Minor B Football Championship Semi-final
St Galls 1-09-1-05 Rossa
Kevin Herron reports from Milltown
St Galls advanced to the Minor B football decider with a hard fought 1-09-1-05 win over Rossa in Sunday’s semi-final at Milltown.
The hosts led in the early stages after Padraig O’Muirigh was felled by Ronan Hamill as he shot and a free was awarded which O’Muirigh converted.
Rossa hit back on numerous occasions over the course of the game, the first time through an angled Ruairi McDonagh free which dropped over.
O’Muirigh would restore his sides lead from converted free, but Corey Walsh responded with a high shot that sailed over.
Thereafter St Galls showed the better efficiency and closed the half out with three further points.
Liam McEnhill checked the run of O’Muirigh and he kicked his third point of the half, a well worked move then saw Aaron Mackel carry the ball from defence and offload to Odhran Bellew- he in turn found O’Muirigh to lay-off to Tye Brady for the score.
The first goal chance of the game then fell St Galls way through Cairbe Mac Adhaimh, though his low effort was diverted over the bar by Daire Morgan as the hosts led 0-05-0-02 at the break.
St Galls extended their lead in the early stages of the second half through Padraig O’Muirigh’s first from play.
The visitors ended a long scoreless spell when Corey Walsh was felled, and Ruairi McDonagh kicked his second free of the afternoon.
A deflected Niall May point halved the deficit, but O’Muirigh landed a fine score to bring his individual tally to five.
Rossa keeper Morgan denied Mac Adhaimh from close range for the second time as both sides were guilty of squandering scoring opportunities.
With ten minutes to go Rossa drew level for the third time, Niall May slipped the ball through to McDoangh whose close-range effort was parried as far as James Aughey to rifle home and make it 0-07-1-04.
Talisman O’Muirigh sent a high effort between the posts to temporarily restore his sides leas again, but Fiachra McDonald converted an angled free at the other end.
St Galls hit the front for the last time as the game drew towards it conclusion with Cairbe Mac Adhaimh taking a switch of play from Aodhan Pierce and steering his shot over.
Their insurance score arrived in injury time with the goal that they threatened throughout arriving in the form of a Padraig O’Muirigh dink over Morgan to give his side a 1-09-1-05 win and clinch their place in the decider.
St Galls: J Southern, C Hale, D Tracey, F McCullagh, C Parker, S Mac Adhaimh, P Austin, L Lynn, A Mackel, O Bellew, P O’Muirigh (1-6,0-3f), C Mac Adhaimh (0-2), T Brady, S Kelly, E Walsh. Subs: A Pierce.
Rossa: D Morgan, D Donnelly, C Short, S Cunningham, J Tennyson, J Collins, J Aughey (1-0), R McDonagh (0-2f), R Hamill, K Grieve, L McEnhill, N May (0-1), C Walsh (0-1), F McDonald (0-1f), B Cummings. Subs: O Murphy for J Tennyson (HT), O Boyle for B Cummings (36).
Referee: Sean Elliott (Lámh Dhearg)
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