Galbally Beat Rock, But Only Just.

Saturday 17.09.2011

Unfortunately for Rock it is the end of the road for them in the championship. They kicked the last six points of the game but the two goals conceded just after the break proved to be the decisive scores. Galbally win 2-6 to 0-11 and make it through to the semi finals of the Intermediate Championship.

Galbally are reduced to fourteen men after Aidan O’Hagan picks up a second yellow card in injury time.

Conor Mc Creesh sends over another forty five metre free and with a minute left there is the minimum between them. Can Rock find another score?

Eamon Ward gives his team a glimmer of hope as he converts a left footed free from thirty five metres. There are two minutes left on the clock and Rock trail by two.

However they are unable to capitalise on the chances and possession they have had and still trail Galbally by three as their wides total for the half continues to mount. Less than five minutes left.

These look like dangerous times for Galbally as Rock, assisted by the wind, are now well on top in all sectors of the field.

Conor Mc Creesh slots over a forty five and the gap is reduced to three points and there are nine minutes plus additional time left on the clock.

We are down now to the last ten minutes and solid defensive play and hard work by Galbally have halted the momentum of Rock, temporarily at least.

Half way through the second thirty minutes and the next score could have a huge bearing on how this match will turn out.

Aidan Mc Garrity makes it three points in a row for Rock and the score line now reads Galbally 2-6, Rock 0-8, still all to play for.

Two minutes later and Conor Mc Creesh strikes over a fine forty metre free kick from out wide on the right and the gap is now five points. You get the feeling this game might have a twist or two yet.

Enda Mc Williams shoots over Rock’s first point of the second half with nine minutes on the clock. 2-6 to 0-6, will this signal the start of a Rock revivial?

Declan Murphy scores a second goal for Galbally as they take a solid grip of the game now leading 2-6 to 0-5, a nice run and a neat finish, two goals inside a minute a huge blow to Rock

We are underway again at Coalisland with Rock playing with the aid of the wind in the second half but as so often happens it is Galbally who make the better start with an early goal to move 1-6 to 0-5 ahead. Aidan O’ Hagan forced a great save from the keeper but was there to finish the rebound to the net.

Three points in a row from The Pearses with Micky Murphy on target and two from Paul Rafferty put Galbally into a two point lead but with the half time break just seconds away Aidan Mc Garrity lands his team’s fifth point and the sides go into the break separated by only a point 0-6 to 0-5 in favour of Galbally.

Conor Mc Veigh lands a left footed point from close range and Rock go into the lead again on twenty five minutes 0-4 to 0-3.

There are nine minutes left until the break and it is still 0-3 , 0-3 with both defences very much on top and ensuring that the forwards are having to earn their corn this afternoon.

19 minutes gone and Micky Murphy records his side’s fifth wide of the contest while Rock have been much more economical with only one wide thus far.

16 minutes gone and the heavy shower at the start has left the conditions very difficult. It is not easy for Galbally and Rock and it will be even more difficult for Moortown and Derrylaughan. Martin Brannigan makes light of the poor conditions as he levels the game at 0-3 each.

Rock extend their lead to two points with another point from play this time from Eamon Ward but former county player Micky Murphy leads the response from Galbally and it is now a single point game 0-3, 0-2 for Rock.

The game had just got underway when a huge shower dampened not just the field but the players and spectators. Glabally opened the scoring with a Paul Rafferty point from play but that was soon cancelled out when James Mc Creesh scored from play. with eight minutes gone a Connor Mc Veigh point from 13metres leaves the score Rock 0-2, Galbally 0-1.