Galtee Rovers set up rematch with Fethard in Tipperary Under 19 A football final

Galtee Rovers 3-12 Ballina 2-10

A hat trick by captain and full forward, Eoin Halpin, ensured safe passage to the final for Galtee Rovers, when they accounted for a never say die Ballina in the FBD Insurance County Under 19 A Football Championship semi final at Dr Morris Park, Thurles, on Tuesday night last.

This game was played before an estimated crowd of around 200 in conditions conducive to good football and both teams served up a good, fast attacking game. The west champions just about deserved their victory. An early goal from Halpin gave them a cushion that they held throughout, with Ballina never able to get their noses in front.

During a first half that was played at a fast pace, with good attacking movements and some great long kick passes, especially from the Bansha side, the north champions created the greater number of goal chances, but failed to raise a green flag. They did however finish the half with a flourish, kicking the last three points to leave them just four points in arrears at half time.

Three goals, two to Ballina, inside the first seven minutes after the break set up the second half nicely and it took a third from Eoin Halpin with nine minutes remaining to give the Bansha side breathing space.

The loss of JP Mbokha Tansia with a leg injury during those last ten minutes didn’t help Ballina’s cause, as the midfielder was having a big influence on the game, covering acres of ground. In the end, time ran out for north side and Galtee advance to the final where they will meet Fethard in a repeat of last year’s Under 19 B final.

Galtee were first out of the traps and midfielder Bill Quirke got the scoreboard moving after ninety seconds with a well-taken point. Galtee’s first break came a minute later when an attempted shot for a point from Conal Grogan came back off the upright and Eoin Halpin was on hand to fire home the opening goal.

A further point from Grogan was followed up by Halpin when he finished off a move created by Emmet Bonner. Galtee were now six to the good after four minutes, but Ballina came more into the game. Jack Grace took advantage of a turnover to split the posts for their opening score. Grogan and Grace then exchanged points as the game swung from end to end.

Eoin Halpin kicked his second minor before Charlie King and Conal Grogan, from a free, cancelled each other out, leaving the score 1-6 to 0-3 by the end of the opening quarter.

Ballina upped their game in the second quarter and this was reflected on the scoreboard. Jack Collins and Charlie Grace got in for scores. Collins, in particular, had moved out the field and was getting on a lot of ball. Zac Egan was carrying a lot of ball out of defence and running at the Galtee back line with some success.

Some wayward kicking during this period didn’t help their cause. Also a few goal chances were created, but none were converted.

Four minutes before the break, Galtee were down to 14 players when full back Ciaran McCarthy was black-carded and Ballina took advantage of their numerical advantage by kicking two points, one from Charlie King and a second from Zac Egan, to leave the half time score Galtee Rovers 1-8, Ballina 0-7.

After the break, the opening ten minutes had a flurry of goals. Eoin Halpin struck his second after three minutes, before Jack Grace cancelled out for Ballina, following a big turnover by JP Mbokha Tansia. Conal Grogan kicked his fifth point from a placed ball before Jack Collins scored the goal of the game when he rifled a piledriver to the top corner of Robbie McGrath’s net.

A Charlie King point after twelve minutes cut the lead to the minimum, but this was as near as Ballina would get in this absorbing contest.

As the game entered the final quarter, and the teams evenly balanced with the minimum between them, a close finish beckoned. However, Galtee found an extra gear and following a good run from Bill Quirke he found Eoin Halpin, and the full forward made no mistake as he crashed home to complete his hat trick with nine minutes of normal time remaining.

Galtee saw out the game with points from Jack Crowe and Dan O’Dwyer, before Charlie King closed out the scoring with his fourth point of the night.

Galtee Rovers: Robbie McGrath, Eoghan Byrnes, Ciaran McCarthy, Tadhg Gubbins, Emmet Bonner, Evan Kennedy, Cian Collins, Bill Quirke (0-1), Liam Finnane, Conal Grogan (0-6, 5 frees), Dan O’Dwyer (0-2), Cian O’Dwyer, Jack Crowe (0-1), Eoin Halpin (captain, 3-2), Dermot McCarthy.

Subs: Josh O’Dwyer for Cian O’Dwyer (39 mins), Lucas Bowes for Cian Collins (55 mins).

Ballina: Conor Shanahan, Jack Quinn, Zac Egan (0-1), Tristan Giroudiere, Cillian Ryan, Cian Molloy, Billy Collins, Paddy Bradley, JP Mbokha Tansia, Charlie Grace (1-1), Charlie King (0-4, 2 frees), Brian Bourke (captain), Simon Grace, Jack Collins (1-1), Jack Grace (1-3, 2 frees).

Subs: Sean Lyons for Paddy Bradley (38 mins), Tom Shanahan for JP Mbokha Tansia (inj. 53 mins).

Referee: Martin Ryan (Murty) (Moyne/Templetuohy).