Don Connellan’s Moycullen team required extra time to eventually dispatch a gritty Strokestown, but they will still be favourites to overcome Tourlistrane in their first Connacht final in two weeks.
On Sunday afternoon they eventually prevailed by 2-08 to 0-07 in Tuam Stadium despite Strokestown being the massive underdogs after winning their first Roscommon championship in 20 years.
That status was largely due to the impressive manner with which Moycullen had disposed of Mayo champions Westport the previous weekend, coupled with having prevailed in one of the more difficult county campaigns. Not they must prepare for their first Connacht club final, and put all thoughts of a possible Croke Park day out of their minds.
Tourlestrane are well-seasoned, overcoming the obstacle of Leitrim champions St Mary’s Kiltoghert, so Moycullen will be taking nothing for granted.
For the second weekend in succession, Moycullen began the game without their talisman Peter Cooke, and in the opening exchanges in Tuam Stadium it was all Strokestown, and it looked like their manager Fergal O’Donnell had out-thought his ex-teammate Connellan in those opening 10 minutes.
O’Donnell’s team raced into a four-point lead as Diarmuid McGann and Shane McGinley were on point with their accuracy from placed balls. McGinley’s efforts from 45s were particularly impressive given the soft underfoot conditions.
However, the game was turned on its head in the 14th minute when David Butler was shown a black card for a late challenge in the middle of the park. From this point, Moycullen got to grips with the game and it was Owen Gallagher who led the charge for the Galway champions.
Gallagher showed tremendous leadership to kick two massive scores for Moycullen from play each side of a Dessie Conneely free. By the time Dessie kicked his second free of the day to equalise, Strokestown’s lead had been wiped out totally as David Butler returned to the field and Strokestown restored to their full complement.
McGann nailed another free for Strokestown, only for Gallagher to respond immediately for his third point from play. Conneely then grabbed his third free of the day to leave Moycullen with a one-point lead heading into the break despite their slow start to the game.
The second half was a dour, cagey affair with neither side capable of making any impact on the scoreline. It took until the 26th minute for the first score when Dessie Conneely kicked his fourth free to put Moycullen into a two-point lead heading down the home straight.
When it looked sufficient to get them over the line, Strokestown hit back with McGann's first point from play, reducing the deficit to one point going into added time.
When deep into stoppage time, Strokestown midfielder Cathal Compton fired over a pressure kick from the right wing, it sent the game to extra time.
Moycullen started the brighter of the two when Paul Kelly put his team back in front with a fisted effort. The crucial score arrived when substitute Peter Cooke forced a turnover in Strokestown territory, took a quick free, and the marauding fullback Sean Kelly then took full advantage of the rebound from his own shot to hit the back of the net.
Moycullen never looked back and the final score of the game came in the second half of extra time when Ger Davoren palmed the ball home.
