Galtee Rovers crowned junior champions after strong and powerful display

Francis Coughlan at Annacarty

Galtee Rovers are Gleeson Concrete West Junior A Hurling Champions for the second time in four seasons an the first time since 2021 following victory over Lattin/Cullen in cool and breezy Annacarty on Sunday evening.

The opening five minutes was a fairly even affair with the sides level at two each however one Tony O’Brien sideline cut went all the way to the Lattin/Cullen net it gave them a lead they would never relinquish. That goal separated the sides at the break with Lattin/Cullen dependent on Mark Russell and Cathal Dillon for their eight first half points.

Galtee Rovers on the other hand had five different scorers by the break with Bill Quirke hitting four from place balls.
The third quarter would see Galtee Rovers extend that advantage as Lattin/Cullen struggled to find the radar. They led by seven entering the final quarter where their opponents had failed to raise a flag.

Lattin/Cullen did get some hope when substitute Sean Bourke raised a green flag, however Galtee Rovers were always able to keep them at arm’s length and when Tony O’Brien added a second goal four minutes for time it all but sealed the win for Galtee Rovers.

Mark Russell had Lattin/Cullen off the mark with the first of his four opening half points with a superb effort after opening the shoulders with just twelve seconds on the clock.

Russell put in a huge shift over the hour. Bill Quirke got Galtee Rovers off the mark in the third minute before Robbie Byron who had a big influence on proceedings pointed Galtee Rovers in front. Lattin/Cullen were struggling to find the radar however another monstrous effort from Russell tied the game for the one and only time after five minutes. Galtee Rovers started to dominate after this Evan Kennedy and Tony Byron showing well in defence.

Bill Quirke and Eoin Halpin opened a two-point lead and Galtee Rovers would not be led again. The first major turning point came in the ninth minute when Tony O’Brien’s sideline cut from the dressing side by passed a group of players and went all the ways to the net.

Russell and Dillon reduced the lead to a goal and that three-point difference remained between the sides entering the final ten minutes of the half.

Cathal Dillon pointed before Mark Russell added another from long range to see just a point between the sides with six to play. However, they failed to score again and two Bill Quirke pointed frees ensured Tony O’Brien’s goal was the difference at the half time interval.

Galtee Rovers extended their lead in the third quarter out to seven points led by a point from Captain Tony O’Brien while Bill Quirke added further points from placed balls. Daire Egan got in on the act and Galtee Rovers could have been further ahead but for further misses.

Early in the final quarter Lattin/Cullen ended a twenty-three-minute scoring drought. Sean Bourke on as a substitute goaled after a scramble when the sliotar had come back off the post. It failed to revive their challenge however and within two minutes Shane Power and Eoin Halpin had replied with two points. Lawrence Coskeran and Cathal Dillon brought the difference back to four with six to play but they failed to score for the remainder.

The win was sealed two minutes later when substitute Robbie McGrath beat his marker in the air, beating the defenders before passing to the unmarked O’Brien who smashed home from a tight angle. Cathal Dillon went for goal with a later free on the stand side of the pitch but his effort for goal came off the near post and over to the far corner.

Robbie McGrath added the final point as Galtee Rovers ran out comfortable winners.

Following the game West Board Chairman Tommy Hayes presented the Dr. Hickey Cup to Galtee Rovers captain Tony O’Brien in the presence of Micheal Gleeson from the sponsors Gleeson Concrete.

Scorers & Teams:

Galtee Rovers: Bill Quirke (0-7, (0-6f)), Tony O’Brien (2-1), Eoin Halpin (0-2, (0-1f)), Robbie Byron (0-1), Kevin Power (0-1), Daire Egan (0-1), Shane Power (0-1), Robbie McGrath (0-1)

Lattin/Cullen: Cathal Dillon (0-5, (0-4f)), Mark Russell (0-4), Sean Bourke (1-0), Laurence Coskeran (0-1)

Galtee Rovers: Galtee Rovers; Eoin White, Peter Carroll, David Harold Barry, Cian O’Dwyer, Sean Daly, Evan Kennedy, Tony Byron, Robbie Byron, Daire Egan, Eamon Quirke, Bill Quirke, Kevin Power, Eoin Halpin, Tony O’Brien (Captain), Shane Power
Subs used: Robbie McGrath for Eamon Quirke, Callum McCarthy for Tony Byron, Stephen Moloney for Bill Quirke, Jack Crowe for Eoin Halpin

Lattin/Cullen: Jack Whelton, Timmy Corcoran, Barry Grogan, Mark Hanley, Cillian Barlow, Stevie Carey, Daire O’Brien, Raymond Hennessy, Ben Carey, Thomas Cooper Fahy, Mark Russell, Laurence Coskeran, Patrick O’Donoghue, Cathal Dillon, Tomas O’Shea
Subs Used: Paddy Chapman for Patrick O’Donoghue, Sean Bourke for Daire O’Brien, Jack O’Halloran for Tomas O’Shea, Liam Carew for Laurence Coskeran,

Referee: Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)