Galtee Rovers' composure key to win the U19A county title at the expense of Fethard

FBD Insurance U19A Football Championship Final

Galtee Rovers/St Pecaun 1-9

Fethard 0-7

By Ronan Loughnane

Just ten months on from landing the County Minor A title, a youthful Galtee Rovers added the U19A football crown to their list of honours with victory over a gallant Fethard side at a sunny Boherlahan on Saturday afternoon last.

Despite the torrential mid-week rain the field held up very well and the grounds were in excellent condition. The cross-field breeze slightly favoured the West champions in the opening half, and they began on the front foot with Conall Grogan landing two points in the opening three minutes.

A good take and turn from Matt Coen in the fourth minute saw his bullet shot fizz over the crossbar, a lucky escape for Galtee. Driven forward from half-back by the very impressive Emmett Bonner, Rovers dominated possession but were somewhat wasteful in attack, while Fethard lost team captain Darragh Spillane to a black card in the ninth minute.

Grogan added another free in the 13th minute and Cian Collins had an excellent score from play three minutes later to leave them 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after the opening quarter. Midfielder Bill Quirke kicked a marvellous 45 from the ground to put them four up in the 18th minute, but despite all their dominance, the lead was small.

Coen was Fethard’s biggest threat upfront and he closed the gap to three with a point in the 21st minute. A lovely kick from Jack Crowe restored Galtee’s four-point advantage in the 26th minute but with Gavin Neville gaining a foothold at centre back Fethard were gaining more possession. Two lovely points from play from Coen (28th) and Sean Moroney (29th) closed the gap to two at the short whistle, 0-6 to 0-4, and with the wind advantage to come Fethard were in with a great shout.

They picked up where they left off within a minute of the restart with a free from Moroney to close the gap to the minimum and Galtee were under pressure. Team captain Eoin Halpin had a very quiet opening half, but his second-half contribution was to prove the difference.

He opened his account with a lovely point from play in the second minute before Conor Neville replied in kind for Fethard in the 4th minute to leave one between them. Bonner’s forward runs were relentless, and he kicked a beauty to extend Galtee’s lead.  Dara O’Meara was having a fine game too for Fethard, but he spurned a great goal chance in the 12th minute when he chose to pass instead of shooting.

Galtee broke and a lightning attack ended with Halpin grabbing the game’s only goal to put them 1-8 to 0-6 ahead after 42 minutes. Good work from the Neville’s saw Coen land his 4th of the day in the 45th minute, but this turned out to be their last score of the day.

The final quarter yielded only a single score courtesy of a Halpin point from play in the 50th minute as Galtee defended stoutly to claim the cup.

The game ended on a sour note for Fethard as Conor Neville, Charlie Walsh and Matt Coen all received their marching orders in the dying minutes (all second yellows). To be fair to all three it was more of an over-anxiousness to get the ball back than any malicious intent as the game was played in an excellent spirit throughout.

It has been a great year for Galtee Rovers and they will be delighted to win this one considering thirteen of their starting fifteen are underage again next year. In Emmett Bonner, they had the best player on the pitch, and he was ably assisted by

Evan Kennedy, Liam Finnane, Eoin Halpin, Jack Crowe and Conal Grogan while sub. Dermot McCarthy impressed when introduced. Fethard fought valiantly in defeat and were always well in the contest and in Matt Coen they had their best player. Gavin Neville, Dara O’Meara, Noah Flynn, and Conor Neville were also to the fore.                                                                 

Galtee Rovers: Robbie McGrath; Eoghan Byrnes, Ciaran McCarthy, Tadhg Gubbins; Emmett Bonner (0-1), Evan Kennedy, Joe O’Callaghan; Bill Quirke (0-1 45), Liam Finnane; Cian Collins (0-1), Conal Grogan (0-3, 0-2f), Cian O’Dwyer; Jack Crowe (0-1), Eoin Halpin (1-2), Dan O’Dwyer.

Subs used: Dermot McCarthy for Byrnes (40); Josh O’Dwyer for O’Callaghan (56); Gerard Quinn for Kennedy (58); Byrnes for Bonner (61, in).

Fethard: Jack Davey; MJ Phelan, Dara O’Meara, Liam Kiely; Charlie Hackett, Gavin Neville, Noah Flynn; Jack Quinlan, Darragh Spillane; Andrew Connorton, Sean Moroney (0-2f), Matt Coen (0-4, 0-1f); Charlie Walsh, Conor Neville (0-1), Mark Neville.

Subs used: Shane Lawrence for Moroney (37); Oisin Ryan for Connorton (45); Rory O’Mahoney for MJ Phelan (45, inj); Michael O’Meara for Hackett (54).

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)