Former Tyrone star Owen Mulligan came off the bench to salvage a draw for Fulham Irish in the London Senior Football Championship final at McGovern Park today.
Tir Chonaill Gaels are the most successful club in London with 15 senior championship victories, and they looked set to reclaim the crown they last won in 2015.
However defending champions Fulham Irish managed to salvage a draw, with Mulligan coming off the bench to kick the levelling score from a free to secure a replay.
Owen Mulligan’s injury-time free earns holders Fulham a replay in the @theirishworld SFC Final At McGovern Park @TirChonailGaels 1-14 v 1-14 @FulhamIrish @LONDAINGAA @BPCGAA @officialgaa @hoganstandgaa pic.twitter.com/HiwzRSsk0e
— the Irish World (@theirishworld) October 21, 2018
The two sides met in last year's decider, which finished in similarly dramatic fashion. 'Mugsy' was also at the centre of events that day, when his late free was enough to secure a one-point victory for his club. This time he started on the bench, but was thrown into the action with 20 minutes to go.
Fulham Irish got off to a flying start, surging into a seven point lead after only eight minutes. Tir Chonaill Gaels started to grow into the game soon after, and slowly began to chip away at the deficit.
With only two points separating the teams at half-time, an Adrian Hanlon goal after 42 minutes gave them the lead for the first time. They managed to extend this lead to three points as the match entered injury time, but Fulham Irish still had plenty in the tank.
They got back to within a solitary point, with Mulligan stepping up to kick the levelling free.
'Mugsy' has been a major player for both his club and the London inter-county team in the past couple of years. He is fondly remembered by GAA fans for his incredible goal in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Dublin in 2005, a score many have deemed as the greatest goal ever scored in Croke Park.
The replay will take place in McGovern Park next Sunday at 2.30pm.
