Gaels snatch back-to-back titles with dramatic extra-time goal

Lough Lene Gaels 1-20, Clonkill 1-19

By Robert Kindregan

A dramatic last-gasp goal deep into extra time sealed back-to-back Junior A hurling titles for Lough Lene Gaels, as they edged out Clonkill by a single point in a thrilling decider at Clonkill GAA grounds on Sunday.

There was never more than three points between the teams in a tense and evenly fought game. Both sides traded scores throughout, with Clonkill’s Josh Murtagh Loughlin forcing extra time with a late equaliser in normal time, before substitute Kevin Hogan struck the decisive goal in the final seconds.

Clonkill carried the momentum into extra time when Loughlin rattled the net early on, yet Lough Lene Gaels refused to buckle. Trailing by two as the clock ran down, a high ball dropped invitingly into the danger area, where Hogan showed great composure to bat home the winning goal - leaving no time for a Clonkill response.

Joey Williams’ side had to dig deep throughout, often chasing the game but taking their chances when it mattered most. Chief among their scorers was Alex Little, who delivered a sensational 14-point tally - 12 from placed balls - to steer the Gaels to glory.

A crowd of several hundred turned out for the final, played in cool, still conditions on a damp pitch that encouraged a long-ball game rather than ground hurling.

Clonkill’s Christopher Austin, one of their standout performers, opened brightly with two long-range frees inside the first three minutes, either side of a fine Jason Malone point for the Gaels. Little soon levelled matters from a close-range free before adding another from play after reacting quickest to a breaking ball. Robbie Cleary responded for Clonkill from a tight angle, and Evan Scally converted a free won by Oisin Murray to edge them ahead.

Austin added another booming effort at the ten-minute mark, his shot clipping off Gaels goalkeeper Paul Murtagh’s hurl on its way over. Clonkill looked certain to grab a goal when Scally broke through, but a superb block from cornerback Evan Fitzpatrick kept the Gaels in touch.

Clonkill’s Eoin Kenny then landed one of the scores of the match from a difficult angle on the right flank, before Little ended a 15-minute scoring drought for the Gaels with a free on 20 minutes. He quickly followed with two more points - one from play and one from a dead ball - to restore parity.

Robert Cleary nudged Clonkill back in front with a tidy point before Kenny forced a 65 after a scramble in the Gaels’ goalmouth, which Austin slotted over. Another free from Little - his sixth score of the half - left the Gaels trailing by one at the break.

The Gaels came out firing in the second half, Malone plucking a high ball from the sky and splitting the posts to level. Clonkill hit back immediately through a Murray free and a quick point from Kenny from the next puckout. Little’s 65’ and a tidy point from Warren Williams levelled the sides yet again, before Thomas Kennedy’s long-range score briefly put the Gaels ahead.

Murray struck another free to equalise, but a sensational free from Little from inside his own 65 and another follow up free from close put his side two-ahead. Substitute Ciaran Egerton gave Clonkill a lift with a surging run and point, and with five minutes left, Robert Cleary blocked an attempted Gaels clearance, which broke to Oisin Murray to take a crucial score and level again.

More drama followed when Jason Malone was fouled in a scoring position after 60 minutes and Little converted the free for the Gaels to go one ahead. In the seventh minute of added time, a throw-in broke kindly for substitute Josh Murtagh Loughlin, who fired over to force extra time.

Both teams agreed to play on rather than replay, and the Gaels struck first through Warren Williams. Loughlin then produced a moment of brilliance, striking the ball away from the keeper into the top left after a slick pass from Niall Dowdall. Daniel Buckley and Little replied for the Gaels to narrow the gap to the minimum, before Carl McCormack and Loughlin pointed for Clonkill each side of another Little free.

Clonkill looked set for victory, leading by two as the seconds ticked away - but fate had other ideas. A ball dropped into the square, and Kevin Hogan was perfectly placed to bat it home, sealing a dramatic win for the Gaels and heartbreak for Clonkill.

It was the Collinstown club’s first successful title defence since their famous senior championship three-in-a-row ending in 2000. Clonkill, meanwhile, will rue missed chances as they fell to a second successive Junior A final defeat despite leading for long spells and appearing in control entering extra time.

Scorers - Lough Lene Gaels: Alex Little 0-14 (0-10F, 0-2 65), Jason Malone 0-2, Warren Williams 0-2, Thomas Kennedy 0-1, Daniel Buckley 0-1, Kevin Hogan 1-0.

Clonkill: Christopher Austin 0-4 (0-2F, 0-1 65), Josh Murtagh Loughlin 1-3, Oisin Murray 0-4 (0-3F), Robert Cleary 0-2, Eoin Kenny 0-2, Carl McCormack 0-2, Ciaran Egerton 0-1, Evan Scally 0-1 (F).

Clonkill: Darragh Egerton, Ciaran Nooney, John Kenny, Jack Murtagh, Christopher Austin, Patrick Dowdall, Jamie Coffey, Carl McCormack, Paul Poynton, Conor Daly, Mark Keegan, Robert Cleary, Oisin Murray, Eoin Kenny, Evan Scally.

Subs: Eoin Kenny, Ciaran Egerton, Niall Dowdall, Josh Murtagh Loughlin.

Lough Lene Gaels: Paul Murtagh, Johnny Dermody, Eric Fitzpatrick, Philip Reilly, Oisin Dolan, John Egan, Aaron Hill, Brian Coffey, Thomas Kennedy, Jason Malone, Jordan Williams, Alex Little, Marcus Kennedy, Warren Williams, Sean Óg Doyne.

Subs: Kevin Hogan, Mark McNicholas, Daniel Buckley, Cian Reilly.

Referee: Jimmy Greville (Castlepollard).