Cuala fended off an inspired Errigal Ciarán comeback to win a maiden All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship on Sunday evening despite the efforts of Peter Harte and his teammates.
Dublin side Cuala made a lightning start to the contest with three goals, forging out what proved to be an unassailable lead but they could not rest given the fight they faced after the interval.
Harte, nephew of legendary ex-Tyrone boss Mickey Harte, has enjoyed a decorated career but he was at his brilliant best in spurring a second-half surge for Errigal.
The Tyrone club, who were in their first-ever All-Ireland Club SFC final, trailed by 13 at the break but fought valiantly in coming up short by just four points, losing 3-14 to 1-16.
Harte was the star of the show, getting his side back on the board with a smart point from distance early after the restart.
A mountain to climb but Peter Harte gets Errigal up and running in the second-half! pic.twitter.com/todZLBim7i
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 19, 2025
The best was yet to come from the two-time All Star - an outrageous goal which reduced the gap by a further three points.
Bearing in on goal after a clever spin, Harte opened up the angle and laced a cracker of a strike with his left foot into the top right-corner of the Cuala net.
A cracker of a goal from Peter Harte cuts the deficit to seven points! 🔥pic.twitter.com/N1qpmerqr9
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) January 19, 2025
Errigal were up against it after losing Darragh Canavan early but Harte stepped up, and - despite receiving a late red card - had put in a performance which united GAA fans on social media.
Meath footballer Barry Dardis paid tribute on Twitter, writing: "Peter Harte with one of the greatest individual displays in that second half I've ever seen, absolutely monstrous!"
Former Tyrone star Phillip Jordan wrote: "Peter Harte’s 2nd half performance has to be one of the best ever seen in Croke Park! Unbelievable."
Plenty of others were in agreement.
Peter Harte give one of the best 2nd half performances ever seen in croker there. Errigal be wondering were it all went wrong in the first half. King con some player @SmallerFishGAA thoughts
— Conor O’keeffe (@conorokeeffe22) January 19, 2025
Peter Harte showed a monumental amount of balls. Took the game by the scruff, and given the circumstances of an all Ireland final and being down by a bagful, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a display of leadership like it. Didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
— Daniel Kelly (@DanielKelly100) January 19, 2025
Peter Harte’s goal has to be the greatest ever scored in Croke Park, he single handedly pulled @ErrigalCiaran1 back into the game, well done to @CualaCLG #allirelandclub
— Padhraic O'Mullane (@Padhraic1) January 19, 2025
Peter Harte with a performance for the ages
— JP (@JP_McG) January 19, 2025
He may have been among the vanquished but nobody will forget Peter Harte’s performance in Croke Park.
— Brendan Crossan (@CrossanBrendan) January 19, 2025
Peter Harte will be disappointed how he finished that game but he can be proud how he dragged his team off their knees in the 2nd half. Himself and Thomas Canavan were brilliant.
Darragh Canavan was obviously a massive loss.
Errigal can be proud of that group
— Tomás Colton (@TomasColton) January 19, 2025
A special performance indeed.