Player of the Match Therese Donohue hailed Athenry's "mettle" as they came back from six points down with four minutes remaining in normal time to force a replay in the All-Ireland senior club camogie decider.
The Galway champions appeared to be headed for an eighth All-Ireland final defeat until substitute Anna Jordan's 56th-minute goal ignited a late comeback, which culminated in Kayla Madden (below) lobbing over an equalising point with practically the last puck.
"We really fought hard for those last 10 minutes," Donohue told RTÉ Sport.
"We were unlucky for a goal (chance) and we put a few points astray there in the last couple of minutes that could have given us theedge.
"But look, I'm so grateful that we didn't lack fight and we stayed going and we chased it down. I'm 100% happy to get another day out.
"They [St Finbarr's] came out with guns blazing and they went ahead. They really got a run on us at the start of the second half and I didn't know how we'd peel it back.
"But look, it just shows the bit of mettle that's in this team too.
"When push comes to shove, we can step up and we can come back. So look, yeah, I'm just delighted it's over and I'm delighted we have another day out."
The 44-year old Donohue - who was known by her maiden name Therese Maher during her stellar inter-county career - delivered an inspirational display in a game where Athenry had mostly played second fiddle to St Finbarr's.
Donohue / Maher's last inter-county game in Croke Park for Galway was the famous 2013 All-Ireland victory over Kilkenny, when the Athenry star finally secured an All-Ireland medal after a 16-year career.
This latest showing at HQ, 12 years later, may not have yielded a victory, though it almost felt like that to the jubilant Athenry players. The replay is fixed for the first weekend of January.
Donohue struck three points from play and it was her shot from distance which cracked off the crossbar and fell for Jordan to sweep home.
The player of the match was keen to throw the spotlight onto Jordan and her fellow substitutes after the late turnaround.
"Look, there's been girls selected, not selected. We've had injuries and they've all put their shoulders to the wheel and they've come on and they've said nothing.
"And we had three subs that came on again today and to everyone who took part and every one of the subs, I'm hugely, immensely proud of them. I'm hugely proud of this club."
