Sligo SFC final: Coolera-Strandhill 3-13 Shamrock Gaels 2-16
Shamrock Gaels ace David Quinn denied Coolera-Strandhill a third title on the bounce when a cracking Sligo county final ended level at Quigabar.
Quinn, who finished with 1-08, landed a two-pointer deep into second-half stoppage time to earn a draw for Shamrock Gaels and so deny Coolera-Strandhill, who had won the last two titles as well as provincial honours 12 months ago.
This was a breakthrough campaign for Shamrock Gaels, who previously appeared in a county final at this level in 1994, with only their second title coming two years previously.
In contrast, Coolera-Strandhill were seeking a third successive Owen B Hunt Cup. Last year's provincial champions boasted greater experience, too, as they were contesting a fourth final in seven years.
Shamrock Gaels almost got off to a perfect start but midfielder Dillon McDermott was off target with a goal effort.
He found the net in the fifth minute - from Shane Deignan’s pass - to propel Shamrock Gaels into a three-point lead, 1-01 to 0-01, to rattle the holders.
But Coolera-Strandhill regained control and feeding the ball into their talisman, Niall Murphy, began to pay dividends.
Points from Niall Murphy, Keelan Cawley and Barry O’Mahony, who landed a two-pointer, gave Coolera-Strandhill a strong platform but Shamrock Gaels remained very much in contention with points from Ciaran Kenny - brother of Celtic player Johnny - and David Quinn.
Tidy points from the Deignan brothers, Lee and Shane, brought Shamrock Gaels even closer as half-time approached but Leo Doherty’s goal in additional time - when he got the final touch to a Mark McDaniel point attempt that was undercooked - gave the defending champions a five-point lead at half-time, 1-10 to 1-05.
Two more goals from Coolera-Strandhill - Ross Doherty’s booming finish and a close-range shot from defender Sean Murphy, who purposefully roamed upfield - had the gap at five points, 3-11 to 1-12, with 40 minutes on the clock.
Shamrock Gaels displayed tremendous resilience and began to chip away at the deficit but three goal moves went unrewarded due to the brilliance of Coolera-Strandhill goalkeeper Keelan Harte.
David Quinn stepped up to become his side’s hero in the closing stages - he converted a penalty which had to be retaken (Keelan Harte saved Quinn’s first attempt) and then he landed a two-pointer free in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
In between those Quinn scores there was a converted free from Coolera-Strandhill’s Niall Murphy, who brought his personal haul up to six points, and also a red card for Shamrock Gaels’ wing-back Patrick Kenny, who picked up a second booking.
It is expected that the replay will be held on Sunday week.
Coolera-Strandhill: Keelan Harte; Jonathan Cassidy, Conor McDonagh, Sean Murphy (1-01); Oran Harte, Peter Laffey, Cathal Gilligan; Kevin Banks, Mark McDaniel (0-01); Leo Doherty (1-01), Barry O’Mahony (0-02, 1tp), Ross Doherty (1-01); Keelan Cawley (0-01), Niall Murphy (0-6, 3f, 1tp), Conor Burke
Subs: Ross O’Carroll for Keelan Cawley, 40; Cormac Murphy for Conor Burke, 54; Hugh Rooney for Oran Harte, 60+7
Shamrock Gaels: Daniel Lyons; Oisin Conlon, Evan Lyons, Sean Carroll; Karl McKenna, Ciaran Kenny (0-01), Patrick Kenny; Conor Sheridan (0-02, 1tp), Dillon McDermott (1-00); Johnny Quinn, Lee Deignan (0-04, 2 '45’), George Barlow; Shane Deignan (0-01), David Quinn (1-08, 1-0, 2f, 3tpf), James Foley
Subs: Luke Flynn for Johnny Quinn, 45; Daniel King for Sean Carroll, 45; Seamus Hailstones for Ciaran Kenny, 60+4
Referee: Ronan Hynes
