Club championship, holy God.
This is what it’s all about. Seconds that define seasons. Moments that will remember a career.
Yet again at the weekend, it was all on the line all over the country. The champions were being dumped out, the favourites were shown no respect and four weeks after any kind of inter-county football or hurling, GAA is as big and as vibrant as ever.
In Tipperary, they do it like no other.
Already this week, a one-legged John McGrath performed a Herculean feat, scoring three from play in the last 10 minutes as his club came from five down and he was planted in full forward, unable to really move.
Thurles Sarsfields took note.
With their championship on the line and an audacious quest to hit five-in-a-row being brought to its knees in a quarter-final ambush by Kilruane, Thurles threw Ronan Maher in at the edge of the square looking for any kind of lifeline and, sure enough, they got it.
Two goals later, one almighty catch and one last-second heroic from Maher and Sarsfields squeezed through to the Tipperary semi-final with the finest of margins.
At hand, as always, was Buff Egan.
Ronan Mahers Last Second Goal in the Tipp Quarter Final that Clinched Victory for Thurles by a point 2-14 to 1-16 against Kilruane McDonaghs. What a Catch and Finish. Hail💀Hail pic.twitter.com/ZFHaaaTx6t
— Buff Egan (@buff_egan) September 29, 2018
There are three elements to that goal which go way beyond the emphatic finish, the composure to round the man or the dramatic, brilliant commentary from The Buff.
No, there are other parts which really capture the magic of club championship and everything good about hurling.
1. The catch
Ronan Maher starts a good five metres behind everyone else stationed for the high ball.
Three men in front of him go up first, Maher comes from behind, takes them all out and plucks it from the skies as the bodies are sent scampering.
2. The dejection
As Maher reels away in celebration, the Kilruane management can’t believe what has happened.
Joy and ecstasy in the one frame – everything you need to know about championship Sundays.
3. The inspiration
It wasn’t just Maher or the team or the management who enjoyed the strike or the last-gasp win or the fact they’re still on for five wins on the trot.
It was the kids behind the goals watching on, completely encapsulated and awe-stricken by the county hero doing this for their club. It was them with a front row view promising they’ll do the same as Ronan Maher one day.
Look behind the goals and look at that reaction.
This is the GAA at its very best. And we wouldn’t have seen it if it wasn’t for Buff Egan.
