Heartbreak for Oranmore/Maree as Spiddal pounce in injury time

An Spidéal 1-10Oranmore-Maree 1-9

Alan Dooley

Despite trailing for the majority of this sometimes dour contest, An Spidéal booked their place in the Claregalway Hotel Galway Intermediate football final thanks to Brendán Óg Ó Callaráin’s magnificent free in the sixth minute of injury time at Pearse Stadium on Sunday which saw off a battling Oranmore-Maree side.

Ó Callaráin was once more An Spidéal’s talisman, grabbing 1-3 of his final tally of 1-6 in the closing stages. Be it left foot or right, the full forward was imperious towards the end and when he rattled in a stunning goal with five minutes remaining to give An Spidéal their first lead, it looked like Oranmore-Maree’s challenge would fizzle out, given they hadn’t scored for more than 15 minutes.

But, in their next foray forward, Coleman Hands goaled from close range for Oranmore-Maree to get them back on level terms at 1-8 apiece and although Ó Callaráin converted a free in the last minute of normal time, at least five more minutes were to be played following treatment to an injury to An Spidéal’s Dara Mac an Rí early in the half.

Sufficient time at least for Oranmore-Maree to hit back, which they did when John McGrath drove over a free from a testing distance and as the five minute mark passed by amid frantic scenes, a replay seemed the fairest resolve to the tie.

But referee Gerry Guinan refused to bring matters to a conclusion and An Spidéal grafted hard to create one more opportunity when substitute Éinne Ó hEochaidh did well to win a free a little over 20 metres out, but very close to the left touchline. Brendán Óg Ó Callaráin wandered over and kicked with conviction, punching the air with satisfaction even before the ball sailed through the posts, aware of the outcome from the moment it was struck.

Surely that would be it, the final say, but more time was found for Oranmore to gain a reprieve. They failed to prise open the spirited An Spidéal defence, though, and five seconds shy of the 38 minute mark the game was up, to the delight of the large group of An Spidéal followers present.

At times, though, the same supporters must have thought it was not going to be their day. Their team played into a first half wind that tested their mettle but then subsided to a light breeze just before half time. Oranmore-Maree had taken advantage of this in the first 20 minutes and were 0-5 to 0-2 to the good through points from Mark Gottsche (free), Conor Allen, Alan Barrett, John McGrath, and Coleman Hands.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.