Mighty Quinn to the rescue as Gaels never give up

Homeland Sligo SFC Final 

Coolera-Standhill 3-13 

Shamrock Gaels 2-16 

Gavin Cawley in Quigabar 

A replay is required to determine this year’s winners of the Owen B. Hunt Cup after a late free from David Quinn earned Shamrock Gaels another shot at back-to-back champions Coolera-Strandhill. This wasn’t just any free though; it was one of those that didn’t exist this time last year.

A breach by Coolera-Standhill, who had failed to keep the requisite number of players in one half of the pitch, handed full-forward Quinn the opportunity to kick a two-pointer from outside the arc, which he did with aplomb. The full-forward’s nerves of steel ensured the teams will have to do it all over again on the weekend after next.

Coolera-Standhill played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half but it was Shamrock Gaels who opened the scoring through Lee Deignan’s ’45, but the cup holders soon responded through Niall Murphy.

The opening goal came on six minutes as Dillion McDermott fired the ball in off the crossbar after Shane Deignan had played the ball into the Gaels midfielder.

The response from the Connacht champions was impressive as they led by a point after nine minutes, with four on the spin through Murphy and Barry O’Mahony.

Coolera-Standhill were starting to dominate around the field and they went three points clear on the quarter hour as the Doherty brothers, Leo and Ross, were involved in fine move which was converted by Leo.

Shamrock Gaels were looking to break the momentum and that’s what they did when Ciaran Kenny was sent through by David Quinn, with the centre-back picking off a point. This was Gaels’ first appearance in the final since 1994 – and they were looking to win the title for the first time since ’92.

Ross Doherty pushed the gap back out to three points as he pointed after Kevin Banks had found the wing-forward and while Quinn countered with a pointed free on 20 minutes, an excellent two pointer from play from Niall Murphy had Coolera-Strandhill in control of a four points advantage.

Shamrock Gaels had looked as though they had put themselves in a strong position with points from Lee Deignan and Shane Deignan, however, they suffered a big blow in the final play of the first-half when Leo Doherty flicked the ball to their net after a long ball delivered in by Mark McDaniel.

Coolera-Standhill, now 1-10 to 1-5 in front, stretched their lead to six points when McDaniel added a point after the restart and while Lee Deignan replied with point for Shamrock Gaels, Coolera-Standhill netted a second goal with a rocket from Ross Doherty that pushed them into an eight points lead.

Quinn landed two big two pointers to cut the deficit to just four points and when Conor Sheridan followed with a single, that left just three between the sides. However, a third Coolera-Standhill goal arrived in the 40th minute as Sean Murphy played a one-two with O’Mahony before finding the net.

But Gaels simply refused to give in and the underdogs stayed in touch with two points without reply through Deignan and Quinn, cutting the gap to three points with seven minutes left to play.

Sean Murphy ended an eighteen minute scoreless spell by the defending champions with a 58th minute point – but the drama was far from over.

David Quinn scored a penalty for his side to cut the gap to just a single point and while Niall Murphy landed a free at the other end with what looked like the insurance point, Quinn’s last gasp kick sent the teams to a replay second the match to replay in two weeks’ time.

Scorers – Coolera-Strandhill: Niall Murphy 0-1-4 (3f), Sean Murphy, Ross Doherty and Leo Doherty 1-0-1 each, Barry O’Mahony 0-1-0, Keelan Cawley and Mark McDaniel 0-0-1 each.

Shamrock Gaels: David Quinn 1-3-2 (1-0pen, 3tpf, 2f), Lee Deignan 0-0-4 (2 ‘45s), Dillon McDermott 1-0-0, Conor Sheridan 0-0-2, Shane Deignan and Ciaran Kenny 0-0-1 each.

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, Conor Burke. Subs: Ross O’Carroll (for Cawley 40), Cormac Murphy (for Burke 54), Hugh Rooney (for O Harte 60+7).

Shamrock Gaels: Daniel Lyons; Oisin Conlon, Evan Lyons, Sean Carroll; Karl McKenna, Ciaran Kenny, Patrick Kenny; Conor Sheridan, Dillon McDermott; Johnny Quinn, Lee Deignan, George Barlow; Shane Deignan, David Quinn, James Foley. Subs: Luke Flynn (for J Quinn 45), Daniel King (for Carroll 45), Seamus Hailstones (for Kenny (60+4).

REF: Ronan Hynes