Long wait over for Ardfinnan
And it was fitting that one of their most famous sons, Peter Lambert, should score the winning point seven minutes from time. With this gruelling final delicately poised at 1-4 apiece after Loughmore's Ciaran McGrath fisted home an equalising goal, Lambert conjured up one moment of magic to seal the affair.
Forced well wide of the goal, Lambert sold three dummies near the end line, before curling over the match winning point.
Now in the twilight of a great career, a delirious Lambert, at 37 years of age, thought he would never experience a day like this.
"I've tasted victory with Nemo Rangers in the Cork championship and the All-Ireland series, and it was brilliant, but nothing compares winning with your own," he said.
"You can see what it means to our supporters. The club has put them through some dreadful times, but today's makes up for all those losses. Conditions were horrendous and it was impossible to play any decent football, but all credit to the lads for the way they battled to win this final.
"They risked life and limb in pursuit of victory out there and I cannot thank them enough for what they have achieved, not alone for themselves but for our club, our parish and it's people. What must the men of 1962, '63 and '64 who were honoured at half time in the game for their three in a row victories, be feeling now?
"I met a few of them after the final whistle and there were a couple of misty eyes among them. This is the greatest day in my sporting career."
Conditions were atrocious but that didn't prevent both teams from serving up a gripping encounter.
The sides were level on two points apiece at the break despite marvellous endeavour by both teams.
Superbly led by full forward Ken O'Keeffe, brother of former Kerry goalkeeper Declan, Loughmore probably shaded the opening 30 minutes, but Ardfinnan's Hugh Bannon (despite a damaged shoulder) and team captain Michael Phelan ensured their side stayed well in the hunt.
Loughmore were a lot more direct on the change over and using the long ball to great effect, O'Keeffe and Ciaran McGrath edged them two points in front inside five minutes of the restart, and with county hurlers Michael Webster and David Kennedy playing superbly at midfield and centre back, the champions appeared to have broken Ardfinnan's challenge.
However Ardfinnan, with Bannon superb at centre back, refused to roll over, and threw the issue wide open with a goal of sheer class in the 42nd minute.
In a move from their own defence the ball was swept down field before Lambert fed the unmarked Hugh Bannon who crashed home a tremendous goal to put his side in front.
That strike lifted the "Village" to a new level and after Loughmore had been reduced to 14 players when Derek Bourke was yellow carded for a second time, it all appeared to be going Ardfinnan's way. Peter Hally then added a point to leave a goal between the teams with nine minutes left.
Inspired by the brilliance of David Kennedy at centre back, Loughmore came roaring back and Ciaran McGrath connected with Martin Gleeson's high ball to goal and bring the sides level for the third time.
It was now Ardfinnan's turn to soak up the pressure as Loughmore came in search of a winner, but superb defending by Alan John Lonergan and Kieran O'Brien denied them, and it was fitting that the long serving Lambert should have the final say with that wonder point.
Next stop for Ardfinnan is a Munster quarter-final date with Nemo Rangers at home, but as Lambert said: "We'll devour this victory for a couple of days and think about Nemo around the middle of the week."
Scorers Ardfinnan: H. Bannon 1-0; P. Lambert (0-1 free), P. Hally 0-2 each; T. Kearns 0-1.
Loughmore: C. McGrath 1-1; K. O'Keeffe 0-2 (0-1 free); T. Egan 0-1.
ARDFINNAN: E. Ryan; T., Ryan, AJ Lonergan, K. O'Brien; M. Phelan, H. Bannon, C. Hennessy; T. Maher, L. Bannon; A. O'Gorman, T. Kearns, JR Murphy; P. Hally, P. Lambert, D. Walsh.
Subs. S. Maher for Hennessy; M. English for O'Gorman; J. Hackett for Walsh.
LOUGHMORE: D. Brennan; G. Sweeney, N., Ryan, T. Long; T. King, D. Kennedy, E. Connolly; M. Webster, P. Brennan; C. McGrath, M. Gleeson, D. Bourke; J. Egan, K. O'Keeffe, D. Laffan.
Subs: S. Bohan for Egan; N. Morris for Laffan.
Referee: P. Russell (Emily)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
