Defending champions Kilmallock survived in the Limerick senior hurling championship in dramatic fashion on Sunday, with a goal in the depths of injury time snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in their semi-final clash with Doon.
At one stage in the second half, they were six points down and, entering the fourth minute of injury time, Kilmallock were on the verge of exiting the Limerick championship, with Doon leading by 2-09 to 0-13.
In torrential rain, Kilmallock drew up one final scrappy moment of magic to break Doon hearts and reach a second successive Limerick hurling final.
Kilmallock take extraordinary late win in Limerick SHC
The game between Kilmallock and Doon was played in torrential rain on Sunday afternoon, and the conditions contributed to the chaotic conclusion.
Deep into stoppage time, Kilmallock went for broke, with Doon two points up. A long range free dropped near the square, and after a scuffle in front of the goal, substitute Robbie Egan kicked the ball past the keeper to seal a dramatic one point win for the defending Limerick champions.
On a day of late goals and drama, up steps Robbie Egan to break Doon hearts!
Excellent comms from @johnnybkeogh who was situated right in the middle of the crowd!@KilmallockGAA | @LimerickCLG pic.twitter.com/AF38UdZjkK— StreamSport.ie (@StreamsportI) October 16, 2022
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Doon hearts were broken, and Kilmallock will have a chance to seal back-to-back county titles.
Kilmallock manager Fintan O'Connor spoke to Sporting LK after the game, and acknowledged that Egan's goal came with a stroke of fortune. He did, however, praise the impact of the subs brought on to change the game, after his side turned around a huge deficit in the second half:
I suppose it was just a real battle. In fairness to Doon, they brought unbelievable fight to it. In fairness, we just got a bit of luck at the end there with Robbie Egan with the goal. Look, we knew at this time of year in these conditions you have to dig it out. In fairness to the two teams, they dug it out in the conditions.
I know the quality mightn't have been brilliant but the effort and the application by both teams was unreal.
In fairness, it was a pure roll of the dice [bringing Egan on], bringing lads on to try and change things. It just wasn't happening for some lads with the weather and conditions.
Look, I think we were six points down at one stage there in the second half and it took a real effort out of the lads to dig deep and get us over the line.
Kilmallock will face Na Piarsaigh in the county hurling final on Sunday October 30th at 4:30pm.
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