On Tuesday night 23rd October, at the Gaelic Grounds, the Galbally Intermediate Footballers won the right to promotion to Senior Football for 2018, beating Rathkeale in the Intermediate County Final. Exactly 50 years ago, the Galbally Junior team won promotion to Senior Football, and also beat Rathkeale. In those days, there was no Intermediate grade so the Junior Champions were promoted directly and indeed Galbally embarked on a winning run and were beaten by Claughaun a year later in 1969 at Senior level. It is the third Intermediate title claimed by Galbally. In 1990, they beat Ahane at Pallasgreen with Mike Quish kicking the late winning point to claim the victory by that single point. In 2010, a Darren Sheedy goal was crucial against a spirited Oola side. It was fitting that the inspirational captain Tom Davern lifted the cup alongside well-known club legend Johnny Wallace who was manager for County titles won by Galbally in 1990 (Intermediate) and 1994 and 1997 (Senior). He was a selector for the 2010 Intermediate Title.

The game itself was a tense, tough and low scoring affair with a key goal coming from Mike Donovan in the first half that would prove crucial at the end. Goalkeeper Ger Ryan was detailed to kick long range frees and 45s from the ground and nailed two scores on the night. However the key score of the game was the winning point. Kieran Hickey was part of the All Ireland winning Limerick hurling setup, would have been privy to the level of composure required in tight situations in key games and how this was impressed upon the Limerick hurlers. There is no doubt that this would have influenced his own personal thinking, and enabled him to remain calm and calculated as he nailed the score to elevate Galbally into Senior Football for 2019, just as Mike Quish kicked Galbally into Senior Football with a late winner way back in 1990. A Munster Club Championship game awaits against Fermoy in Fermoy this Saturday 3rd November at 1.30pm. Galbally Footballers have previously played Clonmel Commercials (1994), Fethard (1997), Gneeveguilla (2010) in the Munster Club and have yet to taste victory. Nevertheless, a big support would be appreciated on the day against a formidable Fermoy outfit who are a Cork senior club for 2019.

The team against Rathkeale was: Ger Ryan (0-2), Tom Davern (Capt), Tony Henebry, Frank Cussen, Mark Quinlan, Liam Casey, Eoin Halligan, James Ryan (0-1), Dave Cussen, Mike Donovan (1-0), James Cummins, Jamie Morrissey (0-1), Ger Quinlan, John Kearns, Gary McCarthy. Subs: Jack Donovan (0-1) for Morrissey, Kieran Hickey (0-1) for Kearns, Kevin Denihan, Cathal Shanahan, Jacko Mullane, Eoin Bourke, Jonathan Scully, Michael Dwyer, Nathan O’Byrne, Johnny McCarthy. Management: Ger Fahy (Manager), Thomas Donegan, John Scully, Wally Power, Martin Dineen (Selectors), John Donegan (Trainer), Ollie Griffin (Physio), Majella Cussen (First Aid).

The Under 16 team played the Shield Final at Rathkeale on Saturday last, beating St Patricks by 2-12 to 1-03 in a tough well-contested game. The team was: Jack O’Keeffe, Nathan O’Mahony, Paddy Kennedy, Cathal O’Mahony, Jack O’Reilly, Michael O’Donnell, Conor Finn, Peter O’Dwyer (Capt)(0-2), Eoin McGrath (1-0), Jordan Dineen (0-1), Shane Hanrahan (1-2), Owen O’Sullivan, Adam Sheehan, Josh Dineen (0-7), Aidan Carew. Subs: Ciaran Beston, John English, Niall O’Dwyer, Josh Ryan, David O’Mullane, James O’Sullivan, Injured: Robert Sampson, Patrick McGrath. Mentors: Liam O’Dwyer, PJ Sullivan, Kevin O’Keeffe, Gary McCarthy

Galbally GAA would like to extend our sympathies to the Ryan and McClelland families on the death of John McClelland. He worked as the FAS employee for Galbally GAA back at the beginning of this decade and served the club well, completing a number of projects within the club grounds. John first came to Galbally to work on the 1980s ANCO scheme where the stone walls in Galbally village were built under the tutelage of former Galbally Footballer John Cullen.

Galbally GAA would also like to extend our sympathies to the family of Eric Keane. His brother Pat played a lot of underage football with Galbally GAA while his sisters played for Galbally Camogie.

May they both RIP.

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