Galway GAA Annual 2012

61 The match at Galway on Sunday was witnessed by nearly 4,000 people, and althought there was a rainstorm blowing almost throughout the entire game, the greatest enthusiasm prevailed, Excursion trains from Limerick, Athlone, Tipperary and elsewhere brought large contingents. The match was well contested all through, and Galway, who had some very favourable opportunities of scoring, had hard luck, but acquitted themselves in equitable style. The pitch, owing to the recent heavy rains, was soft, and the wind, which was aslant, at no time directly favoured any of the teams, and the play had to be abandoned temporarily in the first half owing to the rain. THEPLAY Tipperary brought a strong selection, and were the heavier and faster men, though the Galway team included many of the men who defeated Dublin and Roscommon the two previous Sundays. Winning the toss, Tipperary played with the wind blowing from the south-west towards the sea goal, and Galway immediately taking up the offensive, scored a goal per Morrissey, from a pass from Keogh. Fitzpartick (Tipp) getting possessioin of the ball, registered a minor, which was almost immediately followed by another point by Duane for the visitors, who kept up a strong pressure and showed brilliant play, and in the middle of a blinding rainstorm registered a goal per Ryan. After some midfield play and strong pressure by the home team towards their opponents’ goal, the visitors again got possession and Ryan registerd another major. The home team got several chance but shot wide. They, however continued to press the goal of their opponents, who were now busily on the defensive. With a well directed puck, however, Morrisey sent in a minor for Galway. Brilliant play followed, and Tipperary bringing the ball up the field with vigour scored another major, per Ryan leaving the half-time score:-TIPPERARY 3 goals 2 points GALWAY 1 goal 1 point. On the resumption, Galway with the advantage of the side wind, early took up the offensive and in quick time registered a minor per M. King. The visitors rushed the ball towards the home goal , and so determined was the defence put up by the Galwegians that they were more than once applauded from the crowd, and getting an opening, they centred the ball and with every advantage, but hard luck failed to score, the ball going wide on two successive occasions. Galway tried hard to get even and kept up the pressure, but the vistors proved equal to the occasion. Tipperary failed to add onother minor to their score in the second half. The last ten minutes’ play showed a splendid exhibition of hurling and Hartney, Morrissey, Keogh and King (for Galway) showed the excellence of their training and did some splendid play; while Fitzpatrick and Ryan for Tipperary acquitted themselves creditably, Morris for Galway scored another point, thus leaving the score at the final whistle :- TIPPERARY 3 goals 2 points – 11 galway 1 goal 3 pts – 6. Tipperary – O’ Meara (goal), Leahy (capt,), M. Mocklar, John Hayes, P. Spillane, P. Powell, D. O’ Brien, T. Duane, J. Darcy, Fitzpatrick, W. Duane, S. Hackett, Ryan, P. Cahill, - Power and Martin Kennedy. Galway – Mahoney, Power, Gilmartin, Kenny (capt,), Gill, Derivan, Morris, Finn, King, P. Morrissey, Gibbs, D. Morrissey, Kelly, Keogh. Mr R. O’ Keefe, Leix made an excellent referee. The Galway Industrial School band rendered selections of music throughout the afternoon . OBITUARIES Paddy O’Dea: Gentleman of the Game A few weeks ago, Galway and Ardrahan hurling lost one of the most popular gentlemen in the game with the passing of late Paddy O’Dea. Known far and wide for his hurley making skill and expertise Paddy supplied many clubs throughout the county for years. He played with Ardrahan under 15’s in 1960 when they defeated Portumna in the County Final and three years later won a South Galway medal when Ardrahan defeated Ballindereen in the Final. In the early 1970’s Paddy, a accomplished carpenter, began making hurleys. His particular style and shape of hurley was in much demand by county and club players. He supplied Galway teams and many of his hurleys made their way to the U. S. A and England. PADDY O’DEA A native of Eyrecourt, Tommy Kelly who died recently, was a regular member of the Galway hurling team in the 1950’s. He learned his hurling skills with his friends and great hurling colleagues Billy Duffy, Joe Sammon and Fintan Spillane. Tommy played with his native county in two All-Ireland Finals, losing to Wexford in 1955 and Tipperary in 1958. He won an Oireachtas Medal with Galway in 1958 when they defeated Wexford in the Final and also played for Connacht in the Railway Cup Finals in 1955 and 1959. He was captain of the Eyrecourt team that won the County Intermediate Championship in 1959. Tommy, a retired Garda Sergeant, attended the launch of the History of Meelick Eyrecourt in March 2008 on of the last functions he attended in Galway. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anan dílis. TOMMY KELLY Former Caltra Senior Footballer Marcus O’Neill holding the Western Australia Gaelic Football Championship Cup. He captained the team to Success and they now go on to the Australia Final. The 2012 supreme award in the second-tier hurling competition, the Christy Ring Cup, was presented at the All-Stars banquet to London full-back Brian Costello, formerly of the Abbeyknockmoy club. Brian — son of Barney and Mary Costello, Ryehill, Monivea — proudly received his award from GAA president Liam O’Neill and Donal Óg Cusack of the GPA. Before moving to London in 2011, Brian hurled for Galway at minor, under-21, intermediate and senior levels.

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