AIB Connacht Club IFC semi-final
Bunninadden (Sligo) 3-11 St. Aidan’s (Roscommon) 3-10
Seamus Duke
An incredible final-quarter final revival saw the Sligo champions Bunninadden come from 12 points down to snatch a sensational victory in injury-time in this thrilling intermediate football semi-final played in Kiltoom last Sunday.
In all the years of going to and covering games, I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like this. With 45 minutes played St Aidans were leading by 2-10 to 0-4 and were coasting to victory and set for a place in the Connacht final. Their opponents were down and
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AIB Connacht Club IFC semi-final
Bunninadden (Sligo) 3-11 St. Aidan’s (Roscommon) 3-10
Seamus Duke
An incredible final-quarter final revival saw the Sligo champions Bunninadden come from 12 points down to snatch a sensational victory in injury-time in this thrilling intermediate football semi-final played in Kiltoom last Sunday.
In all the years of going to and covering games, I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like this. With 45 minutes played St Aidans were leading by 2-10 to 0-4 and were coasting to victory and set for a place in the Connacht final. Their opponents were down and out and looking like a team that wanted to hear the final whistle sound as soon as possible.
But in a moment of inspiration (or desperation!) Bunninadden switched full-forward Mark Gormley to the middle of the field and the transformation was unbelievable. The towering Gormley caught every ball that was sent in his direction for the remainder of the game as he led a stunning Sligo comeback.
But that is only half the story. With seven minutes to go Aidans were thrown a lifeline as they scored a goal from a penalty and then Bunninadden had corner-back Liam Og Gormley sent off for a second yellow card. Undeterred, the Sligo side battled on, quickly grabbed two vital points and then scored a sensational goal in the 61st minute to claim an incredible victory.
St Aidans will wonder for months (maybe even years) to come just how they managed to lose this game. They were totally on top and played some wonderful football to sweep into that 12-point advantage. Even the most optimistic Bunninadden fan would not have given their side a ghost of a chance in the latter stages. If Paddy Power had been conducting betting ‘in running’ Bunninadden would have been available at odds of at least 100/1 with 15 minutes to go.
It is seldom that I have seen one player have such a profound impact on a game as Mark Gormley did in the final fifteen minutes on Sunday, but the big full-forward was like a man possessed in the final quarter and he dragged his side up by the bootlaces and inspired them to a win that they will never forget regardless of how they get on in the remainder of this competition.
Aidans were totally dominant in the opening half. With David Hoey and Paddy Neary running the show at midfield and Terence Kelly and the Coynes on fire up front, it was one-way traffic for almost all the opening half of play.
James Coyne opened the scoring with a well-taken point in the 2nd minute and then five minutes later Aidans grabbed their first goal when Martin Connolly was fouled by Thomas Perry and Johnny Coyne fired the resultant penalty to the Bunninadden net. A Vincent Frizzel point from a free in the 11th minute narrowed the gap but it was only brief respite for Bunninadden as Aidans hammered home their superiority.
Excellent points from play from Terence Kelly (2) in the 12th and 14th minutes saw the Ballyforan men extend their lead and in the 17th minute Terence Kelly fired home an opportunist goal after a shot from Martin Connolly hit the post and rebounded into Kelly’s arms on the 13-metre line. Further points from Johnny Coyne (a ’45), Terence Kelly, Martin Connolly and Johnny Coyne (all from play) saw the Roscommon champions ahead by 2-7 to 0-2 at the break –and looking comfortable.
The Sligo men opened the second half with points from Michael Gormley and Vincent Frizzel (both from play), but Aidans took over again and were coasting to an easy win when points from Paddy Neary, James Coyne and a Keith Waldron free saw them ahead by 2-10 to 0-4 with 44 minutes gone.
Then Bunninadden made their switch as their plight grew ever more desperate. Mark Gormley came to midfield and Vincent Frizzel went to full-forward and it was like a light was switched on for Bunninadden – with one switched off for Aidans.
Gormely completely dominated the air after that and the Sligo side’s attack came alive. Vincent Frizzel converted frees in the 46th and 47th minutes and a minute later Barry Gilhooly rattled home a fine goal after a great catch by Gormley and a superb pass from Frizzell.
