Strong finish secures Tipperary County Hurling League Division 5 title for Galtee Rovers

Galtee Rovers 2-16 St Patrick's 1-13

A strong finish in which they scored 1-2 without reply saw Galtee Rovers/St Pecaun’s edge out St Patrick’s in a highly competitive and very entertaining FBD Insurance County Hurling League Division 5 final at Cahir on Sunday evening.

The sides had been level eight times over the hour, including at half-time when it was 0-10 to 1-7, the St Patrick’s goal coming from the brilliant Daithí Hogan eight minutes from the break. But when it came to the final stretch it was the Bansha side that had more in reserve.

Their two second half goals proved crucial, as the last of the league finals to be decided over a busy two days saw the cup head west. With the sides tied again, 0-13 to 1-10, midway through the half, full forward Tony O’Brien reacted quickest to a long-range Tony Byron free into the danger area and he shot first time to the net past John Moroney.

The west side were never headed again but St Patrick’s had the margin back to a single point with four minutes of normal time left on the clock. However two Bill Quirke points, from a free and a 65, pushed it out to three, and deep in injury time another long-range Tony Byron free was flicked to the net by the alert Jim Quirke.

A six-points winning margin was a little unfair on the Drangan-Cloneen side, as there was never that much between the teams in an evenly-matched contest.

Three points up in seven minutes, they looked the more likely winners in the early stages and in corner forward Daithí Hogan they had one of the outstanding players on the field. His lightning-fast pace and eye for scores saw him finish with 1-3 from play.

With Galtee Rovers wayward from play and placed balls in the early stages, it was the south side who raced into a 0-3 to no score lead through Jamie Brett and two from Cathal Foley, one a free. However, three in a row from Galtees tied it for the first time through a Bill Quirke free, Tony O’Brien from a pinpoint Jack Crowe pass, and a long-range Tony Byron free.

St Patrick’s points from Hogan and a Foley free to a brace of Daire Egan replies for Galtees tied it up twice again before the Bansha side took the lead for the first time with a super point from Eamon Quirke. But St Patrick’s upped the pace again and should have regained the lead when Cathal Foley put Aidan Fitzgerald through on goal, only to see Eoin White pull off a wonderful save.

However, the south side did find the net a minute later with a stunning score from Daithí Hogan to make it 1-5 to 0-6. Foley from a free (one of six from placed balls) pushed it out to a three-point game again but in the nature of the contest, three without reply from two Bill Quirke frees (he converted eight in all from placed balls) and Tony Byron tied it up again, and injury time scores from Tony O’Brien and Cathal Foley had it level again at the break.

A Robbie Byron point edged Galtee Rovers ahead within ten seconds of the restart but within a minute it had been cancelled out by another superb strike from Daithí Hogan. Another two Bill Quirke frees, to replies from Tony O’Brien and Hogan again, had it level once more.

Galtees had their chance to score their first goal in the 13th minute of the half when Jim Quirke was fouled in the square and goalkeeper Eoin White came up to take the penalty. But his counterpart in the St Patrick’s goal, John Moroney, made a brilliant save to keep it out.

However, four minutes later the west side did strike for their first goal. They had begun to look more threatening and when Tony Byron hit a booming free goalwards, Tony O’Brien was on hand to shoot past Moroney.

Even though Foley from a free and a point from play from St Patrick’s Tony O’Brien reduced the margin to just a single point again, Galtees were starting to look likely winners.

Pointed frees exchanged between ace marksmen Bill Quirke and Cathal Foley still left a single point in the game with four minutes of normal time left, but Galtee Rovers finished the stronger. Quirke pushed the lead out to two from a free and then the hugely impressive wing back Shane Power was just off target with a long-range effort.

However, the traffic was all one-way and when Moroney brought off another good save from a Jim Quirke shot at the expense of a 65, Quirke made no mistake to make it a three-point game three minutes into added time.

The cherry on the icing was the late goal from Jim Quirke, who pounced on the long range free from Tony Byron to seal the deal.

In the end it was a deserved win for Galtee Rovers. With a wider range of scorers, they posed the greater threat and after some careless shooting in the early stages were much more economical with their opportunities from there on.

Bill Quirke’s free-taking was crucial; Tony O’Brien and Jim Quirke were alert to take their goals; Tony Byron was a pillar at the heart of the defence, with impressive showings also from Shane Power, Robbie Byron and Daire Egan.

St Patrick’s lost nothing in defeat and were closer to their opponents than the six points final margin would suggest. Daithí Hogan was their outstanding forward, with Cathal Foley’s six points from frees and one from play a huge contribution. There were fine displays also from Mickey O’Brien, Conor Duggan, Tony O’Brien and Jamie Brett.

Galtee Rovers: Eoin White, Peter Carroll, David Harold Barry, Liam Finnane, Shane Power, Tony Byron 0-2, 1 free; Sean Gubbins, Robbie Byron 0-1; Eamon Quirke 0-1; Bill Quirke 0-8, 7 frees, 0-1 ‘65; Daire Egan 0-2; Eoghan Brennan, Jim Quirke 1-0; Tony O’Brien 1-2; Jack Crowe.

Sub: Joe O’Callaghan for Eoghan Brennan.

St Patrick’s: John Moroney, Pauric O’Brien, Eoin Ryan, Mickey O’Brien, Jack Cleere, Conor Duggan, Aidan Buckley, Tony O’Brien 0-2; Colm Dunne, Jamie Brett 0-1; Aidan Fitzgerald, Ciaran Mockler, Cathal Foley 0-7, 6 frees; Paddy Moroney, Daithí Hogan 1-3.

Subs: Ryan Cranitch for Paddy Moroney, Niall Keane for Jamie Brett, Nicky Kearney for Ciaran Mockler, Shane Gorey for Colm Dunne, Cian Cranitch for Ryan Cranitch.

Referee: David Ryan (Cashel King Cormacs).