Gallery goals inspire Wolfe Tones

Wolfe Tones 2-8   Kilrush 0-9

SO not everybody who plays football for Wolfe Tones has headed for the airport. Producing their best performance since stunning Kilmurry Ibrickane in the 2007 quarter-final, Wolfe Tones scored a well-deserved win over Kilrush in Lissycasey last Saturday.
Key to the Shannon club’s win was their economical use of scoring chances. They scored with every chance in the first half and only kicked two wides in the second period. Kilrush, in contrast, kicked eight wides and missed some very scoreable frees.
Late in the second half, Gary Leahy (red) and Patsy Keyes (second yellow) were sent off, while Kilrush’s Niall Clancy was dismissed on a second yellow 13 minutes into the second half.
Clancy had been yellow carded minutes before, a card that Wolfe Tones’ supporters felt should have been red, while Peadar McMahon was also yellow carded for a late tackle on Alan Hehir.
Played in perfect conditions, Daniel Gallery’s seventh-minute goal, set up by Joe McGauley fielding Jason Casey’s kick-out, helped Wolfe Tones into a 1-4 to 0-5 half-time lead.
Gary Leahy, twice from play, Brendan Hughes, raiding from centre-back and Chris Dunning with a classy score, kicked the winners’ first-half points.
Niall Clancy, Padjoe McGrath, Stephen Sweeney, Jim Young, from a 45’, and Matthew Moloney, with a shot that bounced over the bar, scored for Kilrush. However, they kicked four wides, while Young hit the post with a close-range free, as did McGrath from play. Jason Casey also made a critical stop from Ruaidhri O’Connor 12 minutes before half-time. Possession-wise Kilrush dominated the first half but their half-time total didn’t reflect that.
O’Connor and Darren Ryan exchanged an early point apiece on the resumption. In fact, these were the only scores in the opening 18 minutes of the second half. It was during this period that Niall Clancy was sent off. Twelve minutes from time, Daniel Gallery soloed through the heart of the Kilrush defence and buried a great goal. Now 2-5 to 0-6 up, the result was in the bag for Wolfe Tones unless they imploded.
They went six up when Gary Leahy pointed a free won by Chris Dunning. At this stage, Kilrush moved John Hayes outfield from centre-back and Kilrush did kick three points in the six minutes of injury time allotted. Jim Young pointed two frees, while Eoin Tarrant pointed from play. Brendan Hughes again and Gallery, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over for Wolfe Tones.
Patsy Keyes’ second yellow won’t worry the winners, though Gary Leahy’s injury-time red, following a clash with Dara Bolton, will. It was the only downside to a hugely committed display from the Shannon men. Seán Brennan was solid at full-back for the winners in front of the communicative, yet effective, Jason Casey. Brendan Hughes played well at centre-back, while Joe McGauley and Patsy Keyes won critical ball at midfield. Up front, Daniel Gallery played great football, while Gary Leahy and Chris Dunning also excelled.
On a disappointing day for Kilrush, John Hayes did well at full-back but may have been more effective further out the field. Ruaidhiri O’Connor looked the most dangerous of the Kilrush forwards, none of whom kicked more than a point from play.

Wolfe Tones: Jason Casey; Bobby O’Connell, Seán Brennan, Colm McCaul; Alan Downes, Brendan Hughes (captain), Stephen McInerney; Joe McGauley, Patsy Keyes; Kevin Corbett, Daniel Gallery, Chris Dunning; Alan Hehir, Darren Ryan, Gary Leahy.
Subs: Stephen Carroll for Stephen McInerney (injured, 32), Gary Whelan for Alan Hehir, William Flynn for Alan Downes (55) and Seamus Farrell for Darren Ryan (60).
Scorers: Daniel Gallery (2-1), Gary Leahy (0-3, 2f), Brendan Hughes (0-2), Chris Dunning and Darren Ryan (0-1 each).
Frees won: 18; wides: 2
Yellow cards: Kevin Corbett, Darren Ryan and Patsy Keyes.
Red cards: Patsy Keyes (second yellow) and Gary Leahy.
“We were very happy with the commitment and the discipline that we showed. We gave away very few frees and we won a lot of the 50/50 battles.” Brendan Reidy, Wolfe Tones
manager.

Kilrush: Tony Burke; Cathal Lyons, John Hayes, Niall Gilbride; Con O’Brien, Niall Clancy, Matthew Moloney; Donal O’Sullivan, Paddy Clancy; Padjoe McGrath, Peadar McMahon, James Hehir; Ruaidhiri O’Connor, Jim Young, Stephen Sweeney.
Subs: Dara Bolton for Padjoe McGrath (50) and Eoin Tarrant for Paddy Clancy (60).
Scorers: Jim Young (0-3, 1 45’, 2f), Niall Clancy, Padjoe McGrath, Stephen Sweeney, Matthew Moloney, Ruaidhiri O’Connor and Eoin Tarrant (0-1 each).
Frees won: 24; wides: 8
Yellow cards: Peadar McMahon, Paddy Clancy and Niall Clancy.
Red card: Niall Clancy (second yellow).
“We did create the chances but we missed out on 3-5. You have to be taking those chances to win. Now we have to regroup and hopefully we can kick on.” Aidan Daly, Kilrush manager.

Referee: Michael Fitzgerald (Clondegad).