Farragher the penalty hero for Monivea/Abbey
Monivea-Abbey 1-14
Bearna na Forbacha 1-14
After extra time
(Monivea-Abbey win 4-3 on penalties)
By Oisín Noone in Headford
Jersey-off celebrations are not as common a sight in club GAA as they are in the Premier League, however Monivea-Abbey goalkeeper Denis Farragher’s exuberance was fairly warranted as his two excellent stops in the penalty shootout secured his side’s senior status for 2026 last Sunday in Headford.
At the end of normal time, Bearna na Forbacha required a goal from Tom Curran to level affairs. At the end of extra-time, Monivea-Abbey needed to go to the well and back again, as Cillian McDaid brought the game to a shootout with a sublime kick from the tightest of angles. The stakes were high, along with both teams’ grit and determination.
The first five penalties were all successful. Monivea-Abbey had the probable advantage of going first, as Glenn Kelly, Niall Mannion and Trevor Mullins all held their nerve. Seán Dunne and Tom Curran both aimed for bottom corners for Bearna na Forbacha.
Ray Conneely was denied by Farragher, before Bearna na Forbacha netminder James Keane stopped Jack Finn’s attempt to put Monivea-Abbey two ahead. Conor Kelly made it 3-3 before the final kicks of the shootout.
Scorer of their first and last points, along with an outrageous goal from distance on 47 minutes, McDaid buried Monivea-Abbey’s fifth and final penalty. Now facing Dan McComiskey’s shot, man of the hour Farragher produced heroics once again as the Monivea-Abbey squad swarmed the pitch in celebration.
In extra-time, Monivea-Abbey’s Philip Muldowney and Bearna na Forbacha’s Donncha Naughton exchanged scores, before impact off the bench came for the West Galway club through Charlie Friel, as they led before the final 10 minutes.
A lovely flick from the outside of McDaid’s boot put Mullins through for a levelling point, as it was 1-13 apiece.
When substitute Conor Kelly put Bearna na Forbacha in the lead after over 80 minutes of play, it seemed all over. McDaid decided otherwise as he sent the game to penalties.
Bearna na Forbacha have plenty of quality in their squad, including Galway senior players Seán Fitzgerald and Cian Hernon, while captain James Kennedy, Aaron Kavanagh, Donncha Forde, Seán Dunne and Tom Curran also featured strongly in this game.
Pictured: Cillian McDaid (right), seen here in action against Ciarán Ó Catháin of Naomh Anna Leitir Móir in the group stages, scored 1-2 for Monivea/Abbey.