Amond's controversial score wins it for Old Leighlin
Aaron Amond watches his shot go over the bar for the winning score for Old Leighlin
There was a controversial ending to this Senior Football Championship Round 5 tie at Netwatch Cullen Park on Wednesday evening.
With Bagenalstown Gaels having turned over a six-point deficit in the second half, a Cian Doyle free had put them in front with the clock in three minutes of injury time.
Old Leighlin, the reigning champions, had one last chance but they lost control. Quick to recover they regained possession and when the ball came to Aaron Amond at least two metres inside the arc he went for his score.
The ball dropped under the crossbar and the keeper, Rory Doyle, was forced to deflect it over. To the amazement of almost everyone in the ground, the umpire waved the orange flag.
With no side-line official on that side of the field and with referee, Patrick Murphy, obviously unsighted and unable to overrule his umpire the two-pointer stood and Old Leighlin had stolen the most unlikely victory.
The holders had got off to a lightning start when Mikey Bambrick had the ball in the Bagenalstown Gaels net after just fourteen seconds. Their opponents hit back with Oisin Dillon and Cian Doyle both raising white flags.
Bambrick cancelled those out with a two-pointer from play but from there up to half-time Bagenalstown enjoyed the edge. Doyle converted a free and raised an orange flag from a placed ball.
Old Leighlin only scored a point in a ten minute spell where Cian Doyle scored a close range goal. Old Leighlin found another gear and got back into the game with points from Amond and Seamus Kinsella (free). Approaching the break, Old Leighlin still trailed by two points but David Bambrick raised two white flags to tie the sides at 1-7 each at the change of ends.
By the 38 minute of the second period, the Old Leighlin lead had gone out to six. Cian Doyle picked off a point from play for the Gaels but it didn’t look to be enough. Maybe Old Leighlin thought so too because they suddenly found themselves on the back foot.
An Oisin Dillon two-footer for Bagenalstown Gaels handed them back the momentum and then Doyle scored two points to put his side in front. It looked to be enough but, while the match officials erred, Bagenalstown Gaels have only themselves to blame. They had secured control in what should have been the last play but didn’t keep the ball. Amond must have thought he was shooting to level the game.
As it turned out the video evidence which appeared on social media around the ground subsequently revealed it should have been a drawn match. Not according to the match officials however.
As it turns out both sides, are now safely through to the knock-out stages so that is probably the end of the matter.
M Bambrick 1-3 (1-2p), A Amond 0-4 (1-2p), S Kinsella 0-3 (2fs), D Bambrick 0-2, J Dowling 0-1, C Coughlan 0-1 (f), T Roche 0-1.
C Doyle 1-8 (4fs 1-2pf), O Dillon 0-3 (1-2p), J Clarke 0-2, J Dillon 0-1.
Steven Scallan; Kevin Carpenter, Tadhg O’Neill, Daniel Brennan; Tadhg Roche, Jordan Kelly, Jamie Doyle; Ian Atkinson, David Bambrick; James Dowling, Mikey Bambrick, Aaron Amond; Cathal Coughlan, Seamus Kinsella, Darragh Fitzgerald. Subs: Ruarc O’Neill for Kelly (24), Alan Fitzgerald for Dowling (61).
Rory Doyle; Thomas McDonnell, Jason Wall, Paddy Abbey; Sean Wall, Danny Doyle, Shane Clarke; Oisin Dillon, Jack McCullagh; Patrick McDonnell, Shane Clarke, Niall Bolger; Cian Doyle, Robbie Kane, Jason Dillon. Subs: Alan Wall for S Clarke (22), Ross O’Neill for J Dillon (53).
Patrick Murphy (Ballinkillen).
