Dramatic draw ensures teams must do it all again

What a contest this Boys Div 3 final turned out to be on Pairc Tailteann's pristine pitch on Sunday. What a finish. What a game the replay promises to be.

The finish summed up the drama in this game that ensured the big crowd never wavered in their interest. With literally seconds remaining and with Coole NS a single point in front, St Oliver's launched a brave, final attempt to rescue themselves.

They did well too creating space with Hugo Ellerker crossing the ball into Coole's small goalmouth. There waiting was John Molloy. He unleashed a shot and watched as the ball cannoned off the bar and bounced high and close to one of the goalposts. The umpires looked at each other, the crowd waited with bated breath. The score, the precious equalising score, was given. There was no more time and it was onto a replay after a 1-13 to 4-4 thriller.

Coole led for much of the way but they just couldn't shake off their tenacious opponents. At one stage in the opening half Coole were in front, 1-4 to 0-2, but by the break they were only in 1-7 to 2-3 to the good. A similar pattern emerged in the second episode with little or nothing between the sides. Evan Reynolds neatly netted Coole's only goal but Jamie Reilly, Cooper Lyons McDaid, Evan Carroll, James Fagan and Joe Kenny fired over points to ensure they clocked up a very good overall tally.

John Molloy, Oisin Burke and Ellerker all pointed for Kilcloon but it was their harvest of goals that proved so crucial to their cause with James Larkin showing real class in front of the posts by bagging two strikes while the super-alert Tomas Hester and Aidan Kelly also finished off chances smartly.

The result of all the enterprising, attacking play was an gripping contest. Now supporters will be eagerly awaiting the sequal.

Coole NS - Michael Dunne; Jack O'Brien, Ódhran Flynn; John Clavin Lyons, Matthew Ennis, Jamie Reilly (0-3); Kierán Dunne, James Fagan (0-2); Cooper Lyons McDaid (0-3 one free), Evan Carroll (0-2), Evan Reynolds (1-1); Joe Kenny (0-2 frees), Charlie McElligott. Andrew Douglas, Harley Keegan, Jack Balfe, Aidan Martin, Jack Noone, Padraic Carey, Nicholas Fanagan, Alex Drum, Harvey Byrne, Liam Raleigh, Alfie Morrisroe; mentors - L Cassidy, M Fagan, A Kenny.

St Oliver's NS Kilcloon - Max Marnane; Cillian Joyce, Elijah Lahert-Charlton; Harry Snee, James Clerkin, Ted Cosgrave; Oisín Burke (0-1), Liam Farrelly; Hugo Ellerker (0-1), John Molloy (0-2 one free), Tomás Hester (1-0); Aidan Kelly (1-0), James Larkin (2-0). Louis O’Neill, Cian Mooney, Eoghan McNerney, Sean Roturier, Daniel Byrne, Oisín Cronin, Seán O’Brien, Conor Brady, Harry O’Shea, Paddy Dolan, Joe Moriarty, Callum Aherne, Conor Fitzgerald, Sean O'Leary, Michael Dunne, Ben O’Connor; mentors - Mr O’Hora, Mr Barker, Ms Heffernan.

Referee - Tony Kearney (Carlanstown NS).