Murray's Melvin Gaels rise from the dead to sink Allen Gaels in Leitrim IFC final

Melvin Gaels conjured up a recovery for the ages on Sunday as they hit three goals in the last six minutes of the Smith Monumentals Leitrim IFC Final in Ballinamore’s Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin, breaking the hearts of a disconsolate Allen Gaels who had led by ten points at one stage of a dramatic and engrossing final.

In a game that had it all with brilliant scores, hefty challenges, controversy, a few less than savoury scenes and a red card after the final whistle for Melvin Gaels manager Aiden Murray for an incident involving the fourth official, nobody could comprehend how the Kinlough men had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.

Offaly’s epic five minute All-Ireland Hurling final victory was quoted on Sunday, Paul Kieran’s two goal smash and grab in the 1990 Senior Final also got a mention as did Galway’s pilfering of Leitrim in 1995 but honestly, there has never been anything like this at adult level.

Melvin Gaels’ first goal came in the last seconds of normal time, Shane McGloin converting what many believed to be nothing more than a consolation as a dominant Allen Gaels looked set to win their first adult championship title since 2002.

Incredibly, that goal came just seconds after Melvin Gaels keeper and Man of the Match Kevin McGloin made a superb save to deny Jake Tobin what surely would have been the killer goal, Tobin early lobbing a 40 yard shot inches wide of an empty Kinlough goal following a turnover.

CHECK OUT WILLIE DONNELLAN'S GALLERY OF MELVIN GAELS' CELEBRATIONS

But the football Gods decided that the drama Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin witnessed on Saturday wasn’t up to scratch as first Danny Egan twice denied Gero Gilmartin with superb stops only for Liam Ryan to drill to the net from a tight angle.

Now Allen Gaels were in danger and they seemed to react well, holding onto possession under intense Melvin Gaels pressure. But the pressure told as a handling error gave Melvin Gaels one last chance, after the five minutes of added time had elapsed, and former Bundoran player Gary Glancy, fortunate to be on the field after a heavy swing at the body of an Allen Gaels player, rose highest to fist the ball to the net.

It was cruel on Allen Gaels who were never headed in this game until Clancy’s goal arrived over five minutes into added time. They had managed the game well and in Radek Oberwan, Ciaran Walsh and Ciaran McMorrow, they had the game’s dominant personalities, Melvin Gaels never quite able to quell their influence.

The Melvin Gaels team who defeated Allen Gaels to win the Smith Monumentals IFC title Picture: Willie Donnellan

Credit Melvin Gaels for not giving up but even their most ardent supporters could not believe that they had snatched the title from the grasp of Allen Gaels, the Drumshanbo men dominating most sectors and the Kinlough side looking dis-spirited and resigned to back to back final losses before their frankly unbelievable rally.

Unfortunately, there were also a few incidents that prompted Leitrim County Board Chairman Enda Stenson to remark on the behaviour on the sideline and the red card for Aiden Murray is a real fly in the ointment for Melvin Gaels ahead of a Connacht Club campaign where they will play either Coolaney Mullinabreena or Easkey on the first weekend in November.

The Kinlough men loudly protested throughout the game about the performance of referee Eamonn Dolan but, for what it is worth, I thought Dolan did a good enough job under very difficult circumstances with far too many bodies along the sideline contributing to the febrile atmosphere.

That won’t matter one bit to Melvin Gaels who are celebrating their return to the Senior ranks, nor, when the dust settles down, will it truly matter to Allen Gaels who had this game for the taking but fell victim to one of the most unexpected and bewildering finishes I’ve ever seen in a County Final.

Jake Tobin opened the scoring after just 23 seconds, a quick free across the field to Karl Foley and a pass back to the Leitrim U20 player for a fine point. Caleb Duffy doubled the lead with a fine point after Melvin Gaels missed a free and the Drumshanbo men were making good inroads into the game.

The Allen Gaels team who were defeated by Melvin Gaels on Sunday Picture: Willie Donnellan

They almost had a goal when Brian Mulvey’s shot was punched out by keeper Kevin McGloin, Ciaran McMorrow palming the ball back at the goal but straight at McGloin who cleared his line just five minutes in.

Melvin Gaels finally opened their account with neat footwork from Joe McGloin creating the chance for a fine point but the Kinlough were missing chances to draw level and Caleb Duffy responded with a successful mark on 12 minutes. 

Arek Oberwan’s crossfield pass set up Sean Lynch for a good point, it might have been a goal chance but Melvin Gaels were slowly finding their feet, Joe McGloin converting a free before captain Shane McGloin raided upfield when a kickout was turned over to point.

The sides drew level on 21 minutes, Declan Clancy absorbing a challenge before spinning to score but two Ciaran McMorrow frees, one moved in for dissent, the second after Caleb Duffy was fouled after claiming a long clearance.

Declan Clancy responded for Melvin Gaels with a well worked point but a foul on Radek Oberwan allowed McMorrow notch his third free. 

Injury time was pretty dramatic, the swift feet of Joe McGloin created a shooting opportunity for Philip McGowan. Danny Egan made the stop and cleared the danger under pressure before referee Eamonn Dolan halted play, called over Jack Roynane and brandished a black card that left the Kinlough men a man down for ten minutes.

