Wasteful Caltra outfit leave it late to secure final replay

Oranmore/Maree 3-7

Ivan Smyth at Duggan Park

CALTRA scored 1-2 in injury time to salvage a draw against Oranmore/Maree in this entertaining Galway Junior B football final at Duggan Park on Sunday.

Colm McGovern looked to have secured the title for Oranmore-Maree when he moved his side 3-7 to 0-11 ahead after 59 minutes, but throughout this contest Caltra were able to carve out scoring opportunities, only to struggle to convert their chances which left them on the brink of defeat.

However, the North East Galway side produced late heroics to salvage a draw and earn themselves another shot at the title, although there was a degree of controversy in their comeback.

After their defence was breached for the third time, Caltra full-back Seamus Geraghty was hauled down 25 metres from the Oranmore/Maree goal. Peter Birch dropped the free into the edge of the square and the ball broke to Tommy Morrissey who was on hand to finish first time to the net.

Morrissey was due to be replaced by Kevin Gavin who had entered the field of play before the free was kicked. This meant Caltra had 16 players on the pitch during this passage of play, although Oranmore-Maree afforded Morrissey too much space to finish to the net.

Morrissey left the field straight after scoring the goal as Caltra still trailed by two points. Substitute Tomas Nolan added a free for Caltra before Declan Meehan won the breaking ball from the resulting kickout and his crossfield pass found Ronan Kelly, who kicked the levelling score.

Caltra had started the brighter with their corner forward Mike Finnerty notching the opening score before Eoghain Delaney doubled their advantage after Finnerty provided the assist for the score. Oranmore/Maree struggled initially to carve out scores as Declan Gill saw a free go wide of the posts. However, moments later Gill’s long-range point effort sailed over the head of Caltra goalkeeper Mikie Lyons and into the net. Lyons, who featured on TG4’s GAA show Underdogs, will be disappointed that he did not save the effort.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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