Gailltir are All Ireland intermediate camogie champions after a late, late show in Croke Park gave the blue and navy a dramatic 1-13 to 0-13 victory against St Rynaghs.
The Waterford and Munster title holders trailed by a point deep into injury time before super sub Una Jackman rifled to the roof of the net in the 64th minute. Her sister Patricia sealed a famous win with a last gasp free.
Gailltir led seven points to four at half time with Aine Lyng and Aoife Fitzgerald striking two apiece.
St Rynaghs roared back into the game with six in a row during a purple patch at the start of the second half. Siobhan Flannery knocked over seven points from placed balls while Kate Kenny got four from play.
A Flannery free left the Offaly side 13-12 in front heading into added time before that late, late show from the blue and navy as Aine Lyng climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Agnes O'Farrelly Cup.
Áine Lyng says it was day where dreams came true; "By God they did, you dream of this as a kid, I don't think you can put into words what this feels like".
Gailtír's Captain Áine Lyng lifts the trophy #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/KoS8xO2ben
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) March 1, 2020
Just as important was the intervention of Daly at the other end, right on the half-hour, getting a touch to a pass across the square that prevented an almost certain Gailltír goal.
Just as she did in the opening period, Ciara O’Sullivan slotted an early point for the Déise contingent, after some neat footwork by Lyng but Rynagh’s riposte was instant and apparently definitive.
The stiffening wind was in their favour more often than not but there was a far greater energy about them, while Elaine Sullivan, on her own on the edge of her own square, gobbled up many aimless Gailltír deliveries
Flannery, who was named official player of the match although Kenny, Sullivan, Lyng and Shauna Fitzgerald must have run her very close, converted a free either side of two splendid scores by the superb Kenny.
When Flannery was tripped, she made no mistake to bring the teams level.
Kenny put two between the sides in the 43rd minute and Rynagh’s were the likeliest winners at this juncture but Annie Fitzgerald showed admirable composure, particularly given her inability to exert any influence in general play, by slotting two frees either end of a strong score by her cousin Shauna Fitzgerald and suddenly Orla Murphy’s charges were in front.
A splendid solo score from Gráinne Dillon brought the sides level once more though and after Flannery (45) and Annie Fitzgerald (free) exchanged scores, Flannery shot her seventh point and what seemed a worth winner, with a free from the middle of the field with two minutes of regulation time remaining
Rynagh’s seemed to have done enough with Linda leading a tremendous defensive effort but they were to be denied at the death and the day was Gailltír’s.
SCORERS FOR GAILLTÍR: Annie Fitzgerald 0-4(fs); Ú Jackman 1-0; Aoife Fitzgerald, A Lyng, C O’Sullivan 0-2 each, A Corcoran, S Fitzgerald, T Jackman (f) 0-1 each
SCORERS FOR ST RYNAGHS: S Flannery 0-7 (6fs, 1 45); K Kenny 0-4; L Sullivan, G Dolan 0-1 each
GAILLTÍR: C Jackman, M Heffernan, L Sheridan, H Flynn, E Roche, C Carroll, T Jackman, K Lynch, S Fitzgerald, C O’Sullivan, A Lyng, Annie Fitzgerald, A Corcoran, Aoife Fitzgerald, E Walsh. Sub: C Dunne for Heffernan (47), U Jackman for Walsh (51)
ST RYNAGHS: E Gilligan, C O’Connell, E Sullivan, S Moran, R Daly, L Sullivan, E Corcoran, H Dolan, R Egan, A McLoughlin, S Hanamy, G Dolan, L Mannion, K Kenny, S Flannery. Sub: T Nugent for O’Connell (22), M Doorly for Hanamy (60+3)
REFEREE: Owen Elliott (Antrim)
Wonderful result @GailltirCamogie take a bow to all who have made this great day happen @OfficialCamogie @WLRFMsport @MunsterCamogie https://t.co/3sYIQ73Dnn
— Sheila O Donohoe (@SheilaODonohoe) March 1, 2020
(Additional reporting courtesy of Darragh Ó Conchúir)
