“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:
Diarmuid O'Connor taking it to Mitchels! 0-12 0-11. LIVE In injury time https://t.co/YBngTwgRSd pic.twitter.com/oOMZBHTUnj
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) October 13, 2018
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.
LEVEL AGAIN! IT'S EXTRA TIME AGAIN!! Cillian O Connor with nerves of steel yet again! The last kick of the game levels it 0-12 0-12! https://t.co/YBngTwgRSd pic.twitter.com/duwq4fDrb2
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) October 13, 2018
Xtra time OMG
— Ballintubber GAA (@BallintubberCLG) October 13, 2018
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.
"Out on the sideline facing Paddy Durcan, most guys would turn back" But Diarmuid O Connor ain't most men! pic.twitter.com/kVdgaD5xpm
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) October 13, 2018
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.
Have you ever seen anything like it!!!??? @BallintubberCLG have dethroned the champions after extra time in a replay!! Joe Geraghty kicks the winner in an amazing finish!! @TheSISMClinic pic.twitter.com/WW0i3Ic4kP
— Mid West Radio (@radiomidwest) October 13, 2018
Incredible stuff out west.
Ballintibber will now face Breaffy in the Mayo county final.
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