The Canavan brothers sparkled as Errigal Ciarán saw off Dr Crokes by 2-18 to 1-18 after extra-time at Cedral St Conleth's Park in Newbridge to qualify for a first All-Ireland Club SFC final.
Darragh and Ruairí shared a 1-13 haul as the Ulster champions downed the two-time All-Ireland champions from Kerry, pushing for home in the second period of extra time with a second goal, scored by Joe Oguz.
It was Darragh Canavan whop grabbed the Tyrone side’s first three-pointer, but the Munster men responded to go in front, and they were on the verge of victory, before Peter Óg McCartan sent over a dramatic equaliser deep into added time at the end of normal time.
Darragh Canavan slipped past two defenders to pop over the opening point in the second minute, but with Brian Looney and Mark O’Shea driving their challenge, the Kerry champions hit three points in as many minutes through Cian McMahon, Tony Brosnan and Micheal Burns.
However, they missed the attacking thrusts of Gavin White, tasked with keeping Darragh Canavan quiet, and he could do nothing to prevent the Errigal Ciarán captain from firing over a couple of scores, along with three superb efforts from play from younger brother Ruairí.
It was Ruairí’s free that edged the Ulster champions back in front early in the second quarter, following a let-off which saw Brosnan cut through to fire an angled shot into the side netting at the other end.
Errigal executed a couple of vital turnovers through Ben McDonnell and Cormac Quinn to counter for the Canavan brothers to edge them into a two points lead.
But Errigal lived dangerously at times at the back, and the Munster title holders finished the half strongly, Looney combining smartly with David Shaw for midfielder Mark O’Shea drill over a point, leaving just one between the sides at the break, Errigal Ciaran ahead by 0-08 to 0-07.
Brosnan had just edged the Killarney men back in front when Errigal crafted a brilliant 40th minute goal. Ruairí lobbed a quickly taken free into the path of big brother Darragh, who got in behind the last defender to smash the ball to the roof of the net.
But Crokes’ response was positive, emphatic and laced with bravery as they committed men forward, pressed the opposition kick-out and picked off the scores that put them back in control of the contest.
Brosnan, Burns and wing-back Brian Looney all hit the target, but Padraig McGirr came off the bench to score with his first touch to keep Errigal noses in front.
The pressure was intense on a hard-pressed Errigal defence throughout the closing 10 minutes as Brosnan levelled and Burns shot them ahead deep into stoppage time.
But there was still time for McCartan to repeat his late Ulster final heroics with a 65th minute leveller to make it 1-13 to 0-16.
And they remained deadlocked midway through the added stretch, points from Darragh Canavan and Oguz cancelled out by Brosnan and Looney, whose dipping effort had goalkeeper Darragh McAnenly stretching to tip it over the bar.
Oguz thundered through to rifle home Errigal’s second goal 90 seconds after the restart and now they were very much in the driving seat.
With Crokes forced to commit everything to attack, and were able to hit them on the counter-attack with points from Ruairí Canavan, Ben McDonnell and Mark Kavanagh.
Charlie Keating did pull back a late goal for Crokes, but this was to be Errigal’s day, and they’re preparing for a first trip to Croke Park next weekend.
Errigal Ciaran: D McAnenly; Cormac Quinn, A McCrory, Ciaran Quinn; T Colhoun, N Kelly, P Og McCartan (0-01); B McDonnell (0-01), J Oguz (1-01); P Harte, R Canavan (0-07, 3f), C McGinley; T Canavan, D Canavan (1-06), O Robinson.
Subs: M Kavanagh (0-01) for T Canavan (42), P McGirr (0-01) for Robinson (52), R McRory for Colhoun (64), E Kelly for McCartan (70), D Morrow for Cormac Quinn (70), McCartan for McGinley (77)
Dr Crokes: S Murphy; E Looney, F Fitzgerald, M Lynch; C Keating, (1-00) G White, B Looney (0-02); M O’Shea (0-01), M Potts; M Burns (0-05, 1f), G O’Shea, T Doyle; T Brosnan (0-08, 7f), D Shaw (0-01), C McMahon (0-01).
Subs: K O’Leary for Doyle (37), D Casey for McMahon (45), N O’Shea for Keating (47), D Naughton for Potts (51), A Hennigan for Shaw (61), McMahon for Burns (69), Potts for B Looney (73)
Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).
