By Matt O’Callaghan
GALTEE GAELS………………………………………………………………………………………………………..0-5
KNOCKADERRY……………………………………………………………………………………………………….0-3
Galtee Gaels were crowned Limerick Under 21B Football champions after carving out victory over Knockaderry in a low-scoring decider at Páirc Seán Mhic Ghearáilt, Kilmallock on Friday afternoon.
This was far from a classic but the good sized crowd were well entertained as the outcome was on the balance until referee Mike Moloney brought proceedings to a close.
In the closing stages the men from Anglesboro-Kilbehenny had to withstand an incessant bombardment from Knockaderry as the westerners threw everything at them in a bid to rescue the game.
It completes a memorable double for the men from the Galtees who earlier clinched the county Under 19B Football title while for luckless Knockaderry, it completed an unwanted double of losing both Under 21 B hurling and football finals this year.
The clubs previously met in the county Under 21 final in 1989 when John Breedy led the Gaels to a 1-10 to 2-5 success also at Kilmallock. On this occasion Breedy’s son Kaelem featured at centre half forward. It was the Gaels’ first success in the competition since they saw off the challenge of Ballybricken-Bohermore in the 2015 decider.
These sides were so evenly match that for long periods it looked as if they were inseparable, defences were completely on top and apart from Zach McCarthy forcing a splendid save from Eoin O’Connor as early as the 9th minute, neither netting threatened to be bulged.
McCarthy was again the Gaels’ go to man and accounted for four of his side’s points and throughout the contest he kept the Knockaderry defence on their toes.
McCarthy was one of three senior players paraded by Galtee Gaels along with team captain Eoghan McNamara and Conor McGrath and all three led from the front with McNamara at centre half back and McGrath at midfield having a powerful impact in a side whose work rate to the last man throughout was enormous.
It was a very youthful Knockaderry side with all starting fifteen eligible for the grade again in 2023 and they too like the victors brought huge work rate and intensity to the proceedings. They will have learned valuable lessons from reaching the decider and will be a force in Under 21 football to be reckoned with in 2023.
The first score did not arrive until the 9th minute when after forcing fine save form Eoin O’Connor, Zach McCarthy having been fouled in the build-up accrued no advantage and he knocked over the opener from a free.
All of 17 minutes were to elapse before the next score arrived when McCarthy doubled the Anglesboro-Kilbehenny men’s advant age again from a free.
Knockaderry finally got off the mark on the 30th minute mark when Michael Molloy landed a free. Two minutes later after sweeping move up field, the Gaels’ two point cushion was restored when Zach McCarthy knocked over the game’s first score from play, 0-3 to 0-1 at the change of ends.
Knockaderry hit the ground running after the resumption and Kieran Storan halved the deficit within a minute of the restart.
After exerting considerable pressure, the sides were level seven minutes later when Enda Moran landed an equaliser for Knockaderry.
It was now on the Gaels to lift the siege and on 43 minutes they were back in front after a perfectly timed offload from Kaelem Breedy to Jack Ryan and the midfielder pointed from distance. The south Limerick men were now enjoying a level of mastery and it was reflected on the 49th minute when Zach McCarthy doubled the lead.
It was to be the last score of the game, Knockaderry began an aerial bombard ment and ground siege on the Galtee Gaels goal in the closing minutes but could not find a fault line nor a breakthrough as the Gales packed the defence and held out for another memorable day for the club.
Galtee Gaels: Cian Lewis; Declan Moriarty, Luke Cooney, Patrick O’Callaghan; Pádraic Byrne, Eoghan McNamara (Captain), Paddy English; Conor McGrath, Jack Ryan; Kealan Hogan, Kaelem Breedy, Jack O’Callaghan; Jack Moriarty, Mark Walsh, Zach McCarthy.
Subs: Evan Mulcahy for Kealan Hogan (39), Oliver Walsh for Pádraic Byrne (54), Adam O’Keeffe for Jack O’Callaghan (58).
Knockaderry: Eoin O’ Connor; Gary Storin, Darragh Lyons, Eddie Foley; Gearóid Fenniman, Jack Molloy, Michael O’ Connor; Kieran Storin, Colm O’Connor; Ray Lacey, Michael Molloy, Cormac Lyons; Jack O’ Connor, Bryan Mortell, Enda Moran.
Subs: Ronan Keating for Jack O’Connor (47), Cathal Moran for Bryan Mortell (58).
Referee: Mike Moloney, Caherline.