Redemption replaces regret for Ó Conchúir as An Ghaeltacht head for Croker
An Gaeltacht’s Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich and Éanna Ó Conchúir celebrate after winning. pic: Nick Elliott/Inpho
Orange replacing red. Redemption replacing regret. Offender then, outstanding nerve now.
An Ghaeltacht are going to Croke Park. The villain-turned-hero is responsible for getting them there.
Eight years ago, and at the very same All-Ireland intermediate semi-final stage, Éanna Ó Conchúir trudged out to the Thurles sideline on 43 minutes.
His face was a sorry picture of shock and remorse.
An off-the-ball incident had seen Ó Conchúir dismissed on a straight red card. An Ghaeltacht led Seán Cavanagh’s Moy by the solitary at the time. The 14-men of West Kerry continued to lead until the second minute of injury-time. They lost by two.
Ó Conchúir came to Páirc Uí Chaoimh seeking victory for the collective and atonement for himself. The personal mission was a mixed bag of results early doors.
The full-forward kicked a point and assisted another. But he also kicked wide, fouled possession, and was beaten to an incoming delivery by Ruairí Ó Domhnaill which ended in Luke Killian bringing Sallins level at 0-5 apiece.
None of the above snippets were defining. They were small threads in the fabric of an enthralling watch. But when the principal moment presented itself on 81 minutes, and Gealtacht behind by the minimum, Ó Conchúir’s leadership stepped forward.
He was out at midfield when Sallins’ Emmet Ralph was penalised for overcarrying and then penalised for delaying release of the ball. Knowing regular freetaker Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich was sitting in the stand, Ó Conchúir immediately sought the ball from Brian Ó Beaglaoich.
He hadn’t stood over a scorable free all afternoon. He took the advanced free back outside the arc. He wanted a winner. Go big or go home. He dispensed with his gloves, tied a second bow on his laces, and bridged a 22-year gap to An Ghaeltacht’s last and only Croke Park appearance.
“Personally, a massive weight has been lifted,” Ó Conchúir said in reference to his 2018 semi-final sending off.
“I've had fierce low days in the An Ghaeltacht jersey. They've always had my back and they've always trooped around me, so it's great.
“We're very lucky with the management we have in Feargal Ó Sé, Conal Crowley, Dara Ó Cinnéide, Aodán Mac Gearailt, Padraig O'Connor. They've huge experience and they've no problem putting the weight of things on us. It makes you either stand up or run away from it.”
Manager Feargal Ó Sé told us he couldn’t watch the game-deciding free. He walked towards the opposite City End and looked up into the South Stand. His sole comfort was knowing responsibility rested with Éanna.
“His name was written on that two-pointer,” Ó Sé remarked. “I actually didn't realise it was a two-pointer when it was kicked, I thought it was a point.”
They go up the road as the walking wounded. Already without captain Franz Sauerland, it was announced beforehand that they’d be without four of their Munster final starters.
It must be mentioned that Sallins started without influential centre-forward Colm Dalton. But the Kildare champions' lone absentee at throw-in paled in comparison to the many missing headline acts on the opposition side.
Dalton was introduced on the three-quarter-hour mark, a minute after An Ghaeltacht had sprung the first of their missing quartet, All-Star Brian Ó Beaglaoich. The heavily strapped Cathal Ó Beaglaoich followed soon after. The No.9 was pulled again in extra-time. Tomás Ó Sé was sent in on 56 minutes, while there was no sight at all of named full-back Rónan Ó Beaglaoich.
Ó Sé reckons it’ll be as late as the eve of Sunday’s decider against Glenullin before they know for certain who’s available and for how long.
“There's an added bonus that it is an All-Ireland final and it is a once-off game, there will be a chance to get bodies right after it. We are only into the start of the New Year, so lads can have a go and see where it takes them.”
In the absence of this quartet on Saturday’s start line, the half-back pair of Pádraig Óg Ó Sé and Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich, midfielder Aodán Breathnach, late call up Seán Ó Gairbhí, and centre-forward Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich charged to the front and led superbly.
Going up the road, they at least know they have depth. Their going up the road was delayed by 20 minutes. Ahead by one in injury-time, the chasing Sallins were not penalised for a blatant three-up breach in the second of the allotted three minutes.
Play and Sallins continued on uninterrupted. James Dalton brought extra-time. Even though the refusal of match officials to penalise the breach did not end up defining the fixture, Ó Sé still spat fury at full-time.
“Disappointed in the fact that we are in an All-Ireland competition. If that happened behind in Gallaros, or below in South Kerry, or up North Kerry, there'd be rack.
“There's obviously going to have to be more than one person in charge of the new rules and somebody in the ear of whoever is in charge of it. Or, if they have to, rewind the tape and watch and look because that shouldn't be happening in this day and age. End of.”
Ó Sé was manager when the club of 181 adult members came up short to Caltra in the 2004 senior decider. He hopes for a different outcome on their second visit to GAA HQ.
“Our team had great days in Gaeltacht jerseys, but that was not a great day for us. But this is a different team, they are making their own history, and good luck to them.”
S R Ó Beaglaoich (0-8, tp free, 0-2 frees); É Ó Conchúir (0-4, tp free); A Breathnach (0-2, tp); A Ó Beaglaoich, PJ Mac Láimh, T Ó Sé (BB), S Ó Gairbhí (0-1 each).
L Killian (0-5); L Kelly, J Dalton (0-3 each); S Kelly (1-0); C Grimes (0-2, 0-2 frees); P Farrelly (0-1).
S Ó Lúing; C Ó Murchú, PP Sauerland, JJ Mac Liam; A Mac Amhlaoibh, A Ó Beaglaoich, P Óg Ó Sé; A Breathnach, S Ó Cuinn; G Ó Cinnéide, R Ó Beaglaoich, PJ Mac Láimh; S Ó Gairbhí, É Ó Conchúir, C Ó Riagáin.
C Ó Corrduibh for Ó Riagáín (HT); B Ó Beaglaoich for Mac Amhlaoibh (44); C Ó Beaglaoich for Sauerland (48); T Ó Sé (DC) for Ó Cinnéide (56); T Ó Sé (BB) for R Ó Beaglaoich (63); D Ó Séaghdha for Breathnach, Ó Ó Sé for C Ó Beaglaoich (both 67); S Ó Conchúir for Ó Cuinn (71).
M Farrelly; S Ó Domhnaill, R Ó Domhnaill, M Moynihan; G McEvoy, D Keane, L Kelly; D Mangan, S Conway; L Killian, P Farrelly, C Grimes; S Kelly, E Ralph, J Dalton.
A Marshall for Ralph (39); A Carney for Moynihan (40); C Dalton for Keane (45); E Ralph for C Dalton (60); D Keane for P Farrelly (67, inj); S McDonnell for Grimes (73); L McKenna for Conway (75).
S Lonergan (Tipperary).
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