28/11/2021: It was the Cill Cúil Gaels’ “Never-Say-Die” attitude that earned them a spot in the U21A Semi-final, having defeated Corofin on their own turf today. The four-parish amalgamation of Kildysart, Coolmeen, Shannon Gaels and Kilmihil dug deep to overcome a first-half six-point deficit to bring the match to extra time. With 5 goals and 31 points between them, the sides still could not be separated after extra time so it all came down to penalties, which the combo won by 4 to 2.
Corofin raced into an early lead putting three scores on the board before Diarmuid O’Donnell open the combo account with a free in the 8th minute. Corofin added two more and a score from Conor Hassett kept the combo in touch before Corofin powered home a goal to put 6 between them, Cill Cúil Gaels 0-2, Corofin 1-5. A lovely point from Thomas Kelly and another free from O’Donnell meant there was 4 between them at the first water break. Corofin were dogged and causing trouble for the combo but they were guilty of giving away scoreable frees which O’Donnell (2) & Emmet McMahon took full advantage of. There was just a score between them at half time, Cill Cúil Gaels 0-7, Corofin 1-7.
The normally decisive third quarter proved to be a quiet affair with O’Donnell and McMahon slotting over frees and the home side also tacking on two points to leave the same gap at the 2nd water break, Cill Cúil Gaels 0-9, Corofin 1-9. The combo notched things up a gear in the last quarter with three unanswered points from Seamus Casey, Gearoid O’Grady and McMahon to level the match with 5 minutes normal time remaining. However, the balance was short lived as Corofin raided for a goal only seconds later. The combo were reduced to 14 men with a straight red but they redoubled their efforts and another free from O’Donnell narrowed the gap. Three minutes into injury time and down by 3 points, Cill Cúl Gaels were awarded a free 30 metres out directly in front of the goal. With nothing but a sea of red shirts in front of him, county senior player Emmet McMahon held his nerve and fired a bullet low and hard to level the game once more, Cill Cúil Gaels 1-13, Corofin 2-10. Corofin then lost a man to a straight red. Corofin had a chance at goal but when Stevie Sheehan cleared the ball from the goal line, the end result was a draw and extra time.
With both teams back to their full complement of 15 players, the first period of extra time began with Corofin the first to split the posts. An inspiring score from Seamus Casey brought the sides level again but a brace from the home side left two between them at the break, Cill Cúil Gaels 1-14, Corofin 2-13.
The combo got the restart they needed when a shot from O’Grady, who was superb throughout, ripped to the back of the net which gave Cill Cúil Gaels the lead for the first time. Corofin then leveled the affairs once more. Points from McMahon & O’Donnell put the combo up by 2 only for Corofin to strike again and raise their third green flag, Cill Cúl Gaels 2-16, Corofin 3-14 with 3 minutes of extra time remaining. But Cill Cúil Gaels weren’t done and O’Grady’s curling point landed between the posts to level the game for the last time, Cill Cúil Gaels 2-17, Corofin 3-14, with penalties to come.
Conor Hassett was first to shoot and he put the combo on the front foot when he fired a shot to the goalkeeper's left. Cill Cúl Gaels goalie Conor Cusack was on fire as he stopped Corofin’s first and second attempts. Diarmuid O’Donnell’s shot put the combo ahead by two. Thomas Kelly’s shot was stopped on the goal line and Corofin got on the board with their third effort. Gearoid O’Grady was up next and his shot was on target just out of the goalie’s reach. Corofin succeed in their next attempt, Cill Cúl Gaels 3, Corofin 2. Fergal Ginnane was the last to shoot for Cill Cúil Gaels and his shot went right through the goalies legs to clinch the match for Cill Cúil Gaels, 4 penalties to 2. Commiserations to Corofin as they were worthy opponents and it’s a hard way to lose a match. The other semi-finalist are Eire Og, Doora Barefield and Ennistymon.
Cill Cúil Gaels: Conor Cusack, Stevie Sheehan, Jack Reidy, Dylan O’Halloran, Gavin Downes, Fergal Ginnane, Tadgh Kelly, Emmett McMahon-co-captain (1-4, 1-2f), John Finucane, Darren Crehan, Gearoid O’Grady (1-2), Seamus Casey (0-1), Conor Hassett (0-1), Thomas Kelly-co-captain (0-1), Diarmuid O’Donnell (0-8m 8f). Subs: Ronan Murphy, Dylan Power, Adam Wallace.
