PREVIEW: Galtee Rovers and Aherlow face off in West Intermediate Football decider

2023 West Intermediate Football Final Preview 

By Francis Coughlan

The 48^th Shane Hennessy Agri-Advisor West Intermediate Football Championship Final takes place this Wednesday June 28^th at 7.30pm in Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town. Aherlow and Galtee Rovers lock horns in a battle for the Br. Hennessy Cup.

The first decade of the new Millenium defined this rivalry with the sides meeting in seven West Senior Football Finals between 2000 and 2010 with Aherlow taking four to Galtee Rovers three and two replays thrown in for good measure. Aherlow’s 2005 and 2006 wins signaled a major change in their fortunes. It was a rivalry that sparked the interest of both sets of supporters and many a neutral.

A U21 Football playoff back in 2005 was fixed for Good Friday - a rare date to have a match back then - and attracted a big attendance between the neighbour's children. The sides' rivalry was touched many a time in the county championship but probably none so more as the 2008 County Senior Football Championship semi-final on October 12^th in Sean Treacy Park.

Aherlow looked to be on their way when goals from Barry and Seamus Grogan helped them nine points clear after seventeen minutes. Helped by a Denis Peters goal Galtee’s produced an extraordinary come back to limit their opponents to just three points for the remainder and advance by 1-11 to 2-6 and went on to claim County honours. It was a huge period in West Tipperary football with the O’Dwyer Cup coming West three times in five seasons between these two great rivals.

The sides have fallen a bit since then with both going through the relegation trap door. Galtee Rovers three years ago albeit a bit unlucky having won their opening group game but with Commercials winning all their games the West side finished bottom. Aherlow made the drop twelve months ago when Cahir got the better of them. It’s probably not where either club pictured themselves but it is what it is?

Galtee Rovers will be playing in their third final in a row having tasted honours in 2021 but were defeated twelve months by Golden/Kilfeacle. The side of a good team coming down in this writers view is being consistent in your division and then further afield. Galtee Rovers would have done similar when relegated from Senior Hurling back in 2006 with four West Intermediate titles in a row.

They comfortably accounted for Cashel King Cormacs in quarter-final which saw them raise three green flags in either half before receiving a walkover form 2020 champions Clonoulty/Rossmore.

Aherlow claimed the Division 2 league title just over a week ago when seeing off Grangemockler Ballyneale to take the Tipperary Mans Cup a feat achieved by their opponents in Sean Treacy Park against Golden/Kilfeacle twelve months earlier.

There may be no link to the County championship anymore but Silverware (Br. Hennessy Cup) and bragging rights are up for grabs. Aherlow put in a steady and determined performance to dethrone Golden/Kilfeacle in their semi-final meeting. They have built the team around a strong spine of Sean Mullins and Diarmuid Looby with Mark Russell and Cathal Dillon, Michael Elligot and Barry Grogan and Thomas Hanley while on the flanks the likes of Jack O’Halloran and Ben Carey, Micheal Russell and Tadgh Carew.

Laurence Coskeran another link to the 2000’s team didn’t play a part while Michael Sean Nash proved a handful when introduced. Barry Grogan was scorer in chief kicking 1-9 and proved deadly accurate from placed balls off the ground.

Galtee Rovers are continuing to introduce youth into their team with the likes of Peter O’Carroll, Sean Gubbins, Liam Finnane, Robbie Byron and David Harold Barry. Tony O’Brien, Shane Power, Darren McGrath and Daire Egan provide the experience with the latter three all goaling the last day out. Eamon Quirke hit 2-9 with McGrath 2-5. Cian O’Dwyer and Jack Crowe provide further youth and freshness in attack.

The big question is who will win this and it's anyone’s guess. Could there be another meeting down the line in the County championship who knows? The link may not be there but winning breeds confidence and both sides know heading into the County championship how important this is.

The longer you are down the harder it can be to get back up. Arravale were the last West team to fall through the trap door and bounced back up in year one albeit with a bit of luck along the way? Galtee’s will feel they are building nicely while Aherlow will see a blend of experience and youth. Who will prevail?