Galvin goes for gold with second half goal

Wednesday October 03 2007

For a man with nothing to prove Paul Galvin played as though he still trying to make a name for himself. Without him it is doubtful that Feale Rangers would be considering their first county final since 1999. He was everything for the North Kerry side centre field ball winning, half-forward breaking ball winner and crucially their top scorer from play with 1-2 in brackets after his name.

Kilcummin again gave an excellent account of themselves and will be disappointed not to have gotten something from the game, but again they failed to make whatever dominance they enjoyed count. DJ Fleming was by and large fighting a lone battle up front yet again. Feale Rangers on the other hand, while still not as fluent as they would wish to be seemed to find a better balance to their attack Noel Kennelly was playing closer to goal and this gave the North Kerry side an extra option when under pressure, Kennelly had an excellent day under the dropping ball.

Kilcummin enjoyed the perfect start to the game when Eamonn O'Donoghue got a goal within two minutes of the start. Feale Rangers defence was sliced open by some incisive passing by the East Kerry men, DJ Fleming passing to Sean B Doherty who in turn found O'Donoghue in space. The big full-foward made no mistake with his effort.

Feale Rangers responded by going on the attack, Derek Galvin was showing well for ball in the inside line and while his initial two efforts found only the hands of the goalkeeper it was a demonstration of the divisional side's intent. Indeed it was he who was fouled by Kevin Bruton for the free, which would lead to Feale Rangers first point of the game from the boot of Noel Kennelly.

Feale's defence was still looking shaky when ran at, Kieran O'Donoghue lost his marker (Maurice Corridan) and proceeded to do just that. He played an interchange with DJ Fleming, who clipped the ball beautifully into space behind the full-back where O'Donoghue collected. He could have perhaps goaled, but settled for a point instead. At the other end Noel Kennelly was the man doing the bulk of the damage, the Listowel man was playing closer to goal than he did in the drawn game and was winning some vital ball over his head. He would get the next two scores, one from a free and another from play having recieved a pass from Brian Scanlon. Paul Galvin then made his first telling contribution of the game beautifully fielding a kick-out, then going on a mazy run before sticking the ball between the sticks.

That leveled the game and Feale was clearly on top. Kieran Quirke then made a magnificent burst up the field and found Sean McCarthy. The Listowel man made no mistake in giving Feale Rangers the lead. Kilcummin got the game's next score through a DJ Fleming free, but it continued to be Feale's ball. Noel Kennelly reasserting their lead on 19 minutes. Having fetched a high ball from Paul Galvin, Kennelly struck for his second score from play.

Kilcummin were at this stage living off scraps up front and were almost completely reliant on DJ Fleming, who again pegged Rangers back with a free following having been fouled by Declan Griffin. The side's exchanged further scores to leave it level (1-4 / 0-7) at the break.

The third quarter was to prove to be Kilcummin's best spell of the game. As previously noted Feale Rangers defence was looking vulnerable when ran at as they demonstrated early on when DJ Fleming won and scored yet another free again as a result of a foul by Declan Griffin.

Paul Galvin was at this stage holding the Feale challenge together, winning ball at centre field, battling for breaking ball and crucially scoring. His second point was almost a carbon copy of his first. It was around this time that Michael McCarthy left the full-back line to mark Galvin on the forty this would prove to be of major consequence.

For all their dominance Kilcummin were failing to get scores on the board in their fifteen minutes of dominance at the beginning of the second half all they had to show for it were a DJ Fleming point from a free and Shane McSweeney effort from play. The big midfielder causing Jer McCarthy (by now seconded to the half-back line) serious difficulties any time he came forward.

The Feale Rangers management then made a telling contribution by introducing Enda Galvin and Liam Keane. Within four minutes of their introduction Feale Rangers had scored 1-1 and effectively won the game. The first major contribution of the day from Enda Galvin was when he struck a lovely point following a pass for Paul Galvin who was having a greater and greater impact on proceedings.

Moments later Feale would have the vital goal. Brendan Guiney broke up a Kilcummin pass, came out the field before finding substitute Liam Keane who found Brian Scanlon. Scanlon sent a ball across the face of the goal in what looked like a miss-hit effort at goal defender, goalie and and Enda Galvin went up for it, the Finuge man fisting the ball skillfully towards goal. It was probably destined to cross the line, but Paul Galvin was in no mood to take any chances and blasted home from close range. One wonders, however, whether this goal would have happened had Michael McCarthy been at the edge of the square providing defensive solidity.

Feale extended their lead to what seemed like an unassailable four points when Noel Kennelly struck another free on twenty minutes. Kilcummin to their credit continued to graft, but were unable to close the gap on the North Kerry men sufficently again relying on DJ Fleming from frees who scored two to Noel Kennelly's one in the closing exchanges.

All is not lost of Kilcummin as they still have the Munster Championship to look forward to. Feale Rangers, meanwhile, have a chance to make history.