Galtee Rovers dethrone neighbours Arravale Rovers in west Tipperary football final

Galtee Rovers 3-9 Arravale Rovers 2-10

A three-goal second half salvo helped Galtee Rovers dethrone neighbours Arravale Rovers in the West Tipperary Michael Devlin Solicitors O’Donoghue Cup final on Wednesday evening last in Annacarty.

Rain before the start and right throughout the game did not help conditions, as both teams tried their best to adapt. The start of the game was held up because of an injury to Galtee Rovers’ Eoin Halpin during the warm-up.

Scores were slow to come by in the first half. Arravale had more of the early possession but failed to take their chances or work the ball into good scoring opportunities. The first score eventually arrived in the ninth minute when Darren McGrath pointed from a free.

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Both sides were “pulled” during the first half for not keeping sufficient numbers in each half of the field.

It was almost the quarter mark before Alex Webster opened Arravale Rovers’ account and almost a minute later Orrin Jones doubled that tally.

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The game came more to life after this, with Jack Crowe replying with the first of his points before Eoin Doocey restored Arravale’s advantage.

Just before that Evan Ryan saw his effort come off the crossbar and bounce along the Galtee Rovers goal line before being cleared.

Heading to the break, Arravale had opened up a three-point advantage but another Jack Crowe point left two between the sides at the break, 0-5 to 0-3.

The complexion of the scoreboard changed dramatically on the resumption. Substitute Dermot McCarthy goaled either side of a Bill Quirke point and Jack Crowe’s third point. Eoin Doocey could have had an Arravale goal in the seventh minute but was denied by Kelvin O’Brien.

A minute later a good quick passing movement saw Donagh Leahy find the net. Adam McGrath and Sean O’Mahony traded points to see the sides level going into the final quarter.

For a lot of the second half, Arravale were struggling to win their own kickouts, giving Galtee Rovers a strong platform to attack.

A Dermot McCarthy point heading into the final ten minutes had Galtee one up before they took over. Callum McCarthy forced his way in on goal before Ed O’Dwyer came in along the endline almost untouched for goal number three. Galtee Rovers were now eight points up with about five minutes to play.

Arravale now had a sense of urgency about them. Orrin Jones converted a free before a quickly-taken free from Paddy Dalton set up Shane Leahy for a goal.

Three minutes into injury time Orrin Jones opted to bring a free out past the arc in order to avail of a two-pointer, which he successfully executed.

All eyes were on the referee but there was more time to play. Arravale tried to work a goal and almost pulled it off but Brendan Delaney’s effort went the wrong side of the posts. With that went referee Seanie Peters’ final whistle.

Following the game, West Board Chairman Andrew Fryday presented the O’Donoghue Cup to Galtee Rovers captain Eric Grogan in the presence of sponsor Michael Devlin.

Scorers: Galtee Rovers: Dermot McCarthy (1-1), Jack Crowe (0-4), Callum McCarthy (1-0), Ed O’Dwyer (1-0), Darren McGrath (0-2, (0-1f), Adam McGrath (0-1f), Bill Quirke (0-1).

Arravale Rovers: Orrin Jones (0-5, (1 2ptf), Shane Leahy (1-1), Donagh Leahy (1-0), Alex Webster (0-1), Eoin Doocey (0-1), Niall Sharpe (0-1), Sean O’Mahony (0-1).

Galtee Rovers: Kelvin O’Brien, Eoghan Byrnes, Peter Carroll, Liam Finnane, Sean Daly, Cian O’Dwyer, Joe O’Callaghan, Eric Grogan, Bill Quirke, Adam McGrath, Shane Ryan, Callum McCarthy, Eamon Quirke, Darren McGrath, Jack Crowe.

Subs used: Dermot McCarthy, Dan O’Dwyer, Edmond O’Dwyer.

Arravale Rovers: Nicky Cummins, Tommy Lowry, Darren Lowry, Raymond Kelly, Niall Sharpe, Shane Leahy, Eoin Doocey, Matthew Moroney, Evan Ryan, Shane Maher, Sean O’Mahony, Cormac Maher, Donagh Leahy, Orrin Jones, Alex Webster.

Subs used: Micheal Bowes, Paddy Dalton, Brendan Delaney.

Referee: Seanie Peters (Aherlow).