Galbally stave off the drop for now with victory at Dromore

DROMORE 0-11

GALBALLY 3-14

GALBALLY maintained their outside hopes of staving off the drop as a hat-trick of goals from Liam Rafferty eased them to victory over an understrength Dromore at Gardrum Park on Saturday lunchtime.

Rafferty’s triple hit in the 26th (penalty), 35th and 57th minutes helped the Pearses to coast across the winning line and in the process heaped the pressure on their relegation rivals at the foot of the Division One table.

With their crunch Ulster Club meeting with Derrygonnelly looming on the horizon, and their prospects of winning the League title erased in advance, it was little surprise that the St Dympna’s line-up bore little resemblance to their normal starting fifteen, with manager Colm McCullagh ringing the changes.

That said those drafted in such as the experienced Emmet O’Neill, Aodhan O’Donnell and Declan McNulty battled hard and refused to throw in the towel, but they were no match for the much stronger and more motivated visitors.

Rafferty led the scoring charge, but across the board in Sean Wylie, Ronan Nugent and Conor Donaghy Galbally were the more cohesive and purposeful unit.

There was a fairly even start to the contest on a chilly day with the teams locked together at five points apiece by the twenty minute mark. Conor Donaghy landed three scores for Galbally (two frees), while Mark Quinn (free) and Ronan Nugent also weighed in with points. At the other end Declan McNulty planted two quality efforts over the bar, as well as a free, and John MacRory and Conor O’Neill slotted over scores.

Damian McGale in the Dromore nets had earlier produced a fine point blank stop to deny Rafferty a goal but there was little he could do to
keep about the penalty struck low and decisive to his right, after Mark Donnelly had been fouled by Cathal Colton.

With Conor Donaghy and Sean Wylie tagging on points, Galbally enjoyed a double scores advantage (1-7 to 0-5) at the turnaround.

Despite an excellent score from Conor O’Neill on the resumption, Dromore shortly after conceded a second goal when Rafferty latched onto Enda McGarrity’s fine pass, rampaged up the middle and fired high past McGale.

That strike effectively sealed the outcome and Wylie, Rafferty, Donnelly and Nugent extended Galbally’s cushion with a series of neat finishes as the match moved towards its inevitable conclusion.

Caolan McCarron, Oisin Gallogly and sub Colm MacRory did knock over a few consolation scores for the hosts but Rafferty had the final say as he fisted to the net from the backpost after being teed up by Mark Quinn.