McCauley’s late goal sends Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin into Ulster Club semi-final

Kinawley (Fermanagh) 3-9

Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin 2-15

Magnificent Muff pulled off a stunning smash and grab act to edge out Kinawley in a wonderfully entertaining Ulster Intermediate quarter-final in Brewster Park.

It looked like the frazzled fans were going to be treated to 20 more frenetic minutes of extra time, as Kinawley’s Paul Breen and Caolan McColgan of Muff exchanged points to leave the score at Kinawley 3-9, Naomh Padraig 1-15 with time all but up.

But a high, hanging lob from the majestic Jonathan Toye somehow broke to sub Jamie McColgan who managed to squeeze the ball to the net through a forest of players in the 64th minute.

Muff’s large following went wild in the stand as unimpressive referee Pat Clarke called time as a devastated Kinawley had just ran out of time.

It looked good for the Fermanagh champions when goals from Tom Keenan and Tiarnan McKenna pushed them to a 2-7 to 0-7 half time lead.

But Muff rallied strongly in the second half thanks to a somewhat lucky goal from Peter McLaughlin and they led by 1-13 to 2-7 nine minutes from time.

But a well-crafted Ruairi Corrigan goal seemed to have set Kinawley for victory.

However Muff somehow found the will and desire to prevail as McCauley’s late strike sealed a most memorable win for Peter Murphy’s team and sent them into the provincial semi-final.

Kinawley took off at a blistering pace as Ruairi Corrigan speared down the right wing and punched over an early point for the home side. But Muff countered quickly after a great run from Jonathan Toye through the middle ended with a well struck point in the second minute.

Corrigan was prominent again as he fed Tiarnan McKenna who put the Brian Boru’s back in front on a score of 0-2 to 0-1.

However, Muff was growing into the game and Toye hoofed over a superb two point free the Donegal champions ahead for the first time.

This was their best period as the nippy Cillian Doyle and Oisin McIntyre made it 0-5 to 0-2 for the Inishowen men.

Muff was in full flow-but were rocked by a somewhat lucky goal for the Fermanagh champions. Tiarnan McKenna’s attempt for a point came off the upright into the grateful arms of dual star Tom Keenan. And the county hurler sidestepped his man and hammered the ball to the roof of the Muff net.

Keenan’s opportunistic strike tied matters at 1-2 to 0-5 by the 16th minute, and McKenna put Kinawley back in front with a well struck point in the 18th minute.

Donegal county player Caolan McColgan made it all square with a fine effort in the 18th minute.

Corrigan then fed team captain Sean McManus who struck a fine two pointer.

And the athletic Achlain O Cathain made it 1-6 to 0-6 for Kinawley when he soloed through the Muff defence and fisted a point as half time beckoned.

It was then we had big controversy when Kinawley were denied a clear two pointer as Dara Cathcart’s effort was well outside the arc.

But referee Pat Clarke incorrectly ruled it as a single point.

Caolan McColgan responded with a well taken Muff point to leave it three between the teams going into injury time.

But Kinawley struck for their second goal when McKenna netted after Donnacha Morris opened up the Muff defence with a thundering run as the Fermanagh champions led by 2-7 to 0-7 at the break.

It looked a solid platform, but it was Muff who thundered out of the blocks on the resumption as man of the match Jonathan Toye hoofed over his second two pointer to give the Inishowen men more than sliver of hope.

And Lady Luck smile on them when a high and hopeful Peter McLaughlin lob deceived the Kinawley defence and ended up in the net. Game on once again.

A resurgent Muff was pinning Kinawley in their own half and Toye levelled matters with a pointed free.

The livewire Oisin McIntyre put his side back in the lead for the first time since the 17th minute with a well struck point as Muff led by 1-11 to 2-7.

Substitute Jamie McCauley made it a two-point lead with a well struck effort. The lively Cillian Doyle was fouled, and he converted the free to put Muff into a 1-13 to 2-7 lead by the 50th minute.

Kinawley did manage a break-out from defence in the final ten minutes as Corrigan spurred an attack and McKenna got their first point in more than 20 minutes.

But Corrigan produced a moment of magic when he weaved through the Muff defence, went to ground, got up and somehow slid the ball to the Muff net with just three minutes to go and Kinawley led by 3-8 to 1-13.

Possession was now key and Caolan McColgan rattled over a point as the Muff crowd disputed a few close calls by referee Clarke who irked both sides mainly by his indecision.

Both sets of supporters were on the edge of their seats as the game edged towards extra time.

It was heart-stopping stuff as Paul Breen and Toye exchanged points by the 63rd minute which left the score all tied up, Muff 1-15 Kinawley 3-9.

But just as it looked like extra time a high lob from Toye was not dealt with by the Kinawley defence and Jamie McCauley pounced to hit the winner in a frenetic finish.

Muff now meet Desertmartin of Derry in the semi-final while Kinawley will ponder what might have been and the two pointer that wasn’t.

Kinawley scorers: Tiernan McKenna 1-3; Ruairi Corrigan 1-2; Tom Keenan 1-0; Sean McManus 0-2 (one 2 pts); Aichlinn Ó Cathain 0-1; Paul Breen 0-1.

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin scorers: Jonathan Toye 0-7 (two 2 pts); Jamie McCauley 1-1; Caolan McColgan 0-3; Oisin McIntyre 0-2 Cillian Doyle 0-2,1f.

Kinawley Brian Boru’s: Shea McElroy; Aichlinn O Cathain, Paul Breen Liam Owens; Fionn Gilheaney, Patrick McGovern, Donal Owens; Ciaran Breen, Dara Cathcart; Donnacha Morris, Sean McManus, Tom Keenan; Ruairi Corrigan, Tiernan McKenna, Tomas Cathcart. Subs: Matthew Ferguson for Donal Owens (43 mins), Ben Corrigan for Sean McManus (54 mins).

Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin: Diarmuid McKane; Daniel McMenamin, Dermot Keaveney, Jonathan Toye; Drew McKinney, Paddy Hirrell, Peter McLaughlin; Cormac Kelly, Darragh McIntyre; Kevin Doherty, Caolan McColgan, Oisin McIntyre; Andrew McCarron, Fionn McClafferty, Cillian Doyle. Subs: Jamie McCauley for Dermot Keaveney (36 mins), Jamie McColgan for Andrew McCarron (50 mins)

Referee: Pat Clarke (Cavan)