Coolera-Strandhill 0-08 Shamrock Gaels 2-11
Shamrock Gaels ended a senior championship famine going back to 1992 when they reclaimed the Owen B Hunt Cup thanks to a brilliant dismissal of holders Coolera-Strandhill in the Sligo SFC final replay at Quigabar.
Led by Ciaran Kenny, who was outstanding at centre-back, with Conor Sheridan and Shane Deignan, scorer of 2-03, also impressing, Shamrock Gaels reached Sligo's summit via a cohesive second-half display.
In blustery conditions at the west Sligo venue, everything pointed to another close encounter between these well-matched sides, with a replay needed due to Shamrock Gaels’ talisman David Quinn’s two-pointer free conversion deep into second-half stoppage time two weeks previously.
The first-half fodder was definitely tit for tat and also mistake for mistake as neither side was capable of taking a proper hold of proceedings as the crossfield breeze was a factor in this.
Coolera-Strandhill, looking for a third successive Owen B Hunt Cup, could have had the perfect start but their star forward Niall Murphy was wide with a penalty effort in the sixth minute as he faced off against his Sligo teammate Daniel Lyons, the Shamrock Gaels custodian.
Midway through the first-half Murphy was again cursing his luck - this time when a point attempt came off the upright - but the sharpshooter did land a brace of points as Coolera-Strandhill found joy when getting direct ball into their top scorer.
The first-half ended level, however, 0-2 apiece, with Shamrock Gaels, who last won this trophy in 1992, matching their opponents courtesy of neat finishes from Shane Deigan.
Both sides went in at half-time annoyed with their shooting (four wides each) and a potential turning point - aside from the missed penalty - was when Keelan Cawley burst through for Coolera-Strandhill but Ciaran Kenny shut down the danger.
Shamrock Gaels set the tone for the second-half by reeling off three points without return within six minutes of the restart thanks to Karl McKenna, Shane Deignan and Patrick Kenny.
A red card after 41 minutes for Coolera-Strandhill’s Leo Doherty swung the pendulum firmly towards Shamrock Gaels, who extended their lead with a point from Ciaran Kenny, who was later named Player of the Match.
Coolera-Strandhill responded with a two-pointer free from Niall Murphy - one of three such efforts that he landed in the second-half - but the holders were losing duels all over the pitch.
A hat-trick of points from Shamrock Gaels captain David Quinn as well as a vital interception from goalkeeper Daniel Lyons kept the contenders on course for a famous victory.
Coolera-Strandhill were struggling and their goose was well and truly cooked when Shane Deignan netted in the 59th minute - he would add another three-pointer in stoppage time to complete a wonderful outcome for Shamrock Gaels.
It was a unique occasion, too, for the Kenny household due to three brothers, Patrick, Ciaran and Niall, starting for Shamrock Gaels - their brother is of course Glasgow Celtic and former Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers ace Johnny Kenny.
Coolera-Strandhill: Keelan Harte, Jonathan Cassidy, Conor McDonagh, Sean Murphy, Oran Harte, Peter Laffey, Cathal Gilligan, Kevin Banks, Mark McDaniel, Leo Doherty, Barry O’Mahony, Ross Doherty, Keelan Cawley, Niall Murphy (0-08, 3tpf), Conor Burke
Subs: Cormac Murphy for Keelan Cawley, 43; Cillian O’Neill for Sean Murphy, 46; Hugh Rooney for Jonathan Cassidy, 57
Shamrock Gaels: Daniel Lyons; Oisin Conlon, Evan Lyons, Daniel King; Karl McKenna, Ciaran Kenny, Patrick Kenny; Conor Sheridan, Dillon McDermott; Niall Kenny, Lee Deignan, George Barlow; Shane Deignan, David Quinn, James Foley
Subs: Sean Carroll for James Foley, 44
Referee: Barry Judge
