St Eunan's progress to Ulster JHC final after dramatic penalty shootout win

Cathal O’Brien was the hero for St Eunan’s as his sudden death effort in a penalty shootout put them into an Ulster final for the first time in their history. 

St Eunan’s 0-21 Swatragh 0-21 (AET)
(St Eunan’s won 5-4 on penalties)

The Offaly native, who is based in Milford, showed nerves of steel as he slammed the sliotar to the net sparking massive celebrations from the large Letterkenny support after a magnificent battle over the 80 minutes. 

And it was O’Brien who brought the game to extra-time with a monster point to tie the match at 0-17 each. 

St Eunan’s sub, Calvin Aidoo, almost snatched victory but his shot just shaved the post. Daire Ó Maoiléidigh then took this epic affair to penalties as the sides tied at 0-21 each. 

Sean McVeigh, Ó Maoileidigh, Kevin Kealy and O’Brien all hit the target for the winners who were deadlocked at 4-4 each after the first five penalties were taken by each team. 

Conor O’Grady missed his shot but Cathal Quinn and Tiarnan Walsh also missed for luckless Swatragh who hit 25 wides as well. 

In truth, this was a cruel way to decide an epic battle between two very well-prepared teams but Eunan’s won’t mind as they prepare for next week’s Ulster decider. 

Eunan’s had a very good start with points from inspirational team captain McVeigh and Ó Maoiléidigh but Swatragh’s best player, Cathal Murray, opened the account for a fine Swatragh team. 

That set the tone for a dingdong first-half as McVeigh and Peter Kelly made it 0-4 to 0-1 by the 10th minute. Swatragh replied with a free from Tiarnan Walsh but were already starting to rack up the wides. 

Kealy and Walsh then made it 0-5 to 0-2 and Walsh left just a point between the sides. But Eunan’s were much more economical and were well worth their half-time lead of 0-10 to 0-6, thanks to points on the counterattack from Ryan Hilferty, Ó Maoileidigh, McVeigh and O’Brien. 

But the losers also managed to hit ten wides in that half to a total of two for St Eunan’s. 

Swatragh came out strongly in the third quarter and were winning many of the 50/50 battles as the powerful Emmett McGurk and Murray made their mark up front with some neat points. 

O’Brien then pointed the first of three long-range efforts to put Eunan’s into a 0-11 to 0-8 lead, which was extended by Brian MacIntyre who had a superb game. 

James Friel landed a number of long-range efforts for Swatragh who continued to hit wides although they were put under heavy pressure from a tenacious St Eunan’s side. 

Walsh levelled matters from a free in the 48th minute-the first time the sides had been level from the start as the momentum seemed to be swinging towards the Derry men. 

Dominic Bradley, who was later red-carded, put his side in front for the first time in the 48th minute. Exchanges were tight as both sides strove for victory. 

It looked like Friel had snatched victory for Swatragh with a free as Eunan’s lost Finn to a straight red card but they found the energy to win a free that O’Brien converted after five additional minutes. 

Eunan’s had the first two points in extra time from Ó Maoiléidgih but they also hit three wides as Murray levelled matters. Players were cramping all over the place in the second period of extra time. 

Ó Maoiléidigh made it 0-20 to 0-19 and Walsh levelled it. It looked like Swatragh had then won it through Walsh again, but Ó Maoiléidigh levelled matters to send the game to penalties and, eventual agony for Swatragh and ecstasy for St Eunan’s. 

St Eunan’s scorers: Daire Ó Maoiléidigh 0-10,10f; Sean McVeigh 0-3; Cathal O’Brien 0-3,3f; Kevin Kealy 0-2; Peter Kelly 0-1; Brian McIntyre 0-1; Ryan Hilferty 0-1. 

Swatragh scorers: Shea Walsh 0-6,6f; Cathal Murray 0-5,2f; Fintan McGurk 0-3; James Friel 0-3; Tiarnan Walsh 0-2; Eugene McGuckin 0-1; Michael McCormack 0-1; 

St Eunan’s: Cian Hennessy; Sean Halvey, Conor Neely, David Horgan; Cathal O’Brien, Conor O’Grady, Cormac Finn; Brian McIntyre, Ryan Hilferty; Sean McVeigh, Matt Ahern, Kevin Kealy; Peter Kelly, Daire Ó Maoiléidigh, Fergal Delaney. 

Subs: Russell Forde for Fergal Delaney (44), Calvin Aidoo for Peter Kelly (50), Fergal Delaney for Matt Ahern (73). 

Swatragh: Niall McQuillan: Malachy O’Hagan, Patrick Turner, John McKeagney; James Friel, Cathal Quinn, Ben Kearney; Sean F Quinn, Tiarnan Walsh; Dominic Bradley, Eugene McGuckin, Kevin McAllister; Shea Walsh, Fintan McGurk, Cathal Murray. 

Subs; Michael McCormack for Emmett McGuckin (40), Niall O’Doherty for Kevin McAllister (73). 

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim)