Rathkeale crowned Limerick intermediate football champions with impressive win over Galbally

RATHKEALE will return to the senior ranks of Limerick football next season after overcoming Galbally, 0-11 to 0-7, in this afternoon's  Griffins Coaches intermediate final in Ballyagran. 

A confident display in the first-half of the contest set up Mikey Meade's side well in the second where they managed to keep out at least three goal attempts by Galbally. 

This is Rathkeale's first time taking home silverware since 2013 with the side now going on to play Kilshannig of Cork in the quarter-finals next Sunday at 1:15pm. 

It was Galbally that started brightly off the throw-in with a beautiful passage of play with Mike Donovan linking up with full-forward Jamie Morrissey to send their first point over after only 30 seconds.

Rathkeale replied immediately with a left footed effort from opposite full-forward Mikey Morrissey, who slotted over the leveller from outside the 45' yard line. 

This opening score from Morrissey awoke the Rathkeale forwards who showed incredible pace to get around their markers. Paul White was on of players making huge runs into the danger area and was eventually awarded a free for his side in which captain Andrew White popped over the bar to leave them one-point ahead after three minutes. 

Rathkeale were hugely impressive at moving the ball quickly up the field and threw the hands to reach their forwards on the other end. Galbally's defence were put under huge pressure at this stage with Mikey Morrissey's shot valiantly saved by Peter Morrissey after eight minutes. 

Meade's charges continued to move the ball well though and on the next play they stretched the entire pitch and finished off the play with an effort from Mikey Morrissey quickly followed by Eoin O'Donnell's effort to put them 0-4 to 0-1 up on the ten minute mark. 

Galbally looked stunned after their first score with their opponents speed getting the better of them on occasion. They fired back with a response after 11 minutes with a free from Ger Quinlan. This would be their only score for a further 17 minutes as Rathkeale looked to open up lead early on. 

The eventual Man of the Match Paul White fired over a huge score from range, complimented by another Andrew White free to put them three-points ahead. 

Quinlan finished off the scoring for his side on the 28 minute with Eoin O'Donnell doing doing the same for Rathkeale finishing off the half in their favour, 0-7 to 0-3.

Paul White opened up the scoring for his side in the first minute of the second-half has he found space in the oppositions defence. 

Galbally did well to attack strongly against Rathkeale in these opening minutes winning a free on the 35 minute, which captain Eoin O'Mahony slotted over the cross-bar. 

Rathkeale's forwards put on a masterclass of passing in this final linking up incredibly well with Patrick Wilmott hand passing on to White again to keep them ahead. 

The game slowed a bit in the middle of the second-half with neither side able to get threw each others defences. This stalemate was eventually broken when Galbally's Jamie Morrissey fired over a point from play, quickly followed by another Ger Quinlan free to claw them back to only three-points behind. 

The pressure had totally switched from Galbally now on to the Rathkeale defence who did tremendously well to not concede a goal in the closing ten minutes. 

Rathkeale remained calm and solidified their victory with two more points from midfielder Barry Coleman to give them the victory and the opportunity of playing senior football next year. 

SCORERS RATHKEALE: Paul White 0-3, Mikey Morrissey 0-2, Andrew White 0-2 (0-2 frees), Eoin O'Donnell 0-2, Barry Coleman 0-2

GALBALLY: Ger Quinlan 0-3 (0-3 frees), Jamie Morrissey 0-2, Eoin O'Mahony 0-1 (0-1 free), Mark Quinlan 0-1

RATHKEALE: Mark White, Michael Shehan, Byran Meade, Paudie Mulcaire, Adam Shanagher, Jack Hennessy, Dean Maune, Tommy Dillane, Barry Coleman, Paul White, Andrew Meade, Eoin O'Donnell, Andrew White (C), Mikey Morrissey, Patrick Wilmott.

SUBS: Eoin Kelly for A White (55 minutes)

GALBALLY: Peter Morrissey, Jame O'Sullivan, Cathal O'Mahony, Jack O'Mullane, Mark Quinlan, James Ryan, Eoin McGrath, Rober Sampson, Dylan O'Shea, Mike Donovan, Eoin O'Mahony (C), Calum Sheehan, Gern Quinlan, Jamie Morrissey, Gary McCarthy.

SUBS: Ryan Tobin for C Sheehan (Half-Time), Josh Dineen for D O'Shea (34 minutes), Cathal Flynn for E McGrath (42 minutes), Roibeard Donovan for R Sampson (52 minutes), Pa Murphy for G McCarthy (58 minutes)

REFEREE: Kieran Guina (Feoghanagh/Castlemahon)