Galtee edge out Lattin in an Under 21 championship thriller

Liam Bergin at Canon Hayes Park Bansha

Just a single point separated Lattin/Cullen and Galtee Rovers St. Pecauns at the end of an evenly contested Ollie’s Bar West U 21 B Hurling semi-final in dry but cold conditions in Canon Hayes Park Bansha on Saturday afternoon.

In the end it was a long range free from Galtee’s influential midfielder, Robbie Byron, which propelled his 14-man squad into the West final after a well contested game where the lead changed hands on several occasions and the teams were level 8 times.

Galtee Rovers were first on the scoreboard when centre forward Bill Quirke converted a free after he had been fouled heading goalwards after three minutes.

This score was soon cancelled out by his opposite number, Tomás O’Shea who hit a fine point from play to level the scores. Within a minute, Lattin/Cullen were in front when Stephen Carey hit the first of his frees and this was to be the pattern for much of the game with never more than a score or two between the sides.

Bill Quirke soon levelled the scores after 10 minutes but Tony O’Neill hit two fine points from the left wing to edge his team into the lead. Callum McCarthy and another Bill Quirke free soon restored parity before Galtee Rovers hit the front once more after a fine move involving Sean Gubbins and Robbie Byron ended with Bill Quirke releasing Callum McCarthy for his second point.

As the half wore on a couple of incidents led to yellow cards and Galtee Rovers were reduced to 14 men after 20 minutes, when Darragh Kennedy picked up a second yellow. A free from Bill Quirke steadied the ship for the home team but Tomás O’Shea had the final score of the opening half to leave Lattin Cullen a point adrift at the short whistle on a scoreline of 0-6 to 0-5.

Galtee Rovers were first out of the blocks in the second half with a long range free from Robbie Byron who had a commanding presence around the middle of the field.

Their lead was short lived however as Lattin/Cullen replied with a brace of points from the impressive Tomás O’Shea, either side of a Stephen Carey free, in what was their most productive spell of the game. Within a minute Robbie Byron had the team’s level once more with a fine point from play, half way through the second half.

Paddy Chapman edged Lattin Cullen back in front soon afterwards when he got on the end of a long free from the influential Diarmaid Looby before Stephen Carey converted another free to leave his side two points to the good approaching the 20 minute mark. 

Galtee Rovers stuck to their task however and a pair of Bill Quirke frees levelled the scores before a long puckout from Robbie McGrath was fielded by Quirke and delivered to Callum McCarthy to put the home side one up once more.

Almost inevitably it fell to Stephen Carey to hit the equalising free before Robbie Byron popped up to point the winning free after a foul on Bill Quirke.

Galtee Rovers will be happy to have qualified for the West final once more while Lattin/Cullen will play Rockwell Rosegreen for the right to join the Bansha side in the decider.

Teams;

Galtee Rovers – St. Pecauns; Robbie McGrath; Eoghan Byrnes, Sean Gubbins, Tadhg Gubbins; Joe O’Callaghan, David Harold-Barry, Killian Byrnes; Robbie Byron (0-3 2f), Liam Finnane; Callum McCarthy (0-3), Bill Quirke (0-6f ), Cian O’Dwyer; Robert Moloney, Darragh Kennedy, Jack Crowe

Subs; Eoin Halpin for Jack Crowe, Emmet Bonner for Killian Byrnes, Evan Kennedy for Joe O’Callaghan

Lattin/Cullen Gaels - Jack Whelton; Mike Russell, Moss O’Brien, Darragh O’Brien; Gary Quirke, Diarmaid Looby, Niall O’Shea; Liam Carew, Cillian Barlow; Tony O’Neill (0-2), Tomás O’Shea (0-4), Stephen Carey 0-4f); Sean Bourke, Ben Carey, Paddy Chapman (0-1)

Subs; Michael Elligott, for Niall O’Shea, Max Reardon for Paddy Chapman, Paddy Chapman for Gary Quirke

Referee; Richard O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)