O'Neill's last gasp free dethrones champions in semi-final thriller
Finbarr Kavanagh scores Palatine's second goal during this evening's win over Éire Óg Photo: Pat Ahern
A free in stoppage time from Shane O’Neill knocked the reigning champions out of the Carlow senior football championship in an epic semi-final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
They challengers did it the hard way having to overturn a three-point deficit in the final ten minutes.
Palatine had stunned their old rivals with three goals in the opening eighteen minutes. Almost from the throw-in, the YI defence was opened up at the tunnel side of the ground and Jamie Kenny gave Johnny Furey no chance with a rocket of a shot. Bryan McMahon and Shane O’Neill added points and once again the Éire Óg defence was found wanting as Finbarr Kavanagh netted from close range.
Éire Óg responded with points from Ross Dunphy and Niall Quinlan but they were hit with another three-pointer when Jack Deacy availed of the referee playing advantage to find the net from inside the small square.
The challengers defence kept their shape and while Éire Óg hit back with further points, Palatine still led 3-4 to 0-8 at the interval.
As expected Éire Óg threw everything at their opponents in the second half. Niall Quinlan scored an early goal and the scene was set. The respective keepers at both end made a superb block each which kept the game on a knife-edge. When Ross Dunphy scored a second Éire Óg goal the champions looked set for victory. Instead points from Conor Crowley, Andrew Kehoe (mark) and Ciaran Moran produced the finale. While O’Neill held his nerve to nudge his side in front, Éire Óg had one chance to level but Dunphy’s difficult 40 metre free veered left and wide.
Palatine, who had lost Jamie Kenny to a second yellow with ten minutes to go, had their reprieve and they can prepare for a second county final appearance in three years.
S O’Neill 0-4 (2fs), J Deacy, F Kavanagh, J Kenny 1-0 each, A Kehoe (1 mark), C Crowley (1f) 0-2 each, C Moran, B McMahon 0-1 (f).
N Quinlan 1-4 (4fs), R Dunphy 1-4, C Hulton 0-2, M Ware, D O’Brien (45) 0-1 each.
Craig Kearney; Conor O’Doherty, Cian Cashman, Jack Deacy; Gavin Healy, Ciaran Moran, Cillian Duff; Finbarr Kavanagh, Jason Kane; Josh Egan, Shane O’Neill, Bryan McMahon; Brandon Cassidy, Conor Crowley, Jamie Kenny. Subs: Stephen Reilly for Healy (36), Andrew Kehoe for McMahon (41), Conor Lawlor for Kane (53), Tom Sheehan for Duff (57), James Cranny for Cassidy (61).
Johnny Furey; Cathal Kelly, Shane Buggy, Benny Kavanagh; Lee Moore, Mark Furey, Paul McElligott; Sean Gannon, Kyle Nolan; Niall Quinlan, Darragh O’Brien, Kieran Nolan; Ross Dunphy, Murtough Ware, Colm Hulton. Subs: Diarmaid Ruth for Ware (37), Kelvin Chatten for McElligott (46), Alex Delaney for Moore (48), Eoghan Byrne for Kelly (55), Josh Brady for Quinlan (61).
James Foley (Kilbride)
