It was a classic encounter that will be remembered for a heartbreaking miss.
Ballyboden St Enda’s are the Leinster football champions after coming out on top in a tenses and thrilling final against Portlaoise in Tullamore this afternoon.
The Dublin side became the latest side from the capital to thwart the men from Laois, although the game probably should have ended in a draw but for a horrible injury-time miss from Portlaoise star Paul Cahillane.
His side trailed 2-9 to 1-11 when he was given the responsibility of tapping over an easy free to earn a replay, but he pushed his shot to the left and wide of the post.
Portlaoise get a free in front of goal to level it!
— Midlands 103 Sport (@MidlandsSport) December 6, 2015
Cahillane misses the free. Oh no
— Midlands 103 Sport (@MidlandsSport) December 6, 2015
To make matters worse, Portlaoise missed another chance to level the tie just moments later when another decent chance was put wide as Boden were left to celebrate their first provincial crown.
https://twitter.com/Bernard_Dunne/status/673528429099261952
https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/673522740142411777
I actually feel sick for @PortlaoiseGAA & paul calihane. Sport is cruel
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) December 6, 2015
Whatever about the result, everyone knew they had been treated to a real classic.
Congrats to @Bodengaa on a fantastic win… great spirit shown all through. But I feel desperately sorry for #Portlaoise – #GAA heartbreak
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) December 6, 2015
The @AIB_GAA championship one of d best competitions in the world. Produces cracking games. #toughest#exciting#club
— Mike Downey (@MikeDowney4) December 6, 2015
https://twitter.com/RoryMason94/status/673523480575504384
Just getting our breath back after that. So tough on Portlaoise in what was 1 of the games of the year #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/y9ooiXVrsL
— AIB_GAA (@AIB_GAA) December 6, 2015
Regardless of whether they win or lose you could look at Portlaoise all day. Total football. And great spirit
— Steven Miller (@steven_miller12) December 6, 2015
Cahillane had earlier found the net to cancel out Alan Kerins early goal and give Portlaoise the lead at the end of the first half, but Michael Darragh Macauley replied instantly to give the Rathfarnham outfit and one-point advantage at the break, 2-4 to 1-6.
Portlaoise surged back in front after the interval but Ballyboden pegged them back again and the sides exchanged scores until substitute Aran Waters kicked the decisive point late on.
Elsewhere, Curraha of Meath won the junior provincial final thanks to a 3-10 to 1-11 triumph over St Brigid’s from Longford, while the hurlers of Dungourney in Cork took Munster junior hurling glory by defeating Waterford club Fenor 1-11 to 0-8.
And Milltown of Westmeath claimed a famous victory in the All-Ireland intermediate women’s football final, beating Tipperary’s Cahir 2-14 to 2-12,
