Report and photographs Jim Whelan
Páirc Shéamuis Stíofáin, home of James Stephens GAA Club, was the venue for a remarkable JJ Kavanagh and Sons Premier Junior Hurling Championship quarter-final when Graiguenamanagh produced a stunning late comeback to overcome Emeralds of Urlingford after extra time.
In a contest which appeared to be slipping away from the Barrow boys for long periods, Graiguenamanagh somehow found a way back from nine points down and eventually emerged victorious on a scoreline of 3-16 to 0-21. For much of the 60 minutes, Emeralds were the better side. They registered an impressive 21 points, displayed considerable accuracy from placed balls and appeared to have done enough to secure a semi-final place.
But Graiguenamanagh had the one thing their opponents could not match, goals. Three green flags ultimately proved decisive, with the final one arriving in extra time to send the Barrow men into their first Premier Junior County semi-final since 1972.
Graiguenamanagh had reached the quarter-final through impressive victories over Galmoy and Windgap in the opening two rounds, while Emeralds qualified for the knockout stages by virtue of their position in Group B following the league campaign.
The game took some time to settle, but Emeralds made the brighter start with points from Conor Martin and Darragh Queally. Graiguenamanagh responded with a Steven Kinsella free before the first major moment of the afternoon arrived in the fifth minute. Kinsella showed excellent awareness with a quickly taken free, finding Seamus Kavanagh, who made no mistake with the opportunity and dispatched the ball to the net.
Michael Bolger then added a point and suddenly Graiguenamanagh were three points ahead. However, that was as good as it got for the South Kilkenny side for quite some time. Emeralds, playing with the assistance of the breeze, took complete control of the scoring exchanges. Conor Martin was particularly influential, and the talented free-taker proceeded to register seven points in succession as the Urlingford side moved firmly into the ascendancy.
Graiguenamanagh eventually stopped the flow when full-forward Ted Dunne pointed from play before Kinsella converted another free. Emeralds, however, remained firmly in command. Martin added two more frees and Daniel Tobin produced an excellent point from play as the Northern side continued to find the target with impressive regularity.
At half-time Emeralds led by five points, 0-12 to 1-4, and Graiguenamanagh faced a considerable challenge despite having the benefit of the breeze to come. The second half initially followed a similar pattern. Graiguenamanagh were unable to make the expected impact from the favourable conditions and Emeralds continued to find space and scoring opportunities.
By the 44th minute, Martin had added another point from a free and Darragh Queally also pointed, while Killian Doyle was having an influential game at centre-back. Those scores pushed Emeralds nine points clear and they appeared to be firmly in control.
Then came another crucial moment. Graiguenamanagh goalkeeper Colin Bolger produced a superb save in the 45th minute to deny Emeralds a further goal and, significantly, the stop appeared to provide the Barrow side with the lift they desperately needed. Graiguenamanagh suddenly began to play with greater urgency. Kinsella continued to demonstrate his accuracy from placed balls and the introduction of four substitutes brought additional energy to the attack. The deficit began to shrink.
With five minutes of normal time remaining, the gap had been reduced to five points. Substitute Terry Dreelan and Cian O’Shea then produced important scores to cut the Emeralds advantage to just three. The comeback was now very much on. Emeralds, however, appeared to have weathered the storm when Adam Banville struck a superb point from the sideline to restore a four-point advantage.
With the clock moving towards the final whistle, the Urlingford side looked destined for the semi-final. There was still one extraordinary twist to come. As some Graiguenamanagh supporters began making their way towards the exit, Richard Foley stood over a 21-yard free in the 60th minute. The pressure was immense, but Foley made no mistake and sent the ball crashing into the back of the Emeralds net.
The deficit was suddenly down to one score. And there was more drama. Deep into stoppage time, Steven Kinsella pointed to level the game, leaving the sides tied at 1-16 to 0-21 and sending the quarter-final into extra time.
Few inside Páirc Shéamuis Stíofáin could have predicted such a finish when Emeralds had established a nine-point advantage earlier in the half. Extra time produced another fascinating contest.
Emeralds continued to threaten and their ability to find points remained impressive, but Graiguenamanagh were now a completely different proposition from the side which had struggled for long periods of normal time. Their defence, led superbly by Ivan Bolger and Richard Foley, stood firm as every possession became increasingly important. The tension around the ground was palpable as both sides fought for the decisive score. Graiguenamanagh were now winning the individual battles and showing much greater purpose in possession. Their supporters, who had witnessed their side staring at defeat less than 20 minutes earlier, were now roaring them forward. The decisive moment eventually arrived when Steven Kinsella found the net late in extra time. It was the score that finally broke Emerald’s resistance and gave Graiguenamanagh the lead they had chased for so long.
When referee Julian O’Dwyer finally sounded the full-time whistle, Graiguenamanagh had secured a famous 3-16 to 0-21 victory.
It was a remarkable turnaround and, given the way the game had developed, one which will live long in the memory of the Barrow supporters. Graiguenamanagh were best served by Dylan Cahill, Richard Foley, Ivan Bolger and the outstanding Steven Kinsella, whose scoring contribution and influence increased as the game progressed.
For Emeralds, Conor Martin was exceptional with his accurate free-taking and open-play scores, while Sean Burke, Killian Doyle and Darragh Queally also impressed. Emeralds will undoubtedly reflect on how a game which appeared to be firmly in their control ultimately slipped from their grasp. Their 21 points demonstrated their attacking quality, but Graiguenamanagh’s three goals proved decisive.
The victory sends Graiguenamanagh into their first junior county semi-final since 1972. It is a significant achievement for the Barrow club, although they will know that a much-improved performance will be required in the last four if they are to continue their remarkable championship journey.
For now, however, they can savour one of the most dramatic victories the club has enjoyed in many years, a comeback which looked highly unlikely, but which ultimately carried them into the county semi-final.
GRAIGUENAMANAGH: Colin Bolger, Owen O’Brien, Joe Dowling, Sean Walsh, Pierce Blanchfield, Seamus Kavanagh, Ivan Bolger, Richard Foley, Cian O’Shea, Jack Ryan, Ted Dunne, Dylan Cahill, James Meaney (C), Steven Kinsella, Michael Bolger, Subs Nicky Ryan, Thomas Ryan, Terry Dreelan, Sean Hamilton.
EMERALDS: Enda Kelly, Darragh Hickey, Shane Norton., Micheal Ahern, Oisin Deegan, Sean Burke. Padraig Phelan. Killian Doyle. Eoin Moriarty. Daniel Tobin. Darragh Queally, Liam Grant. Adam Barnaville, Conor Martin (C)Gerry Troy. Subs. Jack Kavanagh Callum Lawlor.
