Aherlow defeated Galtee in a thrillingly exciting O’Donoghue Cup semi-final

By John O’Shea

Aherlow are through to the final of the Michael Devlin Solicitors, O’Donoghue Cup Final following their two-point extra-time win over Galtee Rovers in Lisvernane on Wednesday evening.

The home side got off to a good start, with full forward Stephen Carey finding the net after four minutes. They held this lead until five minutes before the break, but Galtee finished the half the stronger with a goal from Jack Crowe and two points from Shane Egan in the closing stages, leveling the match 1.6 to 1.6 at half-time.

The second half was also exciting and neither team gave in. Aherlow calmly took the lead after the break, but Galtee came back to lead by the minimum as the match approached the sixty minute mark.

A converted Barry Grogan free put the sides level at 1.11 each, forcing extra time.

Extra time continued in the same manner, with nothing between the sides. Aherlow’s break came two minutes into the second period of extra time, when Barry Grogan was brought down in the square and Ben Carey converted the resulting penalty.

Scores were difficult to come by for the remainder of the match, but the home side held on for a two-point win and a place in the final where they will play Arravale Rovers.

Teams & Scorers:
Aherlow: Jack Whelton, Michael Russell, Sean Mullins, Morgan O’Brien, Laurence Coskeran, Tadhg Carew, Thomas O’Donoghue, Gary Quirke, Ben Carey, Paddy Chapman, Barry Grogan, Jack O’Halloran, Sean Landers, Stephen Carey, Sean Bourke

Galtee Rovers: Kelvin O’Brien, Peter Carroll, Ciaran McCarthy, Joe O’Callaghan, Eoghan Byrnes, Evan Kennedy, Emmet Bonner, Liam Finnane, Eamon Quirke, Tony O’Brien, Daire Egan, Sean Daly, Jack Crowe, Shane Egan , Adam McGrath

Referee. Richie O’Connor (Arravale Rovers)