Masters Fall Short in All Ireland Final

Saturday 07.12.2013

Club

Tyrone’s run of defeats in All Ireland Masters finals continues bringing the count to three following defeat to Galway in the 2013 final. Saturday’s game was highly competitive and played at a good pace with many passages of free flowing football. Tyrone can have no complaints and certainly created the scoring opportunities to win the game but simply could not convert regularly enough to earn the victory. They only raised the white flag three times in the first half with points from Peter Canavan, Stephen Lawn and the hard working Damien Gormley.

Galway on the other hand were much more economical from their scoring chances and went in at the break 1-4 to 0-3 up via a goal from Alan Frederick and points from Seamus Silke (2), Ollie Hynes(1) and Ciaran Kelly(1). The half time score was a poor reflection on Tyrone’s much superior level of possession. Captain Iggy Gallagher worked tirelessly throughout and at one stage even tracking back to win a hopeless case in Tyrone’s half back line. Tyrone’s two Gormleys in midfield broke even with the strong Galway pairing of Kelly and Cronin. In a rock solid defence Gavin Mc Elroy, Ronan Mc Garrity, Gary Mc Kenna and Paul Sweeney cut out almost every Galway attack. Mark Gallagher played well driving out of half back to set up attacks finding Lawn, Canavan and Conor Daly time and time again but as a whole shot choices, wayward passes and wasted possession continually kept Galway in the game.

A 10 minute purple patch for Galway at the start of the second half saw them add a few more hard worked scores and left Tyrone with a lot of work to do even to draw level. David Cronin and Ciaran Kelly were gaining the upper hand around the middle their excellent high fielding a feature of the entire game. Their half back line of Seamus and Sean Silke and David Glynn was the springboard for most attacks. Points from Donal O’Flaherty(2), Declan Breen and David Glynn put Galway well in control. However finding the game slipping from their grasp Tyrone rallied in the last quarter and had they been able to grab a goal the outcome may have been different. The Red Hands managed to close the gap from 5 pts to 2 in an excellent 10 minute spell with diehards Mc Garrity and Mc Elroy as well as Niall Conway, Gerard Mc Williams and Damien Gormley all driving forward relentlessly. Substitute Conor Gallagher also made an impact when introduced. However in the end it was not to be yet again for the Tyrone Masters.

In the second half three excellently converted frees from Canavan and points from Conor Daly, an energetic Stephen Lawn and Mark Gallagher brought Tyrone within a major score of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat but it was not to be with Galway closing ranks at the back and securing their second title in as many years on a score of 1-8 to 0-9.

Thanks is due to Kieran Kennedy and O’Neill’s for sponsoring a set of Tyrone jerseys for the final.
Managers Eugene Bradley, Joe Leonard and Damien Leonard deserve special praise for their long term commitment to master’s football.

Tyrone Team : Gareth Quinn(Killyman); Gary McKenna(Killyclogher), Gavan McElroy(Carrickmore), Paul Sweeney(Killyclogher); Mark Gallagher(0-1)(Eglish), Ronan McGaritty(Carrickmore), Eamon Kavanagh(Errigal Ciaran); Fergal Gormley(Carrickmore), Damien Gormley(0-1)(Trilick); Conor Daly(0-1)(Trillick) , Mickey Cummins(Dungannon), Mickey McConomy(Newtownstewart); Iggy Gallagher(Trillick) , Stephen Lawn(0-2)(Moortown) ,Peter Canavan (0-4)(Errigal Ciaran).

Subs Hugh Quinn(Errigal Ciaran), Marty Keys(Castlederg), Niall Conway(Clann na Gael), Conrad Quinn(Moortown), Gerard McWilliams(Fintona), Conor Gallagher(Drumragh), Adrian Donnelly(Beragh), Andy McSorley(Newtownstewart), Mickey Mc Cann(Beragh), Aidan Mc Gahan(Killyman), Nigel Mullin(Tattyreagh), Brian Mc Elroy(Killyclogher), Shane Mc Carney(Beragh).

Galway: Tommy Walsh, Ger Lee, Richard Donovan, Timothy O’Flaherty, Seamus Silke(0-2), Brian Silke, David Glynn(0-1), David Cronin, Ciaran Kelly(0-1), Trevor Burke, Conor Gauren, Allen Freederick(1-0), Ollie Hynes(0-1), Seamus O’Rainne, Declan Breen(0-1). Subs who scored Donal O’Flaherty (0-2)

Report by Sean O’Byrne, Cavan