O'Loughlin Gaels, Young Irelands in thrilling draw

O’Loughlin Gaels 3-9 Young Irelands (Gowran) 2-12

Fitting too that this thrilling decider ended in a draw, because neither defending champions O'Loughlin Gaels nor the 2001 kingpins Young Irelands would have deserved to endure the disappointment of defeat after providing an enthralling and nail-biting spectacle for a 12,000 attendance in near perfect conditions.

No doubt Young Irelands will feel hard done by at the concession of the equalising goal virtually at the death, but credit O'Loughlin Gaels with refusing to accept the inevitability of defeat staring them in the face in those closing tension charged minutes.