Mountbellew/Moylough 3-11
Caltra 1-8
There must have been something very reassuring for Joe Kernan as he watched his first match on Galway soil since taking over as the county's new football, as a team wearing the black and amber of his native Crossmaglen Rangers emerged victorious.

And Kernan will have been impressed by the leadership shown by Joe Bergin as he led his side into their first Galway SFC final since 1986. It was a case of one Big Joe impressing another as Bergin, who started at full-forward, was superb throughout. But this was far from a one-man show as Mountbellew/Moylough put their fancied neighbours to the sword. Mountbellew's ability to strike for goals at crucial stages killed off the hopes of former All-Ireland club champions Caltra who were far too dependant on Michael Meehan.

Meehan, who missed his first three frees, fisted home a first-half goal to cancel an earlier effort from Stephen Boyle who had been set up by Bergin. That left Mountbellew/Moylough leading by 1-5 to 1-3 at the break. But Meehan was the only Caltra player to score in the second-half and while he landed five frees, Bergin took his haul to three points from play. Bergin then moved out the field as Mountbellew/Moylough, who won the last of their four county titles when Val Daly led them to victory in 1986, batted down the hatches.

And with the diminutive Sean Sweeney causing untold trouble for the Caltra defence, Mountbellew/Moylough were never going to be caught. Victory was assured when Sweeny blasted home an excellent goal after 43 minutes and he also provided the diversion for an effort from Cathal Duffy to end up in the back of the Caltra net in the dying moments of an entertaining game.

Mountbellew/Moylough: B Donnellan; G Sweeney (0-1), P Gardiner, D McHugh; J Moore, M Geraghty, C Gardiner; C Kenny (0-3, two frees), C Colleran; J Meehan (0-1f), T Wall, S Boyle (1-0); S Sweeney (1-1), J Bergin (0-3), D Neary (0-2, 0-1 45). Subs: C Duffy (1-0) for Wall(h-t); A Sweeney for Geraghty (42); E Wall for Neary (58); L Kenny for Moore (59); D Donnellan for S Sweeney (59).

Caltra: D Coen; B Kilroy, E Meehan, O Deeley; O Kelly, D Meehan (0-1), P Gately; B Laffey, D Cunniffe; M O’Neill, M Killilea (0-1f), J Galvin; M Kelly, M Meehan (1-6, 0-6 frees), S Hogan. Subs: C Kilroy for O'Neill (4); T Meehan for O Kelly (39); B Kilroy for Cunniffe (49); K Killilea for M Kelly (51); S Conneely for C Kilroy (53).

Referee: M MacGearailt.

Comments (0) »

Show/Hide comment form

Name

Email

Title

Comment

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment