Penalty shootout heartbreak for Kilmurry on 'unbelievable' day for Donegal side Muff
Tomás Collins in action for Kilmurry during the Munster JFC. Pic: Larry Cummins
Games can turn in the blink of an eye, and this All-Ireland junior semi-final was a classic example with Kevin Lynch’s penalty midway through the second period of extra-time breathing much-needed life into a Naomh Padraig side that sent them into a national decider on January 25.
By that point, the clock had struck 76 of 80 minutes played with the Donegal men trailing by two points before the towering Naomh Padraig full-forward raised his side’s only green flag of the day after county man Caolan McColgan strolled through three defenders before being dragged down in the penalty box.
Killmurry’s Denis O’Mullane had time to strike a final free and bring the match to the all-important penalty kicks, but when it really mattered, it was the Donegal side who stepped up to produce the goods, with McColgan, Lynch, and Rory Hirrell converting their penalties, while only Conor Kelleher scored for Killmurry.
For periods, Naomh Padraig had their backs to the wall, Killmurry looked home and hosed until they weren’t. The fighting spirit of a small club in the region of Inishowen in north Donegal continued to find answers to every question asked as they became the first Donegal team to reach an All-Ireland junior final on what was the club’s finest hour.
“I can’t really sum up how I feel right now, I’m just overjoyed with emotion, I don’t think I'll sleep tonight with the amount of adrenaline running through me,” Naomh Padraig manager Daniel McCauley said following his side’s win.
Trailing by three points at the break, with Lawrence Aisling’s 11th-minute goal proving the difference and putting Killmurry into a half-time lead, their Donegal opponents started the second half re-energised, with McColgan and Jonathan Toye pulling the strings for the men in blue and gold hitting two points apiece for their side, with the Cork men taking until the 44th minute to land a score in the second half.
But Killmurry were able to put the turbo on and crawl back into the tie with Liam Wall, Denis O’Mullane, and Lawrence Aisling all raising white flags without reply to turn the game back into a nail-biting affair.
Even in extra time when Rory Duggan slotted home a second goal for Killmurry which seemingly tip the balance, Naomh Padraig never threw in the towel.
“I think when we look at key moments and exciting moments, you have to look at how we performed in extra-time,” McCauley admitted.
“We went a point up after we scored our penalty and you think with two minutes or so left on the clock, we would see the game out, but fair play to Killmurry, they came back at us and scored their free to send the game to penalties, under serious pressure.
“They (Killmurry) could’ve so easily won the game, but fair play to our lads, they defended like dogs right to the end, we kept our discipline, even when we started to get tired, and we saw the game out and into penalties. It’s just a brilliant day.”
While their journey is nowhere near over, Naomh Padraig can breathe a little easier knowing that they will become the first Donegal club to play an All-Ireland final in Croke Park.
For star Naomh Padraig man McColgan, it’s one, if not the greatest day in the club’s history.
“It means everything to us, especially with all we’ve been through this year,” McColgan said. “This game meant everything to us and to be able to represent the club in two weeks' time in Croke Park . . . it’s unbelievable.
“All we’ve been chatting about all week was about getting to Croke Park, that's what we wanted to do, not only for the supporters but for ourselves too. Everyone dreams of playing in Croke Park and we’re happy we’re there now.”
Lawrence Aisling 1-1; Liam Wall 0-4, (0-2 fs); Ronan Duggan 1-0; Lloyd Aisling and Denis O’Mullane (1 free), 0-2 each; Darragh McIntyre 0-1.
Kevin Lynch 1-4, (1 ‘45’, 1 free, 1 penalty); Jonathan Toye 0-3, (0-1 free); Caolan McColgan 0-3; Kevin Doherty 0-2, (0-1 free); Ronan Hoy 0-1.
Oran McCauley; Cormac Kelly, Caolan Harkin, Darragh McIntyre; Michael McCarron, Jonathan Toye, Jason McCallion; Eunan Mullan, Cormac McColgan; Oisin McIntyre, Kevin Doherty, Drew McKinney; Joseph McCauley, Kevin Lynch, Caolan McColgan.
Rory Hirrell and Ronan Hoy for McCarron and Kelly (both half-time); Andrew McCarron for Toye (53); Dermot Keaveney for Doherty (59); Cormac Kelly for McIntyre (65); Jamie McColgan for McCauley (69); Joseph McCauley for Mullan (70)
Jason McDonnell; Aaron O’Mahony, William Ronan, Seán O’Leary; Brian Hinchion, Tomás Collins, Alexander Aisling; Kyle Kelleher, James O’Mullane; Liam Wall, Lawrence Aisling, Rory Duggan; Lloyd Aisling, John O’Mullane, Denis O’Mullane.
Joe O’Mullane for O’Mahony (44); Darragh Linehan for Denis O’Mullane (62); Denis O’Mullane for Collins (74)
David Hickey (Carlow)
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