Match report written by Tom Delaney – School News Team
Match Report – first Half
The whistle blew. The ball was in the air. Hurls started to clash.
The two teams were off to a flying start and to start it all off was a shot from Tipperary, but Galway’s Goalie made a brilliant save. Tipp took another shot and it went straight into the net. They scored another goal just a minute after.
The Tipp team let the 2-goal advantage get into their heads and it got a bit messy, so it was a free to Galway. The Galway man stepped up to the line took a shot but he missed. Not long after though he scored a goal. It was a close match but Tipp just kept shooting and scoring. Galway’s defence stepped up a bit now and wasn’t letting Tipp score. One of the defenders belted the ball down the field to their teammate and they scored a goal. The score was now: Galway 2 – 0 v 4 – 0 Tipperary.
Galway needed to get back in the game or they wouldn’t have a chance of winning. Tipp, on the other hand, were playing brilliantly until one of their players gave the other team a free. Galway went for a goal, but it went wide. Not long after, Tipp got a free. He shot and he scored. What a goal for Tipperary. Tipp thought they had it won but Galway got straight back into the game and scored another goal.
Tipp were leading by two goals now but one of the Tipperary players fouled one of his opponents. It was a free for Galway. He stepped up to the sliotar, took a shot, and scored the first point of the game. Just 30 seconds later, Tipp scored another goal. It was getting close to half-time now and Tipp scored two goals just two minutes before halftime. During those two minutes, there were some brilliant passes, some legendary saves and even some great tackles made by both teams, but Galway wanted at least one more score before half-time.
It was the last 30 seconds of the first half and Galway’s best player tried his hardest to score a point and he did just seconds before the whistle blew. The referee, Mr. Donal Griffin, blew it up and the score after the first half was: Galway 3 – 2 v 8 – 0 Tipperary.
Match Report – Second Half
The teams had their team talks, drank their water, and were back on the pitch.
They got straight back into the match and there was no messing from either of the teams. Galway were playing brilliantly after half-time. They scored a goal in the first two minutes of the second half. Then another goal 3 minutes after. The Tipperary defenders and goalie needed to up their game.
Both goalies were making brilliant saves and the players’ outfield were taking brilliant shots. Tipp took a shot and scored their first goal of the second half. A goal for Galway not long after. In this half the teams were not messing about and Galway were definitely in it to win it. They scored another goal with time to spare but not much, Tipperary needed to get back in the game if they wanted to stay in the lead because the score was: Galway 7 – 2 v 9 – 0 Tipperary.
Galway were only four points behind with 5 minutes left in the game. Galway took many shots, but they couldn’t score on the Tipp goalie. With two minutes left one of Galway’s players’ scored a magnificent goal which had Galway only needing one point for the game to be a draw or two points to win. They tried and tried but couldn’t score that point. Galway wanted that point so much that they started to play a bit rough and the other team ended up getting a penalty in the last 10 seconds.
Tipp’s star player steps up to the line. He shoots, HE SCORES. THE CROWD WENT WILD. IT’S WAS ALL OVER. What a nerve-wracking game it was. The final score was: Galway 8 – 2 v 10 – 0 Tipperary.
Both teams were brilliant, but Tipperary came out as the better team. Both teams deserved to be in the final for all the hard work they put in. It must be said all the other teams in the league put in just as much effort as the teams in the final.
Well done to the woman of the championship, Aoife Morris, and the man of the championship, Darren Brennan, who both played phenomenally all throughout the league. Also a special thank you to the teachers involved, Mr. Griffin, Ms. O’ Keefe, and Ms. Duff. Well done to both teams and a special congratulations to Tipperary for winning the league.
