Kevin McGettigan was the hero for Donegal champions Naomh Conaill as they defeated Gowna in the Ulster GAA Club Football Championship quarter-final on Sunday. Naomh Conaill trailed the Cavan title holders 1-10 to 1-8 in the 64th minute needing a goal to win the game.
After playing a short pass from a free kick, which initially looked like a mistake, Anthony Thompson received the ball back and lobbed it toward the Gowna goal.
The ball broke to wing-back McGettigan who found the net with a dropkick through a densely populated Gowna goalmouth.
Thompson playing the ball short before sending it towards goal meant that Naomh Conaill's players could enter the square before the ball. Had he played it directly from the free kick, his teammates would have been required to wait for the ball to enter the square before they could do so.
15 October 2022; Naomh Conaill captain Kevin McGettigan celebrates after his side's victory in during the Donegal County Senior Club Football Championship Final between Naomh Conaill and St Eunan's at Páirc Sheáin Mhic Cumhaill in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
"Some sort of euphoria now," McGettigan told Highland Radio.
"I don't often get a goal and never one as important as that anyway. Right place, right time, just happy that I snuck it in somehow.
"There were at least seven or eight [Gowna players] and I'd say some of my own men were in front of me. I actually dropkicked it somehow. I'd never dropkick, in training or nothing, I don't know what I was at.
"I'm just glad that I could repay the supporters for what they do for us."
Naomh Conaill winning goal vs Gowna
An incredible finish to the game in Kingspan Breffni!
Kevin McGettigan wins it for @NaomhConaillGAA at the death!#UlsterClub2023 #ClubMeansMore https://t.co/7VvjLX7WDB pic.twitter.com/KyQHxJZw2L
— Ulster GAA (@UlsterGAA) November 12, 2023
READ MORE: 11 Men Who Won 2023 County Medals After Transferring GAA Clubs
Naomh Conaill's goal was remarkably similar to one which Cargin's Kevin McShane scored against the Donegal team at the same stage in last year's Ulster championship.
Cargin were three points down and in need of goal to take the game to extra-time. Despite the urgency of the situation, Michael McCann had the presence of mind to play the ball short to his brother Tomás who then lobbed it towards the Naomh Conaill goal. Cargin eventually won the game following a penalty shootout.
22 October 2023; Naomh Conaill manager Martin Regan during the Donegal County Senior Club Football Championship final between Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Conaill at MacCumhaill Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
"You hope, really at that stage, it's all it is," Naomh Conaill manager Martin Regan said about the moments before his side's goal.
"Last year, we were on the receiving end of the exact same thing against Cargin. We were three up with time up and conceded a goal with the exact same thing. The roles were reversed this time around and we were on the right end of it."
Naomh Conaill will play reigning Ulster champions and last season's All-Ireland finalists Glen in the last four.
"Glen, they're the Ulster champions, one of the best teams in Ireland," Regan said of the Derry side.
"Watching that today, I don't think they'll have too many sleepless nights worrying about us.
"That was the big regret last year after we lost to Cargin. We were watching Cargin and Glen... You always watch the best teams and wonder how you'd do against them. We have that opportunity now."
Great shout, didn't remember that they'd worked it short for that goal. Such a simple thing that could be the difference in winning and losing pic.twitter.com/eZt1Jwil2a
— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) November 12, 2023
