Galtee Gaels strike late to deny Ballylanders in Limerick senior football championship

GALTEE Gaels earned a 1-16 to 0-15 Irish Wire Products Limerick Senior Football Championship win over Ballylanders thanks a late, late showing in Kilmallock on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing by a point deep into added time, Conor McGrath fired in what proved to be a match-winning goal that saw Galtee secure a precious first victory in Group 2.

Jimmy Barry Murphy looked to have given Ballylanders the nod in the fourth minute of the extra allotted time only for McGrath to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Conor Moriarty’s two-pointer sealed the win.

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Playing against a strong breeze in the opening half hour, Galtee made an excellent start with Bob Childs, with two, and McGrath raising white flags.

Ballylanders responded with a two-point free from Danny Frewen but scores from Alan Coughlan and Sean Casey saw Galtee Gaels leading 0-5 to 0-2 with 11 minutes on the clock.

Frewen was then on target with another two-pointer, this time from play, as Ballylanders started to get to grips with the conditions.

Zach McCarthy finished off a well-worked team move to put Galtee ahead by two once again, only for a third Frewen two-pointer to level the game for the first time.

Steve Fox sent over a fourth two-pointer of the half for Ballylanders and a fifth came along just before the break. Shane O’Donoghue with a sumptuous strike from the outside of his left foot to put Ballylanders 0-11 to 0-7 ahead at half time.

Ballylanders gained confidence from that first half showing and two Frewen frees saw them six clear with eight minutes of the second half played.

Galtee Gaels got the next four points through McGrath, Bob Childs, Cian Ryan and Jack Ryan to cut that gap to two with 12 to play.

Fox got Ballylanders back to a three-point lead with a fine score but a Jack Ryan two-pointer and a point from Alan Condon saw the game all square for a third time at 0-14 apiece heading into added time.

Barry Murphy looked to have nicked it for Ballylanders but McGrath’s cool finish saw Galtee Gaels earn a stunning win.

SCORERS: Galtee Gaels: Conor McGrath 1-2, Bob Childs 0-4 (3f), Jack Ryan 0-3, Conor Moriarty 0-2, Alan Coughlan, Sean Casey, Zach McCarthy, Cian Ryan and Alan Condon 0-1 each. Ballylanders: Danny Frewen 0-8 (1 2pf, 2f), Steve Fox 0-3, Shane O’Donoghue 0-2, Cillein O’Brien and Jimmy Barry Murphy 0-1 each.

GALTEE GAELS: Danny McGrath; Eoin Gallahue, Maurice O’Sullivan, Edward Quinn; Alan Coughlan, Sean McGrath, Eoghan McNamara; Tommie Childs, Alan Condon; Jack Ryan, Conor McGrath, Maurice Fitzgerald; Sean Casey, Bob Childs, Zach McCarthy. Subs: Cian Ryan for Fitzgerald (41 mins), Sean O’Donnell for Quinn (41 mins, inj), Paddy English for McNamara (49 mins), Conor Moriarty for Casey (54 mins).

BALLYLANDERS: Declan O’Connor; Jordan Sheehy, Patrick Holian, Daniel Murphy; Tom O’Dwyer, Cillein O’Brien, Liam Dennehy; Robbie Downey, Oisin Browne; Thomas McDonnell, Danny Frewen, Cian Browne; Jimmy Barry Murphy, Steve Fox, Shane O’Donoghue. Sub: Ciaran Kelly for Browne (42 mins).

REFEREE: Timmy McGrath (Oola).