to expand the margin to 2-5 to 0-4.

With Kevin Foley being irrepressible from his nominal wing-back berth, the Enniscorthy town men continued to excel, and Dylan Redmond was denied by an excellent Matt Doyle save before Darragh Pepper netted a low finish in the 53rd-minute to send Joe O’Hagan’s force heading into the break for inter-county action looking pretty serious about keeping hold of the Wexford Creamery Cup.

Starlights – Pa Doyle, Mel Doyle, Jack Kelly (0-1), Rory O’Connor, Kevin Foley (0-1), Ricky Fox, James Peare, Liam Ryan, Richie Farrell, Alan Tobin (0-4, 3 frees), Nick Doyle (1-0), Dylan Redmond (0-2, 1 free), Darragh Pepper (1-0), James Carty (1-0), Ryan Mahon.

Subs: Tommy Foley (0-1) for Farrell (inj., 57); Lenny Connolly for K Foley (60+1).

Glynn-Barntown – Matt Doyle, Cian Neville, Pádraig Donnelly, Rowan White, Nigel Usher, John Leacy (capt.), Jack Fenlon, Michael O’Regan (0-6, 3 frees), Aaron Breen (0-2 frees), David Clarke, Brendan Doyle, Rioghan Crosbie, Robert Dempsey, James Stafford, Shane Wilde.

Subs: Barry Doyle for Crosbie (15); Stephen Lyne for Usher (55); Alan Cowman for Breen (57).

Referee – Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).