Galtee Rovers 2-8(14), Eire Og Annacarty Donohill 1-7(10).

The Egan brothers, Tony and Daire combined to shoot Galtee Rovers to their 26th Shane Hennessy Agri-Advisor West Senior Football Championship title in an exciting tussle with Eire Og Annacarty Donohill in Cappawhite on Friday night. Despite the dreary, wet and cold conditions both teams served up an exciting encounter which was in doubt right until the end when Tony Egan found the net, three minutes into injury time to eventually seal the title for Galtee Rovers.

With the tough conditions scores were at a premium in the first half. While the sides would go in at the break level it was Eire Og who would have created the better scoring opportunities and possibly should have been ahead. From the second minute when Tony Egan pointed from a free he ensured he would play a big part in bridging a four year gap to Galtee Rovers last title. He was the go to man in the forwards who would finish with a tally of 1-6. Three minutes later Egan added his first from play as Galtee Rovers looked very assured of themselves. Slowly Eire Og found their feet in the game and Dinny Crosse opened their account from a placed ball after eight minutes. Galtee Rovers continued to use Tony Egan as their point of attack and had his third of the half in the thirteenth minute to again put two between the sides. Donal O’Dwyer cut the deficit but again Tony Egan responded with a pointed 45. Eire Og finished the half stronger and points from Kevin Fox and Darragh Mooney saw the game all square on Paddy Russell’s half time whistle.

Galtee Rovers introduced Shane Egan for the start of the second half. The opening exchanges all belonged to Galtee’s. Shane Ryan pointed in the second minute and Galtee Rovers continued to attack though failing to add to their lead. Both sides were then reduced to fourteen men after ten minutes of the half before Tony Egan added his fourth point from play and put Galtee Rovers two points up. Eire Og though always have a never say die attitude and this was evident in the next attack, a sweeping move which put Brian Fox through only for his shot to go across the face of goal and wide. The crowd now getting more into the game. The game was tied up by the eighteenth minute after two Dinny Crosse frees in the fourteenth and eighteenth minutes. The remainder of the game would be nip and tuck. A minute later the momentum looked to have swung in Eire Og’s favour when Willie O’Neill picked up Eoin Kennedy’s pass to shoot low to the net. A goal in these conditions were crucial. Eire Og had now hit 1-2 in a row. Galtee Rovers were not to be outdone and the games second goal arrived in the next attack. Daire Egan finished off a good attacking move to the net despite the best efforts of Sean Breen in the Eire Og goal. Eire Og missed two chances from frees but at the other end the Egan brothers of Tony and Daire both pointed from play. Galtee Rovers two points up as the clock now entered the red. Brian Fox cut the deficit to the minimum. They tried to work an equaliser but Galtee’s had numbers behind the ball, as Eire Og struggled to get a shot in to level proceedings. In the final attack Galtee Rovers broke culminating in Tony Egan crashing the ball to an empty net and finally putting the game beyond Eire Og. With that Paddy Russell blew the long whistle to loud cheers from the Galtee Rovers supporters.

Afterwards outgoing West Chairman John O’Shea performed his last act as Chairman when he presented the O’Carroll Cup to Shane Egan and Eamon O’Connell in the presence of Shane Hennessy (sponsor) and incoming Chairman Michael Ryan C.

Best for Galtee Rovers were Conor O’Sullivan. Daire Egan and Eric Grogan showed real ability at midfield while in the forwards Tony Egan was the target man but Adam McGrath and Shane Ryan both shone.
Eire Og Annacarty Donohill were best served by Brian Fox, while Donal O’Dwyer worked tirelessly at midfield. Conor O’Brien started at centre forward but was moved back into his accustomed role in defence. Dinny Crosse worked well and got on a lot of possession.

Galtee Rovers: Calum Fanning, Pat Murnane, Eamon O Connell, Rob Doyle, Shane Power, Conor O Sullivan, Sean Daly, Eric Grogan, Daire Egan (1-1), Ian O Brien, Tony O Brien, Shane Ryan (0-1), Darren McGrath, Tony Egan (1-6, (0-3f)), Adam McGrath,
Subs Used: Shane Egan, Colin Morrissey, Stephen O’Dwyer

Eire Og Annacarty Donohill: Sean Breen, Paul Devlin, Michael Bradshaw, Paid O’Dwyer, Willie O’Neill (1-0), Brian Fox (0-1), Kevin Fox (0-1), Eoin Bradshaw, Eoin Kennedy, Donal O’Dwyer (0-1), Conor O’Brien, Diarmuid Ryan, Paul Downey, Dinny Crosse (0-3, (0-3f)), Darragh Mooney (0-1)
Subs Used: Sean Ryan, Ronan O’Brien, Richard O’Doherty

Referee: Paddy Russell (Emly).

Above report taken from West Tipperary GAA Facebook page.