Ardee St Mary’s hero Dáire McConnon was “bricking it” earlier than touchdown the knockout blow to Naomh Máirtín’s three-in-a-row senior championship title bid on Sunday afternoon.
he Louth attacker struck 11 minutes into second half stoppage time as Cathal Murray’s males resurrected a seemingly hopeless trigger, having trailed by seven factors at half-time, to qualify for Sunday week’s showpiece towards Newtown Blues.
Jocks – who had Conor Morgan and John Clutterbuck sent-off through the closing quarter – felt particularly laborious achieved by after referee Fr Derek Ryan waved play on when their finest performer on the day, Conor Whelan, seemed to have been fouled within the play previous to McConnon’s winner.
“It’s unreal – some feeling – and possibly up there with 2016 towards Clogher (Dreadnots) in Haggardstown,” McConnon stated of the thrilling end.
“I received a objective that night time however that is up there, and we knew it was in us, however they had been really extra organised than in 2020 (remaining) – they’ve improved since then.
“I used to be frazzled after I received previous the tackles. My coronary heart was in my mouth – I used to be bricking it. I simply noticed house in behind and jinked inside. They had been a few males down and leggy, so it simply opened up. I used to be simply praying it went over.
“I in all probability may have stored going, however I used to be identical to, ‘tip it over’.”
Trailing by such a margin on the interval was approach off Marys’ script, however with the champions hitting only a single level when the match restarted, and the gust starting to develop stronger within the winners’ favour, the comeback effort steadily gained momentum.
“We didn’t thoughts the half-time hole due to how sturdy the wind was,” added McConnon.
“I didn’t realise it within the warm-up on the again pitch after which once we got here in for the primary half, it was very sturdy. I knew it might open up for us and we ran at them – that’s why they received males sent-off.
“I used to be anxious at half-time in that I’d have most well-liked if it was 4 or 5 (factors) – seven was a bit a lot, after which we left it a bit late.”