A minute later Joseph Rogers pointed a free from 20 metres and a minute after that the margin was down to three points when Rogers blasted to the Aidans net after another fine move. Aidans just couldn’t get their hands on the ball now and the gap was down to two in the 51st minute when Kenneth Kerins scored for the Sligo men from all of 40 metres. But there was even more drama to come. In the 53rd minute a long ball into the Bunninadden goalmouth saw Keith Waldron fouled and referee Liam Devenney pointed to the spot. James Coyne blasted the ball to the Bunninadden net and Aidans were now five ahead again.
Then Devanney gave Gormley a second yellow card (and then a red) and the Sligo men were down to 14 players. Surely Aidans had weathered the storm? Not so. In the 56th minute Joseph Rogers pointed a free, Padraig Doohan pointed from play in the 57th minute, and then Vincent Frizzell pointed a free in the 58th minute to narrow the gap to two, 3-10 to 2-11.
The game was entering injury-time now and when Vincent Frizzel kicked a long ball towards the Aidans goalmouth substitute Shane Kerins rose highest and fisted the ball past Martin Kenny – and, incredibly, Bunninadden were in front. But it was not over yet. Aidans attacked desperately to try and get an equalising point or a winning goal, but it was not to be. The Roscommon champions had claims for a penalty turned down in the 3rd minute of injury-time – and soon after it was all over.
It was certainly one of the most incredible twenty minutes of football that I have ever seen and for the Aidans players, management and supporters it will remain a mystery as to just how they managed to lose this game after being so far ahead and with so little time left. But that’s sport.
Bunninadden: David Flannery; Liam Og Gormley, Thomas Perry, Peader McManus; James McLoughlin, Michael Gormley (0-1), Karl Brennan; Vincent Frizzel (0-5, 4 frees), Padraig Doohan (0-1); Jonathan Hodgins, Noel Kerins, Kenneth Kerins (0-1); Joseph Rogers (1-3, 2 frees), Mark Gormley, Barry Gilhooley (1-0).
Subs: Sean Leamy for Brennan, Shane Kerins (1-0) for Hodgins.
St Aidans: Martin Kenny; Ciaran Dowd, Shane Beirne, James Coyle; Andy Higgins, James Kenny, John Moran; David Hoey, Paddy Neary (0-1); Keith Waldron (0-1, free), Sean Higgins, Terence Kelly (1-3); James Coyne (1-2, 1-0 penalty), Martin Connolly (0-1), Johnny Coyne (1-2, 1-0 penalty and 1 ’45).
Subs: Niall Corbett for Johnny Coyne, Eamon Mulry for Coyle, Paul Higgins for Hoey, Ferdinand Coyne for Dowd.
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo).
Match People
Man of the Match
Mark Gormley (Bunninadden)
With 45 minutes gone in this game Terence Kelly, Paddy Neary, James Coyne and Martin Connolly were all in the frame for man of the match as they had led by example for Aidans. But the switch of big Bunninadden full-forward Mark Gormley to midfield for the final quarter changed the course of the game. He caught some super ball and indeed in the final minutes when his team were under pressure he emerged with the ball in his own full-back line from a ruck of players. It was a remarkable performance. Others to play well for the Sligo side were Michael Gormley, Vincent Frizzel and Joseph Rogers.
Outside The Wire
There was a small crowd of about 500 people on a cold but dry day which was perfect for football. The small band of Bunninadden supporters could hardly believe their eyes as their team came back from the dead to win. The Aidans players, management and followers were stunned at the manner of their defeat – and no wonder.
The Man in the Middle
Aidans were infuriated when referee Liam Devenney of Mayo declined to award them a penalty in injury-time. I wasn’t sure from where I was watching whether or not it was a spot-kick. The referee handed out far too many yellow cards and awarded two other penalties to Aidans (which were justified). The sending off of Liam Og Gormley for the Sligo men seemed very harsh to me.
The Way We See It
By any criteria, this was an incredible game. Aidans were coasting to victory, only to see it slip through their grasp in that frantic final quarter. Bunninadden now qualify to play against Charlestown in the final but Aidans will have learned some very harsh lessons form this defeat and will no doubt come back a stronger team as a result in the senior ranks next year.
Roscommon People
Issue: 9th November 2012
Read more http://roscommonpeople.ie/itemdetail.asp?itemID=20526
