Above: West Tipperary GAA Board Chairman Andrew Fryday (right) presented the O’Carroll Cup to Golden/Kilfeacle captain Aidan O’Connell, with Shane Hennesy representing the sponsors Shane Hennessy Ltd Agri & Business Consultancy
Golden/Kilfeacle 3-7 Galtee Rovers 2-7
Golden/Kilfeacle bridged a 28-year gap to claim the
Shane Hennessy Ltd Agri & Business Consultancy West Senior Football Championship title for 2024 when defeating Galtee Rovers in an exciting contest under lights at Annacarty. This was a tough, physical battle, as neither side was willing to give an inch, with both teams determined to claim the O’Carroll Cup.
Aaron Colohan’s goal in injury time sealed the win for Golden/Kilfeacle, the opposite result to the county semi-final meeting between the teams a few months previously, which saw Darren McGarth's goal deep in injury time break Golden/Kilfeacle hearts and send Galtee Rovers through to the county Intermediate final.
The opening quarter was a far cry from how the final result would pan out, with goals from Evan Kennedy and Darren McGrath giving Galtee Rovers a seven-point lead by the quarter mark and looking on course for victory.
A Sam Hall penalty seven minutes before the break resurrected Golden/Kilfeacle’s chances and from there to the break the teams traded points, with Darren McGrath and Sam Hall to the fore, to leave just three between the sides at the interval.
The second half was a niggly affair, as Galtee Rovers continue to hold the edge. Golden were reduced to fourteen men heading into the final quarter. When Darren McGrath pointed Galtee Rovers back two ahead with three minutes left on clock it looked as if they may hold on with the numerical advantage.
However, Golden staged a late smash and grab raid, with two goals in three minutes from Niall Heffernan and Aaron Colohan to go four ahead. Darren McGrath did pull one back, but the Golden/Kilfeacle defence held tough to see out the game.
It was the eighth minute before the game's first score arrived. Golden had two efforts wide up to this point but the game's first score arrived when Robbie Byron’s effort for a point was half-blocked and fell into the path of the on running Evan Kennedy, who got a touch to deflect the ball away from the goalkeeper and into the net.
Darren McGrath, who had been a threat from the start, added a point. Just before the break Darren McGrath won the ball in the corner before taking on his man and kicking a powerful effort to Jack Currivan’s right for Galtee Rovers' second goal.
Galtee Rovers now led by seven and looked in control. It took Golden a while to find their feet and it was the 20th minute before Sam Hall registered their first point from a free. Three minutes later Sam Hall converted a penalty when Jack Leamy had been brought down. It was a crucial score to haul the eventual winners back in the game.
The concession of the goal looked to be slightly offset when Adam McGrath and Darren McGrath kicked a point each. However, a now more confident Golden/Kilfeacle finished the half with points from Sam Hall (free) and Gavin Dalton to ensure just a goal separated the sides at the break, 2-3 to 1-3.
The second half was niggly and free-ridden. Darren McGrath extended Galtee Rovers' lead with a point in the opening minute on the resumption. Corner back Daithi Bargary, not unaccustomed to making runs up the field, responded in kind for Golden.
Golden continued to look more threatening and Robbie McGrath came to Galtee Rovers' rescue with a fine save. In the 11th minute Jack Leamy went low for goal from a free but his effort was blocked.
Sam Hall and Jack Leamy had the deficit at the minimum heading into the final quarter. They could have been ahead when Shane Stapleton, just on the field, found himself one on one with Robbie McGrath but the latter came to the rescue of his side.
Golden played most of the final quarter with fourteen men following the dismissal of Jack Dalton. Scorers were still hard to come by and it was the 27th minute before Darren McGrath extended Galtee Rovers' advantage to two.
The game changed dramatically in a three-minute spell from the 29th minute. When a high ball broke around the Galtee Rovers' square Niall Heffenran reacted quickest to send the ball low past Robbie McGrath. Following a Galtee Rovers attack, Golden turned over possession, which resulted in Sam Hall putting Aaron Colohan in on goal and he made no mistake to effectively seal the win.
Golden had Cian Ryan dismissed late on and while Darren McGrath reduced the deficit to three, the Golden defence held tough to take the title.
Following the game West Board Chairman Andrew Fryday presented the O’Carroll Cup to Golden captain Aidan O’Connell, with Shane Hennesy representing the sponsors Shane Hennessy Ltd Agri & Business Consultancy.
Scorers: Golden/Kilfeacle: Sam Hall (1-4, 1-0p, 0-4f), Niall Heffernan (1-0), Aaron Colohan (1-0), Gavin Dalton (0-1), Daithi Bargary (0-1), Jack Leamy (0-1).
Galtee Rovers: Darren McGrath (1-5, (0-1f), Evan Kennedy (1-0), Adam McGrath (0-1f), Liam Finnane (0-1).
Golden/Kilfeacle: Jack Currivan, Ciaran Byrne, Aidan O’Connell, Daithi Bargary, Ben Currivan, Shane O’Connell, Cian O’Connell, Gavin Dalton, Niall Heffernan, Eanna Ormond, Jack Leamy, Ronan Hayes, Sam Hall, Jack Bergin, Aaron Colohan.
Subs used: Cian Ryan, Jack Dalton, Shane Stapleton, Eoin Marnane, Jack Lonergan.
Galtee Rovers: Robbie McGrath, Ciaran McCarthy, David Harold Barry, Peter O’Carroll, Emmet Bonnar, Evan Kennedy, Cian O’Dwyer, Bill Quirke, Robbie Byron, Sean Daly, Eamon Quirke, Liam Finnane, Shane Power, Adam McGrath, Darren McGrath.
Subs used: Jack Crowe, Callum McCarthy.
Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).
