94 GALWAY INTERFIRMS GAA 2012 was another momentous year for Galway Interfirms GAA. When the curtain came down on the 2011 season in mid April, two All Ireland titles rested in Galway. The Galway Garda retained their All Ireland Senior football title when they defeated the Mountjoy Prison Officers in the final. Medtronic junior footballers created history in February when they defeated McAleer & Rushe in a memorable final in Stewartstown (Tyrone). Medtronic hurlers were dethroned as All Ireland Hurling champions when they went down to a strong Kilkenny Teachers side in the All Ireland decider in March. The Galway Garda put their Connacht title on the line in early December when they proved too strong for the Prison Officers from Castlerea in the provincial semi final which was played in Kiltoom. With the deadly accurate Cormac Bane leading the way the Galway boys were in control throughout. Goals from Shane Prendergast and Brian Meaney set up a final decider with the Mayo Teachers. The Galway Garda then retained their Connacht title when they had four points to spare over the Mayo Teachers in the final which was played in the new Centre of Excellence in Ballyhaunis. It was another controlled performance from the tribesmen who despite a late Mayo rally qualified for another All Ireland semi final. Again it was Cormac Bane who pulled the strings with a 10 point haul. The Galway men travelled to Cork for the All Ireland semi final where they played their counterparts from Cork in late February. The home side put in up to the Connacht champions in a keenly contested first half. Second half goals from Emmett Rocke and Shane Prendergast set up an All Ireland decider with Mountjoy Prison Officers. In the decider which was played in ideal conditions in the Na Fianna GAA grounds in Dublin the Connacht champions laid the groundwork with a solid first half. With Cormac Bane, Niall Lydon and Mark Walkin all finding the range the Westerner built up a nine point interval lead. Mountjoy rallied to reduce the deficit in the third quarter but Seamus O Donnell’s charges were not to be denied back to back titles. In the Connacht Junior championship Medtronic proved too strong for Harmac(Castlerea) in the semi final. Goals from Kevin Kilroy and Robert Holian set up a Connacht decider with the Mayo Garda. Medtronic bidding to make up for the previous year’s disappointment made no mistake this time. Two first half goals from Mike Lundy set them up for a six point interval lead. With the aid of seven unanswered points in the third quarter Medtronic were crowned Connacht champions for the first time. In early December they travelled to Mallow in Cork to take on the Cork Teachers in the All Ireland semi final. An early David Morris goal left the Galway side seven clear at the interval. After a keenly contested third quarter a David Hogan goal early in the final quarter wrapped up a convincing victory for the Connacht champions. They were on the road again in early February when they travelled to Stewartstown near Cookstown to take on Ulster champions, local side McAleer & Rushe in the All Ireland final. This was a terrific team performance where the Westerners dug deep to win a historic first All Ireland Junior title. Trailing by two points at the interval, second half goals from Cathal Kenny (man of the match) and Michael Farragher paved the way for a famous victory for Cormac O Conaire’s charges. Medtronic hurlers put their All Ireland crown on the line when they travelled to Mallow to take on the Cork Garda in early February. An Iarla Tannion goal midway through the first half left the Galway men five clear at the interval. The Cork men rarely threatened and second half goals from Shane Menton and Niall Healy set up another All Ireland decider for the Galway men. For the second year in succession they traveled to Kilkenny for the final, this time to take on the local Teachers. Injuries to key players Niall Healy and Andy Smith hampered the Galway men’s preparations. The reigning champions were second best throughout and trailed by five points at the interval. Two early second half points from Keril Wade reduced the arrears before the cats gained the upper hand to wrestle the title from the Galway boys. The 2012 season commenced in June. With Medtronic footballers competing in the senior ranks, they entered a second team in the junior championship where they fared quite well. It was a new team in Interfirms GAA, Electrical Concepts from Oughterard who qualified for the junior decider where they play Boston Scientific. Galway Garda will play Medtronic in the Galway football senior decider. Another new side Galway Teachers will play Medtronic in the Senior hurling decider. A second Medtronic side will compete in the junior championship where they are through to the All Ireland semi final. With a strong Galway representation still in the field who will bet against further All Ireland successes later in the season. ALL IRELAND JUNIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS - MEDTRONIC Back Row (L-R): J. Heverin, E. O Conghaile, B. O’ Donovan, T. Monahan, L. Finn, D. Hogan, K. Dooher, J. Keane, M. McNamara, C. Clarke, K. Kilroy, B. Ward, J. O Connor, M. Farragher, B. Mulvihill, P. Monahan, M. Grimes, T. Shaughnessy, M. Kelly, S. Sweeney Front Row (L-R): C. O’ Conaire, J. Canney, R. Holian, C. Kenny, T. Crowe, D. McHugh, D. Morris, R. McDermott, R. Rogers, M. Lundy, G. Cafferky, D. Mullen Missing from photo: J. Clifford, S. Crowe, K. Furey, T. Prendergast.
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