The final round of Celtic Challenge Group games took place on Wednesday evening and all three Galway teams did well and have all qualified for the Quarter finals of the competition. In the Celtic Challenge Cup Division 1 Quarter Finals: Galway McDonagh v East Cork and Galway Maroon v West Cork. In the Division 2 quarter finals: Galway Tribesmen v Offaly. The match reports from Wednesday night are:
Galway Maroon 4-12 North Tipperary 1-17
In an entertaining game in Portumna on Wednesday, Galway Maroon struck for four goals at vital stages to seal a hard earned win over North Tipp. The goals, allied to a fine goalkeeping display from Darrach Fahy and an impressive seven point haul from John Fleming saw Galway Maroon to victory over a good North Tipp side. The Tipp men raced into a 0-4 to no score lead before a Niall Coen goal and a Darrach Fahy penalty save on 19 minutes from Darragh Tynan helped Galway Maroon retire at the break 1-7 to 0-9 ahead. A second major from Niall Coen on the resumption was answered by a Stephen Kirwan North Tipp goal to leave the sides level at 2-8 to 1-11 on 37 minutes. However, the Galway men looked dangerous in attack throughout and 5 second half points from John Fleming supplemented by crucial goals from Liam Quirke and then Nathan Earner helped to copper fasten a good win. John Fleming won the “Best and Fairest Award” from the match officials.
Galway Maroon Squad: 1. Darrach Fahy (Ardrahan), 2. Sean Duffy (Killimor), 3. Ronan Flannery (Pearses), 4. Dean Callanan (Craughwell), 5. Adam Clarke (Craughwell), 7. Noel Keogh (Athenry), 8. Enda Egan (Michael Cusacks) 0-2, free & 65, 9. Paul Creaven (Killimordaly), 10. Ross Albertini (Ardrahan), 11. John Fleming (Meelick Eyrecourt) 0-7 12. Nathan Earner (Meelick Eyrecourt) 1-1, 13. Liam Quirke (Tynagh Abbey Duniry) 1-1, 14. David Jordan (Tynagh Abbey Duniry), 15. Niall Coen (Ballindereen) 2-1, 16. Diarmuid Mullen (Turloughmore), 17. Evan Ryan (Tynagh Abbey Duniry), 18. Eoin Caulfield (Athenry), 19. Eoin O’Donnell (Ardrahan), 20. Alan Callanan (Craughwell) 21. Matthew Lyons (Turloughmore), 22. Oisin Flaherty (Castlegar), 23. Adrian Gavin (Ballygar).
Management: Manager: Niall Canavan (Annaghdown), Selectors: Joe Hession (Turloughmore), Kevin Molloy (Kilnadeema Leitrim)
North Tipp Scorers: Kevin McCarty 0-5, 2 frees, 1 65, Stephen Kirwan 1-2, Darragh Tynan 0-3, Shane Doyle 0-2, Eanna McBride 0-2, Glen Loughnane 0-2, Gearoid O’Connor 0-1
Galway Tribesmen 2-19 Roscommon 0-6
In a score line that totally flattered the Galway team, the Tribesmen claimed top spot in Celtic Challenge Group G with a 2-19 to 0-6 victory. The margin of victory was due to a late scoring flurry from the Tribesman. Up until that stage a well organised and defensively sound Roscommon sides proved extremely difficult to break down for their Galway opponents. The Tribesman can be thankful that Jack McCullagh was commanding at full back and he dealt with several threatening Roscommon advances on goal. Only one score, a Sean O’Brien goal, separated the sides after 25 minutes with Oisin Kelly and Cian Murray scoring for Roscommon. The Tribesmen tagged on 3 points before half time to leave the score 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval. The second half continued in a similar vein and further scores from Oisin Kelly and Andrew flood for Roscommon and Ronan Mitchell, Sean O’Brien and Adrian Prendergast for Tribesmen leaving the score 1-12 to 0-6 entering the final quarter. An Adrian Prendergast goal put a little daylight between the sides on the scoreboard and a series of late points yielded a score line that did not reflect the organization, work-rate and skill of the Roscommon side. Oisin Kelly (Padraig Pearses) and Jordan Ruffley (Rahoon Newcastle) won the “Best and Fairest Award” from the match officials. Both sides now advance to the quarter-final stages of the competition.
Galway Tribesmen Squad: 1. Mark Connolly (Ahascragh Fohenagh) 2. Diarmuid McCartin (Craughwell) 3. Jack McCullagh (Athenry) 4. John Quinn (Salthill Knocknacarra) 5. Peter Martin (Kilconieron) 6. Jack Keville (Liam Mellows) 7. Jason Niland (St. Thomas) 8. Tom O'Connor (Moycullen) 9. Dara Coleman (Abbeyknockmoy) 10. Luke Lynskey (Killimordaly) 11. Jordan Ruffley (Rahoon Newcastle) 12. Cillian Davoren (Moycullen) 13. Sean O'Brien (Portumna) 14. Fionn McDonagh (Moycullen) 15. James Smith (Castlegar) 16. Jake Hogan (Sylane) 17. Ronan Mitchell (Mullagh) 18. Conor Larkin (Meelick Eyrecourt) 19. Jack Tully (Ballindereen) 20. Stephen Doran (Padraig Pearses) 21. Hugh Moylan (Ballindereen) 22. Dylan Carroll (Castlegar) 23. Aaron Madden (Kilnadeema Leitrim) 24. Adrian Prendergast (Craughwell)
Management: Manager: Gordon Crowley (Liam Mellows) Frank Enright (Moycullen), Denny Forde (Turloughmore).
Galway McDonagh 4-19 Offaly 4-12
Galway McDonagh were fast out of the blocks and went into an early lead with scores coming from Conor Molloy, Mark Kennedy and Cillian Lawless, Isaac DeHora and Damien McGlynn struck for goals. Galway were on top in every part of the field and deservedly led at half time - Galway McDonagh 2-15 Offaly 1-6. Offaly were a different team in the second half and upped their work rate and intensity. Conor Butler and Barry Cleary stood out in defence. Their forwards were always dangerous in attack and the game became very competitive. However goals from Mark Kennedy and Jack Egan ensured the Galway side got past the winning post, and by the end of the Group Stages, Galway McDonagh finish top of their Group.
Galway McDonagh Squad: 1. Daragh Conneely (Liam Mellows), 2. Sean Burke (Kilconieron), 3. Conor Lee (Clarinbridge), 4. Jack Hughes (Skehana), 5. Sean Joyce (Salthill Knocknacarra), 6. Mark Gill (Castlegar), 7. Caimin Killeen (Loughrea), 8. Diarmuid O’Brien (Ballygar) 9. Dylan Shaughnessy (Loughrea), 10. TJ Brennan (Clarinbridge), 11. Mark Kennedy (Clarinbridge), 12. Michael Glynn (Skehana), 13. Damien McGlynn (St Thomas), 14. Conor Molloy (Kilnadeema Leitrim), 15. Jack Egan (Kilnadeema Leitrim), 16. Cillian Lawless (Athenry), 17. Neil Conneely (Portumna), 18. Cathal Dolan (Kiltormer), 19. Isaac DeHora (Clarinbridge), 20. Eoghan Kerin (Rahoon Newcastle).
