A goal deep into added time finally settled a see-saw Beara Junior Final in Urhan's favour. Urhan 2-07 Garnish 2-06. Oircheann Abú!
Even for a fixture that normally produces tight games and dramatic turning points, this was hard to believe.
The fireworks started with the very first attack of the game as unmarked Alan O' Sullivan finished cooly to the net with a smart finish. Garnish were off and running. A free from Concubhar Harrington in the fourth minute got Urhan on the scoreboard, but it was immediately cancelled out by Alan O' Sullivan.
No scores were to follow for the next quarter of an hour, a period in which Urhan won the lion's share of the possession, especially in centre-field only to often concede it again with sloppy passing and poor option-taking.
When the scores did come, they came in a bunch. Martin Neill pointing from out on the right after a simple but effective move in the twenty first minute, Iain O' Sullivan tacking on another a minute later and John Dwyer levelling the game up on twenty six minutes with a right-footed effort after an effective foray forward.
With both sides putting in trojan work defensively there would be no more scores before the break. Urhan 0-04 Garnish 1-01.
Having started the first half with a score, Garnish repeated the trick in the second half - Donncha Lowney popping over a free. Urhan came again at centrefield and the ball was finally fed to half-time substitute Viiny Lehane wide on the right. He turned, ran, evaded the Garnish backs, drew the goalkeeper and fed Martin McCarthy who punched to the net. Urhan were ahead. Enda Lowney put a goal between the sides on the very next attack after a smart move found a matching finish.
Urhan were now well on top but finding it hard to rack up scores. Ollie O' Sullivan punched a point on the three-quarter mark to leave only two in it. Instantly, Urhan broke through the tireless Martin O' Neill, who fisted over to register his second score of the day. Two minutes later, Vinny Lehane scored the point of the day, jinking, jinking and jinking again before floating a beautiful score over from wide on the left. Urhan 1-07 Garnish 1-03.
With nine minutes to go the four-point lead was still intact. But Garnish were to surge in to it. First Donncha Lowney found space to point well. Then with seven to go a hotly-debated penalty was taken superbly by Hugh O' Sullivan. Fintan O' Sullivan kicked a beautiful point with a minute of normal time to go and Garnish were now in front.
As Urhan won and lost the ball a few times, and the added minutes of injury time ticked by no chance to level was carved out. When Finbarr Sheehan kicked a fine free on sixty-five minutes, Urhan's task was made simple - only a goal would do.
Unbelievably, a chance appeared. Patient play at the back by Mikey Shea and John Dwyer carved out the run, the ball found it's way gloriously to Martin McCarthy, who fed Iain O' Sullivan, got it back, fed Iain again, who found Vinny Lehane, free and clear on goal. He made no mistake. Goal! Urhan led by a point.
Still the ref played on, and Garnish were to have one more free, one more chance to bring the game to extra time. Half of Beara held its breath. Half of them hit the heavens seconds later, half hit the floor, as the ball sailed wide and the ref blew. Urhan were Beara Champions for 2012.
It was cruel luck on a proud Garnish team, the worst possible way to lose a game after such a spirited comeback, and our commiserations go to their players and management.
Urhan now prepare for another County campaign. Details of the first match should follow very soon.
Oircheann Abú!!!
Team: Sean Daly; Brian Healy, Mikey O' Shea, John Dwyer; Enda Lowney, Luke Daly, Davy Cronin; Finbarr Dwyer, Dan Dwyer; Martin O' Neill, Iain O' Sullivan, James Healy; Concubhar Harrington, Martin McCarthy, Declan Healy.
Subs: PJ Cadogan for Davy Cronin (inj.), Vinny Lehane for Declan Healy, Aidan O' Neill for Enda Lowney, Sean O' Sullivan for Martin O' Neill.
All gloom...but then...
Photos: Kathleen Dwyer