Tribesmen are NY Champs for the 17th Time
September 17, 2014
Galway 3-18
Long Island Gaels 2-15
Galway are the NY Senior Hurling champions for the 17th time after a dominating victory over Long Island recently. As it is 25 years since their last triumph, the club will be enjoying this particular win for many months to come after a splendid performance that saw them end that long wait in style in Gaelic Park. The winner's medals will now be presented at their 100 year anniversary dance which is taking place on November 15th at the Astoria World Manor. In the final for the second year in a row, on this occasion they made no mistake with Conor Cooney, St Thomas's in brilliant form.
The game started off at a blistering pace with Clara man Keith Hogan posting two long-range frees to put the Gaels two points ahead after three minutes. However, this was to be the last time the Gaels would lead the game and within three minutes Conor Cooney had the Tribesmen in front with a goal and a point in quick succession. Liam Mellowe's clubman Tadgh Haran posted another point for Galway before a Lee Chin point and a further brace from Cooney left Galway 1-06 to 0-2 points up after 15 minutes. Keith Hogan responded for the shell shocked Gaels with three further frees but he could do little to prevent the onslaught and by half time Galway had three further points from Cooney as well as scores from Ardrahan's Brian Glynn, Robbie Jackson and Haran again, with only an additional Hogan free in reply for the Gaels to leave the half time score Long Island 0-6 Galway 1-11.
Eight points down at the half, the Gaels to their credit responded well in the second half and early scores from O'Dwyer and David Burke gave them a lifeline but it wasn't to be with Tadgh Haran in particular in sensational form for manager John Kelly's men posting 1-03 in the second half, his goal in particular leaving the game beyond doubt with 12 minutes still to play. Further Galway points from Jackson, Gort's Aidan Harte, Trevor Vaughan and a superb goal from Wexford man Lee Chin put the icing on the cake while the Gaels responded through points from Jack Skelly, Hogan, Conor Gough and Tadgh Slevin and consolation goals from Skelly and O'Dwyer reflected the effort the Gaels put in over the 60 minutes but it mattered little in the end as the game was all but over with 10 minutes to go.
For the Gaels there were too few big performances on the day though Keith Hogan and Skelly did give their utmost to the cause. There were performances all over the field to pick from for the tribesmen with Clare's Brendan Bugler, Conor Cooney and Tadgh Haran the stars on show on the field Jackson, Chin and Cohen also made huge contributions but in this authors opinion the Most Valuable Person in the cause today was Clontusker's own John Kelly without whom there would be no Galway hurling club given the Trojan work the man has put into the club over the last number of decades.
As the final whistle blew the emotion was clear for all to see and hear with a huge cheer from the crowd the biggest cheer reserved for the man himself, John Kelly the Stalwart of the Galway hurling club who Captain Robbie Jackson paid particular tribute to in his victory speech. John's assistants were Aaron Farrell (Wexford) trainer; Ollie Flynn (Ballygar) Tom Bowes (Cappataggle) Bowes is also the Club Chairman.
The winning team and panel with scores were the following
Galway: 1. Richie Gaule (Kilkenny) , 2 David Healy(Kilkenny) 4 Johnny Coen (Loughrea), 5 Aidan Harte (Gort)(0-1) Brendan Bugler (Clare), 7 Ciaran Hoyne (Kilkenny), 8 Liam Butler (Wexford), 9 Lee Chin (Wexford)(1-01) 10 Robbie Jackson (Westmeath (Captain(0-2) 11 Conor Cooney (St Thomas's)(1-05) 12 Tadgh Haran (Liam Mellowes)(1-04) 13 Brian Glynn (Ardrahan) (0-1) 15 James Nolan (Kilkenny)(0-1) subs Terrence Grogan (Castlegar) Trevor Vaughan (Clare)(0-1) Con Butler (Annaghdown) Thomas Foley(Wexford) Rob Lowery (Limerick), Johnny Power (Waterford), Gary Brennan (Kilkenny) Tommy Doyle (Westmeath) David Niland (Clare)
Centenary Dinner Dance
Astoria World Manor Sat November 15th 2014
Celebrating -17 New York Senior Titles.
First winners 1915, 2 three in a rows, 64, 65,66,--82,83,84, Present Champions 2014
Contact Mike Wade at [email protected]
Pat Lally [email protected] or (914)964-0195
