Antrim Senior Hurling champions Dunloy became the first Ulster side to reach an All-Ireland Senior club Hurling final since 2016 after they defeated St Thomas.
In a tense game at Croke Park, they defeated the Galway side 1-14 to 0-13, as they await the winners of the second semi-final between Ballygunner and Ballyhale.
Today is not only a memorable day for Dunloy, but also for Ulster hurling. The Antrim side were heavily written off going into today's game.
Speaking to TG4 after the game, Player of the Match Conal Cunning was thrilled with Dunloy's incredible achivement.
Lán Ama
"We knew if we could perform we could get a win here and lucky enough we did!” 👌👊
Is é Conal Cunning Laoch na hImeartha inniu!
Comhghairdeas leat! 👏#GAABEO #TheToughest @GAA_BEO | @officialgaa | @AIB_GAA
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/tDv5J7c8bw— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) December 18, 2022
It's unreal. To be honest, not many people gave us a chance. I seen all the reports, everybody had us as big underdogs and nobody gave us a chance.
We concentrated on ourselves. We knew ourselves what we could do, and we knew if we could perform, we could get a win here.
That first half we came in 0-06-0-06, it maybe wasn't the best first half, we came in a little dissapointed with how we preformed. When you miss a penalty it's not easy to come back, but we just try and focus on the next moment, and that's what we done.
You just have to keep coming back, knocking on the door, and lucky enough we won our first Ulster this year. WE are just glad to get over the line today."
Dunloy Shock St.Thomas
It was a tight start to the game in Croke Park, with both sides exchanging points early on. St Thomas showed their quality to stay just ahead, leading 0-03 to 0-05 after 15 minutes.
Dunloy had an opportunity to go ahead with a penalty, but it was saved. They finished the half strong to go in level at 0-06 each.
The Ulster champions upped their game after the interval and took the lead with three unanswered points.
40 nóim
@DunloyGAC 0-08 @StThomassHC 0-06
Cúlín eile den scoth faighte ag Conal Cunning le haghaidh Dún Lathaí!
Cunning scores his fifth point this match! 👌
#GAABEO #TheToughest @GAA_BEO | @officialgaa | @AIB_GAA
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/LzhlCKdnOy— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) December 18, 2022
The decisive moment in this game came from a brillaint goal from Keelan Molloy, who skipped past the defence before firing it into the net as Dunloy were on the crisp of victory.
45 nóim
@DunloyGAC 1-09@StThomassHC 0-07
Cúl álainn tuillte ag Keelan Molloy le haghaidh Dún Lathaí!
Fantastic goal from Molloy! 👌
#GAABEO #TheToughest @GAA_BEO | @officialgaa | @AIB_GAA
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/MEcI6IEZUX— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) December 18, 2022
While St Thomas closed the defecit, they couldn't do enough to turn the game around and Dunloy will celebrate a remarkable victory.
SEE ALSO: Sarsfields All-Ireland Victory "Best One Yet" Claims McGrath
