Diarmuid O’Connor with last-gasp block for the ages as Ballintubber knock out the champs

"Looks to have the shot. Is he going to give it? Great defending by Ballintubber. Danny Kirbyyyyyy.... a block! And it's over!!"

Ballintubber and Castlebar Mitchels going at it rarely disappoints. Saturday night at MacHale Park was no different. Last October, Mitchels got past 'Tubber on their way to winning the Mayo SFC final. Diarmuid O'Connor was not the only Ballintubber player to be left gutted as their rivals marched on to glory. This year, Ballintubber were not having it. They were 0-7 to 0-5 ahead at half-time but they were up against a mighty foe and the scores were level on several occasions as both sides threw everything at it - haymaker after haymaker. They were level again with 12 minutes to go before Mitchels went two clear. Ballintubber came back off the ropes to pull one back through Diarmuid O'Connor: https://twitter.com/radiomidwest/status/1051190412986253313 And they were level again, right at the death, when they were awarded a free in injury time. Cillian O'Connor is often accused of lacking bottle but he put his hand up and, from a tough angle, curled over the equalising free to send this one to extra time. https://twitter.com/radiomidwest/status/1051191025509773312 https://twitter.com/BallintubberCLG/status/1051191844313403394 Xtra time OMG, indeed. On the battle raged into extra time but it was here that Diarmuid O'Connor took his game to whole other levels. With his team pressing forward, he was faced with the task of getting past Mayo teammate Paddy Durcan out on the left flank. He didn't think twice and left Durcan for dead before curling over a sensational point. https://twitter.com/radiomidwest/status/1051195440446750721 Ballintubber led by two points but Castlebar rallied for the umpteenth time and, in the second period of extra time, levelled the scores again. Joe Geraghty held his nerve to pop over 'Tubber's final point and it proved to be the matchwinner. There was still time for an equaliser but Diarmuid O'Connor wasn't having a bar of it. The final moments were frantic but Kirby was found and, from nigh on 40 metres out, he fired a shot at the posts. It travelled all over a yard as O'Connor blocked the effort with a superb, full-length dive. https://twitter.com/radiomidwest/status/1051200896267366405 Incredible stuff out west. Ballintibber will now face Breaffy in the Mayo county final. _______________________________