Nine points down, 30 minutes to go: game over? Not on your nelly.
We’ve reached championship final time and, when it comes to hurling, when it comes to September, no-one knows much better than Cushendall.
Antrim SHC Final
Cushendall 2-16 Ballycastle 1-15
An absolutely thrilling decider in the Antrim Senior Hurling Championship saw Cushendall stage a remarkable comeback to claim their 13th title.
Ballycastle squandered a nine-point half-time lead in this north coast battle as the men from the glens powered back in an absolute classic.
In injury time, the sides were level. Ballycastle attacked, Eoin Gillan was called upon to save, Shane Jennings hit the crossbar, the ball went to the other side of the field, Conor Carson had it in the net for the maroon of Cushendall as they stole victory from the jaws of defeat to retain their championship crown.
The scenes.
Kerry SHC Final
Kilmoyley 3-15 Ardfert 1-13
Ballyduff 24 Kilmoyley 23.
A flurry of 2-10 (1-9 of which were from dead eye set pieces) from Ardfert foobtaller and Kilmoyley hurler Daniel Collins led the way in the Kerry hurling decider as Ballyduff’s record was closed in on.
Kilmoyley were seven clear at the break and although Darren Wallace netted for the St. Brendan’s men, they just couldn’t get close enough as Collins and Kilmoyley ruled the Kingdom.
Limerick SHC Semi Final
Na Piarsaigh 0-20 Kilmallock 2-13
Munster champions Kilmallock were edged out of a successive Limerick title when Na Piarsaigh upset the odds to oust the champions at the Gaelic Grounds.
A late revival from last year’s All-Ireland finalists was too little too late as Na Piarsaigh hung on to book their spot in the decider as the sides were separated by the minimum in the end.
Laois SHC Final
Clough/Ballacolla 0-20 Camross 1-14
Eleven points for Stephen Maher. Not too bad.
The Clough/Ballacolla forward led his side to an eighth senior hurling title on Sunday with an inspired performance as Camross squandered the lead.
Dwayne Palmer hit the net for the eventual losers in the first period as Camross led the entire opening half but, with Maher in unstoppable form, the Clough/Ballacolla men came storming back from six points to clinch the championship in fine form.
Leitrim SFC Final
Glencar-Manorhamilton 1-9 Mohill 0-12
The Leitrim football championship will go to a second day after a nerve-racking final was deadlocked at the final whistle.
Four-point Keith Beirne led the way for Mohill who looked to have the game sealed in the second period. 1-2 off the boot of Adrian Croal helped Glencar-Manorhamilton along but they still needed a late, late Conor Dolan free to rescue the draw and force the replay.
Elsewhere, Ulster football champions Slaughtneil booked their place in the Derry decider once more with a rout against the county’s historical kingpins, Bellaghy.
The young full forward line of Sé McGuigan and Cormac O’Doherty ran riot as Mickey Moran’s men eased into the final with 13 points to spare, winning 2-16 to 1-6.
But, for the first time in six years, Ballinderry will not feature in the decider.
The Shamrocks were beaten by Eoghan Rua, Coleraine 0-15 to 1-8 with Declan Mullan and Colm McGoldrick starring for the 2010 champions. Ballinderry, of course, have suffered a much greater loss this year with the tragic passing of Aaron Devlin and manager Fabian Muldoon put the loss into perspective after the game.
Fabian Muldoon: "We lost a football match. We've lost far more this year" – never a truer word
— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) September 27, 2015
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