Aherlow edge out Galtee in a thrillingly close O’Donoghue Cup Semi Final

By John O’Shea

Aherlow are through to the final of the Michael Devlin Solicitors, O’Donoghue Cup Final following their extra time two point victory over Galtee Rovers at Lisvernane on Wednesday evening.

The home side got off to a good start with full forward Stephen Carey finding the net after four minutes. They held this lead up to five minutes before the interval, but Galtee finished the half the stronger with a goal from Jack Crowe and two points from Shane Egan in the closing stages to tie the game at the break 1.6 to 1.6.

The second half was also tight with neither side yielding. Aherlow eased ahead after the break, but Galtee came back and led by the minimum as the game headed towards the sixty minutes.

A converted free by Barry Grogan late on brought the sides level at 1.11 each to force extra time.

Extra time continued in similar fashion with nothing between the sides. Aherlow’s break came two minutes into the second period of extra time, when Barry Grogan was pulled down in the square and Ben Carey converted the resulting penalty.

Scores were hard to come by for the remainder of the game, but the home side held out for a two-point victory and a place in the final where they will play Arravale Rovers.

Teams & Scorers:
Aherlow: Jack Whelton, Michael Russell, Sean Mullins, Morgan O’Brien, Laurence Coskeran, Tadhg Carew, Thomas O’Donoghue, Gary Quirke, Ben Carey, Paddy Chapman, Barry Grogan, Jack O’Halloran, Sean Landers, Stephen Carey, Sean Bourke

Galtee Rovers: Kelvin O’Brien, Peter Carroll, Ciaran McCarthy, Joe O’Callaghan, Eoghan Byrnes, Evan Kennedy, Emmet Bonner, Liam Finnane, Eamon Quirke, Tony O’Brien, Daire Egan, Sean Daly, Jack Crowe, Shane Egan, Adam McGrath

Referee. Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)