Galtee Rovers Join Senior Ranks

2021 Camida Intermediate County Final

Galtee Rovers St. Pecaun’s 8-8

Ardfinnan 2-10

Galtee Rovers/St. Pecaun’s Ladies will be playing in the Senior Ranks in 2022 for the first time in their history as a result of their victory over Ardfinnan in the Camida Intermediate County Final played in Lattin on Sunday November 7^th last.

The realisation of the Clubs ambition to play at Senior Grade made for a very emotional presentation speech by the outgoing Tipperary Ladies Football Chairperson Lar Roche a proud Galtee Rovers /St. Pecauns man. Captain Edith Carroll backed this up outlining how the Club had risen from the Junior D ranks in the past ten years to now playing Senior and she praised all those working behind the scenes in the Club during that period and expressed her gratitude to them.

From the outset Galtee Rovers laid down their marker and by the first waterbreak had raced into 3-2 to Ardfinnan’s 0-2. Ardfinnan opened the scoring for the day with a point from Cathy Ryan in the first 30 seconds but this was the only time that they would take the lead. Galtees were quick to respond with a point from Alison Lonergan and went ahead with a point from Katelyn O’Dwyer. A fourth minute goal from Fiona Tuohy opened up the Ardfinnan defence. Laura Dillon pulled one back but a brace of goals one each from Alison Lonergan and Edith Carroll put Galtees into a 9 point lead by that first water break.

After the break the sides swapped points before Roisin Finnane weaved her way through to score Galtees fourth goal of the game. Ardfinnan responded well and went on the attack, Laura Dillon was fouled going through but swung back after the free was awarded and was subsequently yellow carded reducing her team to 14 players for the remainder of the half. Ardfinnan though drove on and the dying minutes of the half scored 1-2 a goal from Niamh Boyle and point each from Samantha Lambert and Clara English. Roisin Finnane wrapped up the scoring for the half, with a point. To leave the half time score at Galtee Rovers/St. Pecauns 4-5 Ardfinnan 1-6.

Back to their full compliment after the break Ardfinnan’s Clara English led the way a point in thirty third minute. There was no score registered for the following ten minute period as both defences were closing down the attacks however a brace of pointed frees from Galtees captain Edith Carroll broke the dead lock and put 9 points between the sides again. Ardfinnan went on the attack and from a close in free Laura Dillon tried to catch out the Galtees defence but was denied in the follow up Aoife O’Shaughnessy was sent to the sin bin again reducing Ardfinnan to 14 players. Ardfinnan kept the pressure on the Galtees and Dillon finally finding a way past Megan Tynan to goal. She quickly followed this a point from a free. Just five points now separated the sides. Galtees shaken, jolted themselves into action quickly responding with two goals in the space of a minute one each from Aoibhe Gayson Molloy and Eimear McCarthy to leave the score at the second water break Galtee Rovers 6-7 Ardfinnan 2-8.

After the break Galtees kept the pressure on intercepting the goalie kick out with Rosin Finnane making the burst through for goal but taken down deliberately with Michael Duffy pointing to the spot. Emer McCarthy duly converted the penalty to put the result beyond doubt. Galtees weren’t finished though and again they were able to intercept the kick out and allow Sarah Finnane to net Galtees eight and final goal of the game in the 51^st minute. Ardfinnan to their credit battled on and did test Megan Tynan forcing the Galtees keeper to make three superb saves in quick succession. Tynan though proved herself to be more than equal to the challenge not just saving the shots but also catching them. Galtees were also reduced to fourteen players when Roisin Finnane was sinbinned with just three minutes of ordinary time on the clock.

With the result now in no doubt Ardfinnan tagged on two more points one each from Laura Dillon and Samantha Lambert while Galtees Sarah Finnane added a point to her earlier goal to wrap up the scoring for the afternoon.

Galtees were deserving winners they laid a firm foundation early in the game with four goals in the opening half. Their defence worked hard throughout keeping Ardfinnan’s scoring opportunities to the minimum reinforced by their Goalie Megan Tynan who pulled off five fantastic saves throughout the game.

Ardfinnan while they will be disappointed to have lost the game as Chairperson Lar Roche pointed out in the presentation speech that Galtees had been in a similar position only last year having just graduated from the Junior A ranks and getting to the Intermediate Final was an achievement in itself. Ardfinnan have a young side and it would be unreasonable to think that they will be contesting the Intermediate Final in 2022.  

Teams and Scorers

Galtee Rovers/St. Pecauns

Megan Tynan, Niamh Roche, Ruth Ronan, Megan Heffernan, Aoife Flynn, Katie Quirke

Eimear Gleeson, Kate Flannery, Aoibhe Gayson Molloy (1-0), Fiona Tuohy (1-0), Emer McCarthy(2-0), Róisín Finnane (1-1), Katelyn O’Dwyer (0-2), Alison Lonergan (-1), Edith Carroll(1-3) subs used Sallyann O’Dwyer  for N. Roche, Sarah Finnane (1-1)for A. Lonergan, Evelyn Gayson Molloy for F. Tuohy, Ellie Peters for K. O’Dwyer

Ardfinnan

Ann Marie Jones, Eabha Lambert, Laura Nagle, Yvonne Clancy, Eimear O’Connor, Sarah English, Ciara Nagle, Samantha Lambert(0-2) , Clara English (0-2), Clara O’Brien, Aoife O’Shaughnessy, Niamh O’Farrell, Laura Dillon (1-4), Niamh Boyle (1-1), Cathy Ryan (0-1). Subs Caoimhe Mulchay for C. O’Brien, Alice Tobin for N. Boyle and Molly Purcell for Y. Clancy, Yvonne Keating for C. Ryan.