Galmoy/Windgap U-19s had to withstand a late second half come back by O’Loughlin Gaels in St John’s Park on Saturday the 13th November last in the Permanent TSB U-19 Roinn A Championship Shield Semi-Final, before qualifying to set up a Shield Final encounter against Rower Inistioge.
The visitors settled very well early on and lead 0-9 to 0-0 by the time the first waterbreak arrived. Billy Drennan had 0-7 notched up, both from frees and play with Daniel Hanrahan and Jack Doyle hitting one each. They were dealt a blow in the 14th minute when Jack Doyle had to leave the field with a suspected hamstring injury. The break paused their momentum and allowed O’Loughlins to regroup. In the 18th minute, a Galmoy/Windgap defender elected to handpass the sliotar across his own goalmouth where full forward Alex Sheridan reacted quickest and struck to the net. This gave hope to O’Loughlins with Alex Molloy striking a point before Sheridan converted a free. Billy Drennan responded from a play and then struck over two frees. The closing minutes of the half saw O’Loughlins add four further points, three from the stick of Alex Sheridan and one from Jake Hickey. Galmoy/Windgap almost stole a goal but Declan Murphy blocked out Billy Drennan’s shot while Daniel Hanrahan’s attempt on the rebound struck the side netting. The Galmoy/Windgap half back line of Gearóid Phelan, Sean Purcell and David Sherman had been very solid during that opening half.
Half Time score was Galmoy/Windgap 0-12 O Loughlin Gaels 1-6.
Galmoy/Windgap regrouped at the interval and came out with a lot more intent to be seen in their game. Callum Lonergan and Matt Delaney worked hard at midfield and their side added 1-5 without reply in the first ten minutes of the half. The goal came when Declan Murphy again blocked a Billy Drennan shot, but this time Mark McCoy made sure that the rebound hit the net. O’Loughlins hit one point in the third quarter from Alex Sheridan who had now moved out as an extra midfielder. So it was 1-17 to 1-7 at the second waterbreak as the visitors seemed to be in control. However, although Galmoy/Windgap had points from Callum Lonergan, Zak Kennedy and Billy Drennan, Alex Sheridan hit three in reply, two from frees to leave it 1-20 to 1-10 after 55 minutes of play. Both sides made changes, with a number of substitutes introduced. The changes unsettled the winner’s defence and in the space of two minutes, O’Loughlins centre forward Finn Hogan, now operating in the full forward line, had the sliotar in the net twice in quick succession, to reduce the gap to just four points with four minutes of added time played. A further three minutes ensued with just one further score, a Billy Drennan free, which confirmed a hard earned win for the visitors.
Fulltime Score: Galmoy/Windgap 1-21 O’Loughlin Gaels 3-10
Galmoy/Windgap: James Purcell, Sean Barron, Pauric Foley, Jack O Shea, Gearóid Phelan, Sean Purcell (0-1), David Sherman, Matt Delaney, Callum Lonergan (0-2), Billy Power, Billy Drennan (0-15,0-7 frees), Jack Doyle (0-1), Daniel Hanrahan (0-1), Mark McCoy (1-0), Eoin O Brien.
Subs: Zak Kennedy (0-1) for Jack Doyle inj 14 mins, Karl McCoy for Eoin O Brien 36 mins, Killian Enright for Billy Power 54 mins, Cillian Doyle for Jack O Shea 57 mins.
O Loughlin Gaels: Declan Murphy, Harry O’Grady, Vinny O’Grady, Cathal Poyntz, Ben Kinchella, Ruaidhrí Galway, Mark Holohan, Tadhg O’Meara, Matthew Hogan, Lee Hehir, Finn Hogan (2-0), Jake Hickey (0-1), Alex Molloy (0-1), Alex Sheridan (1-8,0-4 frees), John Comerford.
Referee :Stephen Delaney (Graigue Ballycallan)
By John Power Fri 19th Nov
