Grange 1-5 Galbally 0-16
Galbally’s stylish performance made it a winning provincial debut as they comfortably saw off Grange in their Ulster IFC preliminary round tie at Crossmaglen.
Fourteen points from play spoke volumes of their creativity and finishing, but as many as six missed goal chances added tones of concern for manager John Moylan.
He was delighted with the quality of his side’s performance, but warned that such wastefulness could prove costly on another day.
“I thought we over-elaborated and just made bad choices. We could have had two or three goals in the first half, maybe two or three in the second half,” said Moylan.
“I think we went for goals at times when we didn’t need to go for goals. We could have put over the points and maybe made it a bit more comfortable. There was still a game to be played for at half-time.
“I’m very disappointed with it, it’s something for us to work on. It’s not good enough going forward in the competition to not be taking those chances. We’ll be punished down the line if we do that.
“In certain games you might only get one or two of those chances during the whole game, and you’ve got to take them, because if you don’t you might rue them at the end.”
Galbally hit ten points from play in a first half that saw them perform with freedom, flair and poise.
With the wind in their backs, they were well on their way by the interval, leading by eight and looking comfortable.
“I thought we played some very good football at times, we did cut them open, but I would be very disappointed with some of the stuff in front of goals.”
The Red Hand champions were five ahead by the time Cathal McKenna hit Grange’s opening score in the 14th minute.
With the wind in their backs, they had scores from Daniel Kerr, Sean Murphy and Liam Rafferty, and a couple of Enda McGarrity specials helped them to a 0-10 to 0-2 interval lead.
Grange goalkeeper David O’Hagan had already come to his side’s rescue before the break, and saved again from Rafferty and Cormaic Donnelly, with Padraig Rafferty also keeping out a goal as he cleared a Murphy shot off the line.
The Tyrone champions were never in trouble, however, even when the Orchard men responded with scores from Miceal McKenna and Odhran Rafferty.
They continued to find the range, with Sean Murphy hitting his fourth and fellow vice-captain McGarrity bringing his tally to three.
After all those missed goal chances, they conceded one in stoppage time from the only clear opportunity their opponents managed to create, Ethan Rafferty sending Ben Toal through to send his angled shot to the net.
Galbally: L Og McAuley; K McCrory, Conor Donnelly, A Carberry; L Rafferty (0-2, 1f), R Nugent, S Og Mulgrew; C Quinn, E McGarrity (0-3); M Donnelly, D Kerr (0-2), Cormaic Donnelly; S Murphy (0-4), C Donaghy (0-3, 1f), D Murphy (0-2).
Subs: S Hurson for Carberry, M Lennon for Donnelly, P Rafferty for Donaghy, M Murphy for Mulgrew, O McGee for Kerr.
Grange: D O’Hagan; P Rafferty, C Toal, Eoin Rafferty; S Cullen, A Toal, D Rafferty; Ethan Rafferty, S McAneney; J Kieran, M McKenna (0-2), B Rafferty; C McKenna (0-1), C Rafferty (0-1), B Toal (1-0).
Subs: O Rafferty (0-1) for McAneney, D Hagan for Cullen, E Hughes for Eoin Rafferty, M Murphy for C Rafferty.
Referee: D Mullan (Derry).
