Semple Stadium has scarcely seen such a turgid affair. Fifty-nine minutes of unyielding, dour football, followed by seven minutes of absolute mayhem.
An Ghaeltacht and Moy Tír na nÓg played out their rescheduled All-Ireland intermediate semi-final in conditions looking only partially better than when this tie was postponed last weekend.
With the score favouring the Kerry side 0-06 to 0-03 going into the final minute of ordinary time, Sean Cavanagh and Moy were given a lifeline - a soccer-style goal that didn't do much to flatter An Ghaeltacht, who were, admittedly, down to 14 men.
Harry Loughran, taking advantage of a missed catch and a failed attempt to retrieve the ball thereafter, slid home the equaliser nervelessly.
Whoah !! Cúl ag @AnMhaigh !! Harry Loughran !! An mbeidh scór eile ann ?? @UlsterGAA @TyroneGAALive #TheToughest #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/eb8fRAh5YV
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 27, 2018
With about 5 minutes remaining but the clock still in the red, shutting down any attempt at nicking a winner became of paramount importance.
After 4 minutes of such antithetical football, it was Loughran who had established himself as Moy's hero for the day; accurately slipping the ball over and surely sending the Tyrone side to the final in Croke Park.
Scór eile ag Harry do @AnMhaigh 1-1 aige taobh istigh do cúpla nóim !! Iad chun pointe chun tosaigh @UlsterGAA @MunsterGAA #TheToughest #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/2GaLujafIN
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 27, 2018
Stunned, An Ghaeltacht needed something fast. Already a man light, even a point would guarantee them a shot of progressing in extra-time.
They got their chance, and more. After some neat work from Marc Ó Sé, one Ghaeltacht forward was fed in on goal, one-on-one, with a chance to level the game.
Fist it over for your point and salvage the draw, or have a pop at goal and try to steal the tie back with your admittedly depleted side?
He went for the latter, and missed. Moy made their way back up the field, and scored another point. Hardly a classic, Moy will now progress to the final on February 3rd.
On the evidence of a few responses however, some may not fancy watching.
Hard luck @AnGhaeltacht. Well done to the the Moy and all the best in the final. Hard to watch that football
— Tomás Ó Sé (@tomas5ky) January 27, 2018
Moy are defending this one point deficit very well in fairness .....😱😱😱😱😱😱
— D Clerkin (@clerkin_d) January 27, 2018
A bit like the ulster semi it seems the referee isn't actually refereeing the game 🤔
— Paddy Bradley (@PaddyB14) January 27, 2018
Although some had located greater injustices in the wake of the match's conclusion.
Unbelievable that @SportTG4 are spelling @SeanCavanagh14 with a K. He’s been playing at the highest level for 17 years and there isn’t even a K in the Irish language 🙈🙈
— Marty Loughran (@MartyLoughran83) January 27, 2018
