Wolfe Tones v Galway

Wolfe Tones 4-14 Galway 1-6

The second semi-final of the O’Brien Cup was a bit of a one-sided affair.  Wolfe Tones made little fuss of brushing the Galway challenge aside, and after 20 minutes of play it was pretty much over as a contest.  Galway could not cope with the Tones midfield, and the Tones forward line opened up Galway’s defences time and again.  Galway made more of a game of it in the second half, but by that stage there was too much between the teams to make a difference to the final outcome.

Tom Walsh jumps highest for this kickout.

The Tones got out of the gates strong.  Marty Farrell pointed seconds after the throw-in, and after an unlucky deflection off Galway corner back, Robert Vickers, Dan McCabe put the ball into the open net.  The Tones built on their advantage, and it was a considerable one on the balance of play as most of the ball movement was in the direction of the Galway goal.  Barry Grogan, Farrell, and Collie Carr recorded points.  One score in particular was a beauty from Farrell on the wing, and the Tones quick ball movement to get the ball out to him was something that the best of defences would fins hard to stop..  Galway lifted the siege with a goal from Leon Kelly.  Tom Moloney was the provider.  It was a temporary reprieve, however, as the Tones moved the ball out of defence and picked out the forwards.  Two more goals came before half time for the Tones.  McCabe netted a second and Carr the third as the Tones opened up the maroon defence.  Galway managed a couple of points from Jamie Kehoe and Ollie Doherty but when the half time whistle sounded, it was a massive advantage for the Tones who led by 12 points.

The Tones Barry Grogan was a thorn in
the side of the Galway defenders.

The second half was more of the same as the Tones kept on top.  Cormac Joyce-Power entered the game in the middle of the field as did Keith Gill, and Grogan went back to work in the corner.  Galway clawed back a few points, JJ Doyle and Leon Kelly moved the points column a couple of notches but the Tones are proving themselves to be the side to beat in the early season going, and even the introduction of subs showed that there is depth to the squad.  Another goal and a flurry of points finished up the game with the Tones looking forward to getting their 2012 season off to a good start.  It will be an interesting final between the Tones and Donegal, and based on what I have seen I might tip my hat to the Tones to add to their seven a side victory in New York.

Tones:  R. McKeown, A. Curry, D. Lowry, M. O’Brien, G. Brilly, D. McGuire, C. McCarthy, J. Farrell, M. Farrell, C. Carr, B. Cunningham, D. McCabe, B. Grogan.  Galway:  P. McComiskey, G. Bannon, R. Vickers, JJ O’Neill, JJ Doyle, S. Gallagher, E. Kavanagh, L. Kelly, P. Nolan, T. Walsh, O. Doherty, D. Reddin, J. Kehoe.

By Rory O'Donnell