Late comer strike earns annaghdown a replay

Corofin 0-15

Annaghdown 3-6

LEAGUE finals have regularly surpassed their championship equivalent in terms of drama and tight finishes in recent years and Sunday’s Division 1 decider between Corofin and Annaghdown added to that list with no shortage of twists and turns and a thrilling end to both normal and extra-time.
Maybe not always one for the purists, this was an absorbing final nonetheless, full of fluctuating fortunes once it caught fire around the three-quarter mark, with a draw probably the fairest outcome on a crisp winter afternoon at Headford GAA Grounds.
Both sides took turns to salvage the match. Alan O’Donovan’s 45 saved Corofin with the last kick of normal time and Damien Comer later trumped it, blasting a close-in free to the net to earn Annaghdown a replay with the last kick of extra-time.
Annaghdown had come in as rank outsiders and Willie Hughes was also down several frontline players. Niall Coleman missed out with a knee injury and their build-up was further complicated by a number of late withdrawals before throw-in, with Fergal O’Doherty’s involvement limited to a handful of minutes in extra-time.
They came with a plan, showed plenty of character and defensive resilience when under the cosh and in Damien Comer had an attacker capable of almost single-handedly hauling them over the line.