Rockwell Rovers turn the tables on Galtee Rovers in Tipperaryman's Cup final
New Inn team avenge West Championship defeat by Bansha side
Rockwell Rovers 5-7 Galtee Rovers 1-12
The old saying that goals win matches was certainly borne out in Cahir on Sunday afternoon when Rockwell Rovers defeated west neighbours, Galtee Rovers, in the final of the FBD County Football League Division 2 (Tipperaryman’s Cup).
Just five days earlier, when these sides met in the West Senior Football Championship semi-final, it was Galtee Rovers who emerged victorious on a scoreline of 2-7 to 0-9, with green flags once more proving the decisive scores.
Playing away from the town end in perfect conditions in Cahir on Sunday, it was Rockwell who struck first with a well-worked point from corner forward Gavin Ryan, which was quickly cancelled out by a similar score from Conal Grogan.
Within a minute Rockwell Rovers raised their first green flag when Alan Moloney got on the end of a sweeping movement through the heart of the Galtee defence to palm the ball to goalkeeper Kelvin O’Brien’s net.
Corner forward Adam McGrath immediately responded with a fine point for Galtee Rovers, but Rockwell quickly doubled their lead with a point from TJ Ryan, followed by another goal from the experienced Alan Moloney to leave Galtee Rovers trailing by 2-2 to 0-2 after 10 minutes.
As the first half developed, the Bansha side began to get to grips with the Rockwell style of play, with Callum McCarthy and Eamonn Quirke firing over excellent points, which were matched by points from Moloney and TJ Ryan for Rockwell Rovers.
After 20 minutes wing forward, Jack O’Kelly, pointed for Rockwell to open up a seven-point lead but the remainder of the half belonged to Galtee Rovers, who reeled off four points without reply to narrow the margin to three.
First it was a Shane Egan point after great work by Sean Daly, and then Adam McGrath converted a close range free, which was soon followed by a Shane Egan converted free and a Shane Power point from play, leaving Rockwell Rovers in front at the short whistle on a scoreline of 2-5 to 0-8.
Galtee Rovers quickly set about reducing the deficit and the scores were level after five minutes of the second half when Adam McGrath showed all his soccer touches to shoot brilliantly to the net, giving goalie Michael O’Donnell no chance.
That was as good as it got for the Galtees, however, as the industrious TJ Ryan soon pointed Rockwell in front after finding space on the left wing.
A minute later Kieran McGovern got on the end of a move that he himself had started in midfield to shoot a third Rockwell goal.
Galtee Rovers’ only response in this period was a fine Sean Daly point from a difficult angle, while Rockwell Rovers were content to absorb the pressure and break quickly upfield, with devastating effect.
As the game entered the final quarter Rockwell Rovers led by 3-6 to 1-9, but further breakaway goals from Moloney and Jack O’Kelly put the result beyond doubt.
Try as they might, Galtee Rovers were unable to breach a resolute Rockwell defence although Tony Egan, Adam McGrath and Conal Grogan added late points, while Diarmaid Lonergan had a final white flag for Rockwell Rovers.
Rockwell Rovers: Michael O’Donnell; John Burke, Liam Lonergan, Diarmaid Lonergan (0-1); Luca Fitzgerald, Liam Fahey, Oisin Cummins; Tom Downey, Kieran McGovern (1-0); Jack O’Kelly (1-1), Alan Moloney (3-1), Aidan Barron; TJ Ryan (0-3), Willie Flynn, Gavin Ryan (0-1).
Subs: Colm Heaney for Gavin Ryan, Kevin Heaney for Willie Flynn, Andrew Tobin for Luca Fitzgerald.
Galtee Rovers: Kelvin O’Brien; Tadhg Gubbins, Ciaran McCarthy, Emmet Bonner; Robbie Byron, Evan Kennedy, Sean Daly (0-1); Eamonn Quirke (0-1), Daire Egan (captain); Conal Grogan (0-2), Shane Power (0-1), Sean Dowdall; Adam McGrath (1-3, 2 frees), Callum McCarthy (0-1), Shane Egan (0-2, 1 free).
Subs: Darren McGrath for Sean Dowdall, Tony Egan (0-1) for Callum McCarthy, Eoghan Byrnes for Ciaran McCarthy.
Referee: Tom McGlinchey (Newport).