They were either very short or very long. The long ones were going into Feohanagh full back line nearly.
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We did a lot more short passing last night. Makes sense I suppose when you have five or six in the Limerick squad.
Dow pulled his hammer off the bone.
Seamus got the goal after a surging run through the middle. Put it under the Dow’s body. I think Seamie got 1-5 or 1-6 in total.
The brother got a couple of points from play, he was at 11. Did alright.
No Paudie O’Brien either.
He made one good save from Seamie Fla in second half, stood strong to it cos it was a pile driver. And plucked two or three tricky balls from under the crossbar, got a tap to his helmet from Seamie for one of them. Could do nothing about the goal as the Red Sea parted. He was always available to his corner backs for the pass across the goals and then launch another boomer down the field.
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Just back from Croagh.
Incredible scenes. Simply incredible. Sport and GAA in a nutshell, despair and heartbreak with one puck of the ball.
Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Return of the Dow.
It’ll be forgotten in time but it was actually a fantastic game. Quality wise it was a good bit ahead of the other intermediate matches this weekend. Two excellent sides who, on this showing, will both be at the business end of the competition.
Horrific way for Feohanagh to lose. They performed very well and were seconds away from what would have been a deserved victory.
But The Dow, not for the first time in an illustrious career, came up trumps. With the lead down to three late on, Na Piarsaigh were awarded a free on the 21. The whistle had barely gone for its award when he was rambling up. Everyone in the ground knew what was coming. He rose, he struck it ferociously and then the most amazing thing happened - it was saved! Somehow the howitzer was blocked out for a 65. The Dow, who else, took it and drilled it in low but it clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. The lead was down to two.
Referee Trevor Mann played on as the townies laid siege to the westerners goal in the minutes that followed. Ball after ball was pumped in, ball after ball was cleared away by a defiant F/C defence before Dowling boomed up one last clearance and Na P won yet another free on the 21, to the right of the posts. Up he trotted again as Feohanagh lined the goal with about 14 players. Now, he definitely stole a few yards infield from where it was awarded but you make your own luck.
He was never going to miss twice, was he? He absolutely fucking buried it, rifled it to the roof of the net. Referee Mann didn’t even allow the puck out. The final act of an absorbing encounter.
The F/C boys slumped to their knees in devastation, the hero of the hour was engulfed by his team mates amid euphoric scenes. The cruelty and the beauty of GAA encapsulated in a nutshell.
It was a game that ebbed and flowed. Pat Gleeson was superb early on as Na P, with a raft of changes from the match programme, settled quickly. James O’Brien was lording it at centre back. But the outsiders were game as a pebble and slowly grabbed a foothold. A slimmed down Jamie Butler, Sean Flanagan and James Guina led the charge, along with the inspirational Alan Roche.
Trailing by a point at the break they flew out of the traps on the resumption. Who else but Sham Flan grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, firing a trademark over the shoulder point before blasting home a goal minutes later past his former intercounty and AI winning team mate.
It was all Feohanagh at this stage, Guina fired over a couple of beauties and MOTM Roche imperious at 6. Crucially Flanagan was denied a second goal by a stunning Dowling save which was to prove pivotal in the eventual outcome. Another green flag at that stage and it was goodnight Vienna.
But Na P stayed calm, chipped away, ran the bench and got their reward, overcoming the loss of O’Brien through injury midway through the second half. Evan Sweeney grabbed points at important times.
But ultimately it was The Dow’s night. The Na P senior management have a decision to make now. His booming puck outs caused chaos all evening, his short ones were on the money, he was constantly in the ear of his defenders barking orders and organising, his shot stopping is excellent, the free taking ability - can Bermingham and co ignore him?
He has had a tough few years - sharing a studio with Des Cahill and Cusack, the enforced intercounty retirement etc - but he deserved that. Everyone loves a good comeback story and this is most definitely that.
Roll on more drama next weekend in the greatest club championship of them all.
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Fixed that for you.
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Goalkeeper dilemma for Na Piarsaigh.
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Is that you Roy ?
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Night night Dan.
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Hon the Dow class is permanent
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Delighted for him. It was some strike of a ball.
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Hold on. Was the Dow in goals but rambled out when game needed saving and delivered in spades?
DOW DOW DOW DOW
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Excellent piece of writing. I felt like I was there.
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The RWC destroyed him
Incredible capture. I’d nearly drive down for the next game
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