Allen Gaels led 0-7 to 0-5 at the break and after a slow start to the second half, Melvin Gaels brough on Peter McGowan three minutes in but a low Radek Oberwan pass was claimed expertly by Ciaran Walsh who turned sharply to score.

The Drumshanbo men made the first big move six minutes into the second half - Radek Oberwan and Jake Tobin combined to take the ball out of defence, they went long to Ciaran Walsh who went by his man and then unselfishly lofted the ball towards Ciaran McMorrow who tomahawked the ball to the Melvin Gaels net.

It was a huge breakthrough and an inspired Allen Gaels added to their lead, going direct to Ciaran Walsh for another point. JJ Lipsett hit a wide for Melvin Gaels but Allen Gaels seemed to be taking complete control of the game two minutes later - Adrian Sorohan fielded a kickout under pressure before getting the ball to Brian Mulvey.

A long pass found Walsh, he again released Ciaran McMorrow and the corner-forward buried a superb shot past a helpless Kevin McGloin to put Allen Gaels ten points clear.

It was almost 13 points a minute later - Jake Tobin intercepted a crossfield Melvin Gaels pass with keeper Kevin McGloin out of his goal. Tobin instinctively shot from about 40 yards but the ball carried to the outside of the post with nobody in the Melvin Gaels goal.

Melvin Gaels broke quickly, Conor Sheridan pointing after a good run from Shane McGloin but the game became disjointed, neither side able to make headway with Melvin Gaels selector Val Murray going into the referee’s book.

Referee Eamonn Dolan brandishes a red card to Melvin Gaels manager Aiden Murray after the final whistle Picture: Willie Donnellan

Joe McGloin ended an eight minute spell without a score by converting a free but when Ciaran McMorrow stretched the Allen Gaels lead back to eight with just over three minutes left from a free, it felt as if the Drumshanbo men were home and dry.

Michael Ferguson popped over a free and the Gaels should have killed off the game when Jake Tobin broke through on goal but his shot was brilliantly saved by Kevin McGloin, the ball going wide off a lunging Emmet Moran in a real escape for the Kinlough men.

Yet when Melvin Gaels goaled in their next attack, in the final seconds of normal time, it seemed as if Shane McGloin’s excellent low finish to the net was nothing more than a consolation. Allen Gael sub Bryan Beirne left an effort short and suddenly Melvin Gaels were charging forward.

Sub Gero Gilmartin got the ball in front of goal, not once but twice but both times Danny Egan denied him with good saves but the ball rebounded to Liam Ryan who blasted home from a very tight angle and suddenly, Allen Gaels’ lead was just two points over a minute into the five minutes of added time.

Sub Gary Clancy was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for a flaying challenge on Jake Tobin out near the sideline but the Drumshanbo men were unable to break clear of the press Melvin Gaels put on and when they were penalised for touching the ball on the ground out near the stand, Melvin Gaels had their chance.

With the five minutes of added time elapsed and play continuing for stoppages in added time, Joe McGloin quickly played the free across the field to Shane McGloin and the captain lobbed the ball into towards the square when Gary Clancy managed to get his fist to the ball amidst a sea of bodies, sending the ball to the net and the Melvin Gaels crowd into a frenzy

Allen Gaels had one last chance, they went for the dependable Ciaran Walsh who secured the ball but was forced out over the sideline and when Melvin Gaels secured possession, the long whistle sounded to spark wild Melvin Gaels celebrations and devastation in the Allen Gaels camp.

Melvin Gaels scorers: Shane McGloin 1-1; Liam Ryan and Gary Clancy 1-0 each; Joe McGloin 0-3, 2f; Declan Clancy 0-2; Michael Ferguson (f) and Conor Sheridan 0-1 each

Allen Gaels scorers: Ciaran McMorrow 2-4, 4f; Caleb Duffy (M) & Ciaran Walsh 0-2 each; Jake Tobin & Sean Lynch 0-1 each

Melvin Gaels: Kevin McGloin, Eoghan Gallagher, Kieran Clancy, Kyle O’Driscoll, Shane McGloin, Liam Ryan, Sean McSharry, Conor Sheridan, Michael Ferguson, JJ Lipsett, Philip McGowan, Declan Clancy, Joe McGloin, Caolan Clancy, Jack Roynane. Subs: Peter McGowan for D Clancy (33); Aidan Keegan for Philip McGowan (40); Gary Clancy for O’Driscoll (43); Gero Gilmartin for Roynane (51)

Allen Gaels: Danny Egan, Adrian Sorohan, Mark Gunning, Kyle Flynn, Sean Lynch, Alan Wynne, Karl Foley, Brian Mulvey, Radek Oberwan, Colin Moran, Jake Tobin, Arek Oberwan, Ciaran McMorrow, Caleb Duffy, Ciaran Walsh. Subs: Martin Raftery for Gunning (blood 19); Shane Walsh for Foley (46); Raftery for Lynch (49); Emmet Moran for Gunning (50); Bryan Beirne for C Moran (54); Shane Beirne for McMorrow (57)

Referee: Eamonn Dolan