“GALLEN CS WIN FIRST LEINSTER JUVENILE FOOTBALL FINAL SINCE 2001”

 “GALLEN CS WIN FIRST LEINSTER JUVENILE FOOTBALL  FINAL SINCE 2001”

GALLEN CS FERBANE 6-9  RAMSGRANGE CS 0-2

Gallen CS strolled to victory in a surprisingly one-sided Leinster Juvenile Football Final in this decider played in Durrow Harps GAA  ground Co . Laois on Wednesday last. Gallen emerging comprehensive winners  by virtue of a 6-9 to 0-2 win over Ramsgrange CS .

As adverted to above , this was Gallen’s first victory at Juvenile Provincial level since 2001 and many of that 2001 team backboned the 2004 Ferbane Schools team who got to the 2004 All Ireland Senior Vocational Final .

Gallen , well tutored by mentors Mark Garry and Georgie Phibbs, were very strong down the middle from full back to full forward and this provided an attacking platform for the Brosnasiders. Ramsgrange had overcome Hacketstown in the South Leinster decider but Gallen were ready for the Ramsgrange men and had their homework done on their opponents.

Oisin Carroll was excellent in goal , Saran Flynn , Michael Spillane and Donal Flynn were  rock solid in the full back line even pushing forward and pressing their opponents with good zonal work.

Gallen lined out without influential midfielder Conor Beirne  who was injured but just as the injured  Harry Kane  provided great support for his Spurs team mates in their comeback  victory  against Ajax  , Conor was there enthusiastically supporting his team. Gallen , unlike Spurs, stamped their authority on this game from the outset  and had no need of any comebacks!

Mark Wren played a real  joint-  captains part  scoring 0-2 from wing back. Patrick Taaffe was superb at centre half  back reading the game like clockwork .

Ruairi o Neill was sound at left half back and Conor Grennan with  0-2 and James Buckley with 1-2 contributed 1-4 between them from midfield. Matthew Darcy with 0-1 , Sean Carroll with 1-1 and Eoghan Grennan with 1-0 formed a free scoring half forward line , with Carroll playing  a real joint captain’s part with his hard work and leadership skills  regularly  on show .

In the inside line, Luke Coleman worked tirelessly . Ciaran Lally with 1-0 and Ronan Flynn who emerged as top scorer with 2-1 , really tormented the Ramsgrange full back line.

Gallen’s support play and off the shoulder running  helped them breach the Ramsgrange rear-guard for four  goals in the first half , the goals coming from Ronan Flynn , James Buckley , Sean Carroll and  Eoghan Grennan. Gallen also clipped over 6 points to lead 4-6 to 0-1 at half time. 

The game was done and dusted at this point but further goals by Ronan Flynn ( his second) and Ciaran Lally  closed out the game  leaving the Gallen men victorious. 

Goals win games goes the old saying but credit also to the Gallen CS defence as conceding the mere total of 0-2 in an hour’s football  is a statistic to be proud of. Well done to all .

PANEL – Oisin Carroll , Saran Flynn , Michael Spillane , Donal Flynn , Mark Wren (0-2) Patrick Taaffe , Ruairi o Neill , Conor Grennan (0-2) James Buckley (1-2) Matthew Darcy (0-1) Sean Carroll (1-1) Eoghan Grennan (1-0) Luke Coleman , Ciaran Lally (1-0) , Ronan Flynn (2-1) ,Reuben Egan , Conor Beirne , Dylan Daly , Luke Kelly , Brian Carroll , Eoin Tighe , Shane Fitzgerald , Jamie Probin , Nathan McIntyre , Charlie Gilson and Fergal Bracken.