Glen Rovers defeated St Finnbarr's in Group C of the Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship on Saturday evening at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
By the final whistle, it was a handy victory for the Glen as they ran out 14 point victors, scoring three goals in the process.
The first two of those goals were fittingly scored by Simon Kennefick. The forward is the grandson of Glen Rovers and Cork hurling legend Christy Ring.
2020 is the 100th anniversary of Ring's birth. This season's Glen Rovers jersey bears his image to mark the year.
Thank you to @mcteamwear @gaastore @BlackwaterMotor @SportsDirect_CS for supplying us with special edition jerseys to mark 100 years of our greatest legend Christy Ring. No doubt a proud man watching over us tonite - pic.twitter.com/ELsyAyfIyv
— Tomas Mulcahy (@tomas_mulcahy) August 1, 2020
"We only really found out today, before the game the lads took them out of the bag," Kennefick told RTÉ after the game.
"It was a nice touch, especially for my family, myself included, to play in his 100th year.
"I suppose he's just my grandad when I think about it. It's only when you step back and you see this and the occasion, you realise how special he was."
Kennefick rattled the net at the beginning of both halves. His first goal came in the fifth minute when he ran at the Barrs defence. Though he was fouled (and actually handled the sliotar three times) a green flag was raised after he smashed the ball to the net one-handed.
Great start for @GlenRovers_ against @the_Barrs with Simon Kennefick, grandson of the great Christy Ring, scoring brilliantly
Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer https://t.co/Vln3PA7xFN pic.twitter.com/xn5PvW3wFx— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 1, 2020
Glen Rovers' Robert Downey was sent off in the first half for aiming the butt of his hurley at a Barrs player. How much force he actually used is debatable.
The Barrs comeback was burst less than a minute into the second half when Kennefick picked up a bouncing ball and struck it was the goalkeeper.
Down to 14 and with St Finbarr's cutting the lead down, it was looking like a tricky second half for @GlenRovers_
But Simon Kennefick struck his second goal just after the break to get the Glen back on track
Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayerhttps://t.co/Vln3PA7xFN pic.twitter.com/IKRHeI87To— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 1, 2020
"It was our first game and I said if I got the chance, I'd run at them because I know I have the speed," said Kennefick.
"Patrick [Horgan] said it to me as well that if the options comes, run. I did and it worked out.
"We lost Robert [Downey] and had to go at them straight from the start. The Glen and the Barrs is a big rivalry, we had to get a good start."
The third Glen Rovers goal was the best of the game, scored by Patrick Horgan shortly after the clock had ticked into the red.
A superb goal from Patrick Horgan to cap an excellent individual and collective display for @GlenRovers_ #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/Hu7jA6dg0Z
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 1, 2020
