Medtronic footballers have been crowned All Ireland senior football champions for the first time after a convincing 3-15 to 1-13 win over the Cork Garda in Pearse Stadium.
Medtronic had many heroes on the evening, but none more so than Colm O’Donovan who finished with a tally of 2-6. The Cork men, who had Kerry supremo Aidan O’Mahoney in their ranks, had no answer to Medtronic’s teamwork throughout the contest
Trailing by a point at the interval, Medtronic ran up 1-5 in the third quarter to put them well on the way to victory. By the time the Cork men hit their second point of the second half, Medtronic were nine clear.
Medtronic were out of the traps the faster with the lively Colm O’Donovan opening the scoring when he fisted over before Michael Sayers doubled the advantage with a point.
Both sides kicked a number of wides before Denis O’Sullivan opened Cork’s account, but Peadar O Griofa replied for Medtronic in the seventh minute.
The Cork men, however, gained control around the centre and hit five points without reply to lead by three after 17 minutes, while Medtronic were denied two goal chances before Damien Joyce fired over a point to reduce the gap to two.
Points in quick succession from Robbie Brosnan and Aidan O’Mahoney left four between the sides before Medtronic struck their first goal after 24 minutes when O Griofa set up O’Donovan from close range.
O’Donovan’s goal-bound effort was tipped over by Cork’s custodian Pat Prendergast while the Cork men went two clear before a later Adrian Warde point closed the first-half scoring - Cork Garda 0-10 Medtronic 1-6.
Although Cork drew first blood after the interval, they did not score again until the 22nd minute by which time Medtronic were eight clear.
With the wind advantage, Medtronic levelled by the sixth minute and O’ Donovan - a constant thorn in the Cork rearguard - struck a second goal after 13 minutes.
Further unanswered points from substitute Mike Lundy (2 ), O’Donovan (2 ) and Michael Sayers left them nine clear with nine minutes remaining, and although the Cork Garda closed the gap to four, there was no denying Medtronic on this occasion.
With a senior crown to match the junior title two years ago, Medtronic secured Galway’s fourth title in succession.
Medtronic: K Kilroy, R McDermott, K Dooher, D McHugh, G Cafferky (0-1 ), E Mullarkey, A Warde (0-1 ), D Hogan, L Tierney, M Kelly, K Murphy, M Sayer (1-2 ), C O Donovan (2-6 ), P O Griofa (0-1 ), D Joyce (0-2 ) Subs: M. Lundy (0-2 ), P Fahy, M McNamara.
