Melvin Gaels ................. 2-9 Carrigallen .................. 0-13

A two point winning margin may not look like Championship winning form but the manner in which 1998 kingpins Melvin Gaels fought out a two point victory over Carrigallen in this Masonite Senior Championship Quarter-Final last Sunday in Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada has lifted them among the favourites for this year’s County title!

by John Connolly

Carrigallen used their extra man well after the dismissal of Foley eleven minutes into the second half and it looked as if Noel Lyons team would take the game when they twice closed the gap to two points in the last ten minutes.

But they could never break down a resilient Gaels defence and with the Kinlough men making the most of every opportunity, Carrigallen’s dreams of Championship glory were well and truly shattered.

At the heart of Melvin Gaels victory was an inspired Liam Gilmartin who is rapidily approaching his 1998 form. The freetaker took on the role of leader during the second half, winning the ball and looking sharp in general play to lead the Gaels to victory.

At times, it looked as if the game was a private battle between Gilmartin and Bernard O’Rourke. Both scored seven times but, crucially, one of Gilmartin’s scores was a goal that proved vital in the end. Just as vital was his two late points in the last two minutes of normal time - scores that effectively sealed the result for Melvin Gaels.

Given how they have to fight for survival, it seems strange to relate that Melvin Gaels were cruising until Foley’s dismissal. They moved the ball excellently in attack with Gilmartin the focus while they gobbled up everything in defence where Padraig McGloin was outstanding.

McGloin was the only other contender for man of the match as he gave an inspired display at the heart of his defence. The Gaels full-back fought for everything and cleared his lines in style, often winning.

And with Fabian McMorrow and James Phelan in impressive form, the Gaels had a solid platform for their victory.

Carrigallen never really got going until the sending off of Foley galvanised them - they couldn’t cope with the strength of Melvin Gaels in defence while Gilmartin and Gerry McGurn caused them no end of problems in defence.

It wasn’t until they got the extra man that Carrigallen began to move with Noel Doonan and Brian Doyle providing the driving force from the middle of the field along with an impressive J.P. McManus.

Unfortunately, for them, they couldn’t avail of the chances they created with a couple of vital opportunities going astray.

Carrigallen replied too much on the boot of Bernard O’Rourke and it certainly wasn’t his fault that they came up just short. The Carrigallen man scored some brilliant points from play and frees and from all angles in a great display.

Melvin Gaels got away to a flying start when a great move down the wing resulted in Liam Gilmartin swinging over a first minute point. Carrigallen hit back with a lovely Bernard O’Rourke point following an interception in the second minute.

However, the early warning signs for Carrigallen were realised a minute later when a great surging run down the middle from Gareth Foley saw him off-load to Anthony Tiffoney. He broke through a tackle and before he fell, passed to an unmarked Brendan Brennan in front of the Carrigallen goal.

Brennan turned sharply in a circle and fired past Enda Lyons for a vital goal after just three minutes!

After Andrew McManus hit a wide, a lovely O’Rourke free from the wing went over the bar while Matt Connolly and Gerry McGurn were both yellow carded in the next five minutes. Noel Doonan had a shot fall into the arms of Gareth Phelan as well.

And just to emphasise their superiority, the Kinlough men struck for a second goal. A high Foley shot came off the crossbar and Liam Gilmartin fisted the ball past Enda Lyons. The ball was caught by a defender but both umpires were adamant that the ball had crossed the line so Melvin Gaels were seven points up.

Carrigallen replied impressively to that set back with two O’Rourke points, one after a lovely sidestep, by the twenty-second minute. However, the Gaels hit back well with a nice point from David Gillespie and one from Gerry McGurn after a low fifty in.

Martin McCarron then got a yellow card for a blatant trip and Noel Doonan availed of the quick free to score with four minutes of the half left. Both sides had chances with J.P. McManus getting booked.

The last score of the half fell to Derek Mulligan who pointed after Gareth Phelan collided with McGloin when coming to clear a ball. That left the Gaels 2-5 to 0-6 in front at the break and well in control of the game.

After misses from McCarron, Darren McGovern, Gilmartin and Eamon Dolan as well as a disallowed McGurn goal, Carrigallen brought on Terence Reynolds and he had immediate impact with a point despite clearly picking the ball off the ground.

O’Rourke converted a nice free after eight minutes while Fabian McMorrow got a yellow card but the game’s turning point came after eleven minutes when Gareth Foley was given a straight red card by referee Enda Stenson.

The card came for an off the ball incident involving Darren McGovern with no protest from Foley. From a free, O’Rourke left just two points in it and suddenly, Carrigallen were in control.

Melvin Gaels brought on Daniel Branley but Liam Gilmartin scored a vital point when he collected a pass from Martin McCarron while a free from O’Rourke was held by Gareth Phelan.

McMorrow also came up with a vital block when it seemed Carrigallen must goal when they broke clear. Brian Doyle and Ray Reilly both hit wides, Reilly’s particularly bad as he fisted wide from one side of the goal to the other.

However, with nine minutes to go, Carrigallen found the target when O’Rourke again converted a free. And almost straight away, a good J.P. McManus pass found his brother Andrew and he ended a mazy run with a fisted point just as the possibility of a goal was opening up.

That left a point in it with more than six minutes to go but again, Melvin Gaels came up with a McGurn catch and a Branley run leading to another Gilmartin free. But Carrigallen again came back when Darren McGovern collected a rare poor clearance and nicely took his point with more than three minutes to go.

Carrigallen had a chance to level it but Derek Mulligan shot wide before Gilmartin made his famous intervention. First came a free following a foul on David Gillespie and he ensured that Carrigallen would have to goal when he tapped a lovely shot over the bar with less than a minute to go.

Carrigallen, to their credit, tried to come back but all they could manage was a Darren McGovern point in injury time as they were attempting to engineer a goal attempt.

Best for the Gaels were Liam Gilmartin, Padraig McGloin, James & Gareth Phelan and Fabian McMorrow while J.P. McManus, Bernard O’Rourke, Brian Doyle, Hugh Magee and Noel Doonan were best for Carrigallen.

Melvin Gaels

Gareth Phelan, Matt Connolly, Padraig McGloin, Fabian McMorrow, David Gillespie (0-1), James Phelan, Joe Tiffoney, Aidan Dolan, Gareth Foley (0-1), Anthony Tiffoney, Martin McCarron, Shane McCarron, Brendan Brennan (1-0), Gerry McGurn (0-1), Liam Gilmartin (1-6). Subs: Fergal McGowan for Connolly (38 mins), Daniel Branley for S. McCarron (43 mins), Simon Foley for Brennan (57 mins).

Carrigallen

Enda Lyons, Micheal Kellegher, Simon Canning, Peter Donohue, Hugh Magee, J.P. McManus, Dermot Mulligan, Brian Doyle, Darren McGovern (0-2), Bernard O’Rourke (0-7), Noel Doonan, Ray Reilly, Derek Mulligan (0-1), Eamon Dolan. Subs: Terence Reynolds (0-1) for Dolan (35 mins).