They’ll complain for years around O’Loughlin Gaels about the early goal that wasn’t given – but St Thomas’ will sing forever the virtues of the stunning score from Eanna Burke which won this final.
Falling backwards over the left side-line in the fourth minute of added time, the full-forward spun and sent the sliotar over his shoulder and between the Hill 16 posts for a sensational sealing point.
There was no one on the famous terrace to witness it, but everyone who saw it live or on TV would agree with the assessment of the scorer’s brother David, who called it “One of the best points I’ve ever seen in Croke Park”.
It was worthy of winning any game and the Galway men merited this, their second triumph 11 years on from their first, having had to play the bulk of the second half with 14 men after the controversial dismissal of James Regan in just the second minute.
The corner-forward was adjudged to have shouldered Gaels midfielder Jack Nolan in the head, although contact appeared questionable.
Indeed St Thomas’ manager Kenneth Burke severely doubted it, saying: “I don’t think he connected with him really. It looked bad at the time but I thought it was harsh; there were other tackles in the game probably similar. The referee only sees it once, he has to make a decision, but I don’t think he got him at all. We were very disappointed with the decision.”
O’Loughlins will wonder ‘what might have been’ had they been awarded a sixth minute goal. Owen Wall’s fierce snap-shot was caught on his goal-line by full-back Fintan Burke, but he fell backwards and video proved that he’d carried the ball over the line.
However the umpire standing behind the net did not award it, and the St Thomas’ boss accepted their good fortune, arguing: “If that went in, you get the rub of the green and at times you don’t. You have to just adapt and keep going. It probably had no real effect on the game, after that it was point for point, both sides were getting good scores.”
Indeed there were other incidents of ‘crossing the line’ where the officiating went in O’Loughlin Gaels’ favour, notably when Conor Heary only received a yellow card after shouldering opposing captain Conor Cooney in the chest, while Jordan Molloy thrust his helmet into that of an opponent but escaped any punishment.
The conditions weren’t as bad as feared, but the increasing rain still made for difficult ball handling.
Yet what was doing more to keeping the scoring down was the dogged defending from both sides, with block after block after block. Perhaps attackers were slightly slower in trying to get their shots away as they got to grips with the slippery sliotar.
Having said that, there were still some superb scores, with the O’Loughlin Gaels half-back line very influential with the wind at their backs, registering no less than five first half scores.
St Thomas’ were winning ball but were wasteful with it, shooting six wides before the break. Their tactic of delivering long balls up to a two-man inside-forward line also wasn’t paying off.
Their opponents were much more efficient, with their first wide not coming until late in the first half, and even after that Mikey Butler came up from the full-back line to score.
Yet excellent scores from David Burke and Conor Cooney, the latter after a superb catch, meant only two points separated the sides at the break, 0-10 to 0-8.
There was a sense that O’Loughlin Gaels hadn’t scored enough with the wind and the incredible David Burke grabbed the first score after the teams turned around.
Only back recently after 10 months out following a cruciate ligament injury, the veteran proved to be a massive influence for his team in very trying circumstances.
Seemingly set back by the dismissal of Regan, St Thomas’ showed serious spirit and character to make light of their numerical disadvantage.
That red card call sparked a furious response from the men in red which proved to be the difference in this decider. Goalkeeper Stephen Murphy converted the free following the card to leave O’Loughlins 0-11 to 0-9 ahead – but St Thomas’ then reeled off the next four scores, the strongest spell from either side.
The Kilkenny champs finally roused themselves, with Hawkeye confirming a Sean Bolger score in the 45th minute, but it was still point for point after that, with St Thomas’ driven on by the likes of David
Their captain Mark Bergin did his best to lead by example, scoring a free and a point, but Eanna Burke and Conor Cooney matched his efforts.
The Kilkenny men have been going to the well repeatedly, wining game after game by the minimum margin, but on this damp day they ran dry.
Even so, O’Loughlins had looked like they might pull a result out of the fire again, with an excellent score from Conor Kelly and a long-range leveller from wing-back David Fogarty.
Yet St Thomas’ did not deserve to be denied and Eanna Burke made sure they weren’t with that wonderful winner.
Bergin still had the chance to force extra time but his last-gasp free drifted wide, prompting delighted celebrations from the St Thomas’ support.
“We knew it was going to go to the wire, but to win it like that was heart-stopping stuff,” acknowledged Kenneth Burke. “Thankfully we got out the right side of it; we had to dig deep there in the second half a man down. In fairness to the boys they just worked and worked and worked.
“Eanna has scored plenty like that – but maybe just not in a match like this,” he concluded with a smile.
St Thomas’: G Kelly (0-1); C Mahony, F Burke, D Sherry; J Headd, S Cooney, C Burke (0-1); D Finnerty, David Burke (0-3); Darragh Burke, C Cooney (capt.) (0-6, 0-4 frees), V Manso (0-2); J Regan (0-2), E Burke (0-3), O Flannery.
Substitutes: E Duggan for Sherry (20, inj.); B Burke for Manso (50); D McGlynn for Flannery (59).
O’Loughlin Gaels: S Murphy (0-1 free); T Forristal, H Lawlor, M Butler (0-1); D Fogarty (0-2), P Deegan (0-2), J Molloy (0-2); J Nolan, C Loy; M Bergin (capt.) (0-4, 0-2 frees), E O’Shea, C Heary (0-1); O Wall, L Hogan (0-1), S Bolger (0-2).
Substitutes: C Kelly (0-1) for O’Shea (47); J Ryan for Nolan (50); P Butler for Loy (58).
Referee: Sean Stack (Dublin).