This pulsating semi-final was heading for extra-time on Saturday afternoon when Ashley Jensen popped up and changed the course of history. Introduced from the bench a few minutes earlier, Jensen would win the match for Ballyheane with a calm, clinical finish two minutes into injury time.

The game had been a highly entertaining one as high-quality goals and tough-tackling, high-intensity effort kept the cold at bay, but Swinford will rue the fact that they lost a 2-1 lead in the final run-in.

The home side dominated the opening quarter and deservedly took the lead after 27 minutes with a superb goal only to be pegged back by an equally impressive finish. Swinford hit the front again early in the new half and were headed for the final until another equaliser arrived nine minutes from the end and then Jensen won the game in injury time.

Swinford were the better side early on. They moved the ball around impressively and their attacking duo of Liam Moran and Colm Kendrick looked dangerous.

The two strikers combined to great effect after 27 minutes when Moran picked out Kendrick on the left and the ace attacker let the ball run across his body before sending a shot arcing its way into the top corner of the net.

Three minutes later a goal of equal beauty balanced the scores. Stephen Finnerty was fouled on the edge of the box to the right of the goal. Diarmuid O’Connor stepped forth and bent the free-kick around the wall and into the bottom corner of the net.

Those strikes unleashed a stream of opportunities and goal chances continued to be created at both ends. Joe Geraghty sent a scorcher towards the Swinford net but Gavin Moore tipped it over, while David McHale had to be equally acrobatic at the other end to keep out Peter Noone’s well-hit effort.

Liam Moran came close for the home side early in the new half while Michael Plunkett and Robbie Fadden tested the woodwork at t...

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