Gallen CS qualify for Leinster final

Gallen CS forged out a hard-earned victory after extra time to edge out a gallant Granard team in a physically tough encounter in Lakepoint Park Mullingar on Tuesday last. Gallen's ultimate victory rested on a period of supremacy in the first half of extra time when they scored 1-2 without reply to lead 2-8 to 2-3 at half time in extra time after the sides finished level at Granard 2-3 Gallen CS 1-6 in regulation time. Granard with a number of last year's Leinster winning minors on show got off to a flyer with David McGivney doing well at midfield and their forward line looked dangerous with Robbie Smyth and E. Reilly at top of the right causing problems. Robbie Smyth with a pointed free gave Granard a second minute lead before disaster struck the Ferbane lads when a poorly-placed pass resulted in E. Reilly beating his man and giving Darren Digan no chance with the well-taken goal. Granard were now leading 1-1 to no score after ten minutes and Gallen CS James Nally was moved onto dangerman Reilly and helped curb his influence. Gallen per Ciaran Cahill and Leon Fox helped get a grip at midfield and helped by the strong running of Joe Maher and Aaron McDonagh, Gallen outscored Granard by five pionts for the next 15 minutes and led 0-5 to 1-1 after 25 minutes. The points came from Joe Maher who got Ferbane on the scoreboard, left half back Shane Costello roaming forward on 13 minutes, a Joe Maher free, a score from Aaron McDonagh and another point from Joe Maher, who put over the point of the game from a tight angle giving the upperhand to Gallen CS. However Robbie Smyth levelled, leaving the half-time score Gallen CS 0-5 Granard 1-2 . Darren Digan's vital one-on-one save preventing a certain Granard goal was a real turning point in the game. In the second half, despite playing into the wind, it was Granard who took the game to Ferbane. James McGivney was moved from centre back to midfield and he began to trouble Ferbane and indeed it was Reilly who got on the end of McGivney's run to crash the ball to the net for a tonic Granard goal five minutes in and when Reilly pointed soon after Ferbane were four points down and seemingly in trouble. But the Gallen lads dug deep, switched Brian Grehan onto McGivney and collectively began to up the ante. Aaron McDonagh pointed to leave three between the sides with 15 to go (2-3 to 0-6) before all changed as Leon Fox got on the end of a long ball and slid it to the net leaving the sides level, Granard 2-3, Gallen 1-6. Indeed the last minutes of this encounter were tense with chances going abegging for both sides before extra time loomed . This was where Gallen stamped their authority on the game with a purple patch of 1-2 without reply thanks to a mixture of well taken scores and slick interpassing. Joe Maher got the lead goal for Gallen when his close range shot was deflected to the roof of the net two minutes into the first moiety. Eoghan Lowry tacked on a point, so did the hard-working Ryan Delaney and suddenly Gallen were five points up 2-8 to 2-03 and Granard looked dead and buried. Ciaran Cahill's excellent display at midfield was a noteworthy feature of play all through. Gallen did outscore Granard 1-2 to 0-1 in extra time leaving Gallen winners on a score of 2-8 to 2-4. Gallen looking for their first title since 2005, now play Carnew in a month's time and this Carnew team must be respected firstly as they beat a fancied Dunshaughlin team in the semi and secondly as Gallen narrowly defeated them in a hard-fought junior game two years ago. Gallen CS scorers: Joe Maher 1-4 (2f) , Leon Fox 1-0, Eoghan Lowry, Aaron McDonagh, Ryan Delaney and Shane Costello 0-1 each. Gallen CS team: Darren Digan, Darren Kelly, Conor Lowry, James Nally, Stephen Wren, Daragh Corbett, Shane Costello, Leon Fox, Ciaran Cahill, Joe Maher, Aaron McDonagh, Blaine Rigney (Daragh Keenaghan 42 mins), Ryan Delaney, Brian Grehan and Eoghan Lowry. Other panel members: Dylan Buckley, Shane Mooney, PJ Kidney, Gerry Keenaghan, Darragh Fitzgerald, John Dooley, Shane Mooney. Mentors: Adrian Gaffey, Fran Mulhall.