In driving rain and across 80 punishing minutes on an astro turf pitch at Abbotstown, we were treated to an absolute cracker of a Sigerson Cup semi-final.
UL eventually prevailed to take their place in next Wednesday evening’s final at Croke Park alongside UCC in what will be a repeat of the 2023 final.
Nobody associated with David Power’s crew will need any reminding that they lost that final, matching their 2022 defeat to NUI Galway.
Cian McHale’s 1-8 haul was decisive this time while fellow Mayo man Frank Irwin registered four important points in atrocious conditions at the GAA’s National Games Development Centre.
The really significant score though was Cathal Brosnan’s beauty of a goal deep into stoppage time of normal time, sensationally levelling the game at 3-13 to 1-19 and forcing extra time.
It was virtually the last kick of the game and only a goal would do, prompting Currow man Brosnan to strike to the top corner of the Queen’s net.
Cork’s Tommy Walsh grabbed the other UL goal, a terrific dinked finish too after a powerful run in from the right earlier in the second half.
And all of that is still only tipping the iceberg of trying to explain just how this lung burster of a semi-final, originally scheduled for Thursday night at DCU but rained off, unfolded.
Queen’s, managed by former Sigerson Cup winning captains Feargal Logan and Dan McCartan, will probably feel that they left it behind them in normal time.
Because while they trailed by 0-11 to 2-11 with 15 minutes of normal time remaining, they turned it around to lead by five themselves with the hour played.
But a converted two-point free by Conal Dawson two minutes into stoppage time, followed by the Brosnan goal, suddenly turned UL’s five-point deficit into a level game.
The wild ride continued into extra time with UL scoring all five points in the first half to open up a five-point lead, 3-18 to 1-19.
Now it was time for Queen’s to wipe out a five-point deficit, a two-pointer from Tyrone star Ruairí Cassidy and Ryan McQuillan’s second goal of the evening doing the needful.
We wondered just where the rollercoaster encounter could possibly take us next and it turned out it was in the direction of UL who finished strongly.
Game intelligence, fitness and sheer determination to keep their dream of a first ever title success alive all came bubbling to the surface as they struck the game’s last five points.
Substitutes Ciaran Collins, Micheál Freaney and Newcestown’s David Buckley delivered four of those scores as UL got a vital kick from their bench.
C McHale (1-8, 1tpf, 3 fs); F Irwin (0-4, 1tpf); C Brosnan, T Walsh (1-0 each); C Dawson (0-3, 1tpf); C Collins (0-2); C Ryan, B Dempsey, B McNamara, S Morahan, M Freaney, D Buckley (0-1 each).
R McQuillan (2-2); R Cassidy (0-6, 1tpf, 3fs); C Higgins (0-4); C O’Neill (0-3, 1tp); L Diamond, D Scullion (0-2 each); J Clarke, N Grimes (0-1 each).
T O’Callaghan (St Breckan’s, Clare); T Walsh (Kanturk, Cork), T Ross (Curry, Sligo), B Dempsey (Portlaoise, Laois); P O’Driscoll (Gabriel Rangers, Cork), S Morahan (Castlebar Mitchels, Mayo), C King (Ballina, Tipperary); B McNamara (Cooraclare, Clare), C Brosnan (Currow, Kerry); C Dawson (Westport, Mayo), J McCabe (Corofin, Galway), C Ryan (Rathmore, Kerry); C Keaveney (Parke KC, Mayo), C McHale (Moy Davitts, Mayo), F Irwin (Ballina Stephenites).
H O’Loughlin (Kilmaine, Mayo) Keaveney (3), M Freaney (Kilsheelan Kilcash, Tipperary) for King (36), D Hogan (St Patrick’s, Tipperary) for McCabe (41), E Looney (Dr Crokes, Kerry) for O’Loughlin (49), C Campbell (St Barry’s, Roscommon) for Dempsey (51), D Buckley (Newcestown, Cork) for O’Driscoll (e/t), J Melvin (Davitts, Mayo) for Brosnan (66), C Collins (Rathmore, Kerry) for Irwin (h/t e/t), K Butler (Moyle Rovers, Tipperary) for Ross (78).
A Lee (Fingal Ravens, Dublin); J Clarke (Donaghmore, Tyrone), M Ennis (Donaghmoyne, Monaghan), P McGurk (Lavey, Derry); R Forbes (Ballinderry, Derry), C O’Neill (Donaghmore, Tyrone), D Scullion (Clann Na Banna, Down); C Hynds (Glenravel, Antrim), A Tohill (Swatragh, Derry); C Higgins (Magherafelt, Derry), R Cassidy (Donaghmore, Tyrone), L Diamond (Bellaghy, Derry); N Grimes (Donaghmore, Tyrone), M Burnett (Portadown, Armagh), R McQuillan (Con Magees Glenravel, Antrim).
R Callaghan (Sean MacCumhaills, Donegal) for Ennis (34); L McManus (Monaghan Harps, Monaghan) for Scullion (56); N Duffy (St Brigid’s, Antrim) for Clarke (66); J Corrigan (Galbally, Tyrone) for Diamond (h/t e/t); Scullion for Burnett (76).
C Dourneen (Cavan).
