The Antrim SFC semi-final served up a thriller on Thursday night as Lamh Dhearg and Roger Casement's Portglenone played out a dramatic draw.
In front of a packed house and under floodlights, not even extra-time could separate the sides and by the time the final whistle sounded, it was 1-12 to 0-15. There had been controversy and class aplenty with Casements finishing the game with 14 men while Paddy Cunningham kicked this sensational score.
what a point! pic.twitter.com/05GencfkAn
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) September 26, 2019
So a free-kick shoot-out was needed and Antrim GAA elected to stream it live for the world to see. Both teams went blow for blow until they were tied 9-9. Then, more unexpected drama arrived.
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) September 26, 2019
Antrim chairman Chairman Ciaran McAvana stepped in. This tie was not going to be decided like this, a replay was required.
"It was half ten. I made the call after speaking to the two managers that the game should be played and won on the pitch. We have amateur players giving their all, training for nine months. They don't deserve to lose a county semi-final and a chance to play in the county final that way."
County chairman on tonight’s drawn game and sudden death penalty shoot out #NorthernSwitchgearSFC pic.twitter.com/Jq4W1p4GAW
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) September 26, 2019
Paddy Cunningham reacts to tonight's Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC semi-final replay being stopped by the County Chairman after two rounds of frees and the teams still level! pic.twitter.com/q5P0XYqJtI
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) September 26, 2019
So they will go at it again, with all proceeds from the replay going towards deterMND and Paul McKeever’s Cancer Focus and Friends of Cancer Centre.
Video credit: Jerome Quinn
