Glenanne celebrated their retention of the Paddy Neville Cup by being stronger and sharper than an under-strength Pembroke Wanderers side at Serpentine Avenue yesterday.
Pembroke succeeded in the first half in thwarting what has become Leinster's most competitive team, but as the short-corner tally mounted after the interval, Glenanne earned their reward.
Inevitably, their international mid-fielder Stephen Butler crowned a memorable year by whipping home their first and third goals, with Graham Shaw putting away their second after Pembroke had responded with an equaliser from their most committed player, Devin Donnelly.
Some of the better moves came from Pembroke, but they were stifled notably by Ian Clarke. Glenanne have therefore won both the Neville and Stephen Doyle trophies for the second successive year and they may well complete the grand slam in the province. However, both coach Noel Keogh and manager Terry Cooney have asked the media to show restraint in such speculation.
Glenanne: I Clarke; D Shaw, Rory O'Donoghue, C Bolger, P Fitzpatrick; G Shaw, A Browne, (capt), S Butler; M Lambe, J Goulding, A O'Donoghue. Subs: Roly O'Donoghue.
Pembroke Wanderers: C Henderson; M Tijs, T Dunne, D McKeen, C Kelly; J Sheerriff, D Donnelly (capt), A Kershaw; D Goode, G Elliott, A Giles. Subs: A Thompson.
Umpires - M Whelan, G Caulwell.
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