Naomh Gall GAA

The hurlers of Cumann Naomh Gall got the all-county league off to a successful start with a great win over Rossa at De La Salle Park on Sunday afternoon in front of a large crowd of spectators.

This was a hard fought game and the new faces introduced to the panel acquitted themselves well.

This 'new look' St Galls team took time to settle though and Rossa were dominant for the first twenty minutes going into a 4-1 lead and then 6-3 although most of their scores came from frees. The men from up the lane were playing with a very strong breeze but only went in a point up 7-6 at half time having missed a few opportunities but a couple of changes had settled St Galls who had really come into their own.

The second half was still tight for the first ten minutes or so but the influence of Karl and more settled play saw Naomh Gall move into the lead. Anto McCaffrey, who had been tightly marshelled by the Rossa full back and received no sympathy from the referee, won a ball and managed to lay off a hand pass to Sean McAreavy who, despite playing through the pain barrier, got a shot away and scored a goal which became the difference between the sides. Very soon after Niall ONeill made a tremendous block and gathered up the breaking ball and put it over the bar from wide on the wing for the score of the match. And it typified the resolve of the whole team and their desire to take full points from this match. And there were great scores from Jackson McGreevey and Chris McCartney also. However this was an all round team effort shown by the backline keeping Rossa to only two second half points.