It was a massive weekend in the club championships, with late drama, extra-time thrillers and one of the biggest upsets in recent All-Ireland history. Ulster, Connacht and Munster all crowned huge winners, while penalty shoot-outs and last-gasp scores kept supporters on edge.
Here’s how the key games unfolded.
All-Ireland SFC Semi Final: St. Ergnat’s-1-12 Kilmacud Crokes-1-10, 📍 Stillorgan
St Ergnat’s Moneyglass pulled off a stunning upset on Kilmacud Crokes’ home turf to book a first-ever place in the All-Ireland senior club final.
Cathy Carey and Maria O’Neill led from the front, with O’Neill finishing with 1-4 and Carey adding six points. Crokes looked in control at half-time, 1-5 to 0-6 ahead after Michelle Davoren’s goal, and the Dublin champions still led entering the final quarter.
But the Antrim and Ulster champions came out swinging. Carey and Eleanor Mallon dragged Ergnat’s level before Carey nudged them in front. In the 46th minute, O’Neill buried a brilliant goal to push the underdogs four clear.
Kilmacud, as expected, refused to go away and Cotter’s frees cut the gap to a single point deep into stoppage time. Moneyglass held their nerve, though, racing upfield for JoJo Darragh to land the insurance score and seal what Jerome Quinn called “one of the biggest upsets in All Ireland Club Football”.
Connacht SFC Final: St. Brigid’s-1-16 Maigh Cuilinn-1-14, 📍 Dr. Hyde Park
St Brigid’s needed every bit of grit and composure they had to claim a sixth Connacht title after a thrilling battle with Maigh Cuilinn at Dr Hyde Park.
The Galway champions made the dream start with a Fiachra McDonagh goal and led 1-2 to 0-1 early on. Crucially, Conor Hand hit two huge two-pointers, including a solo burst just before half-time, to leave it level at 0-8 to 1-5 at the break.
Maigh Cuilinn pushed three clear again after the restart, with Dessie Conneely and David Wynne prominent, but they never fully shook off the Roscommon champions. Hand kept Brigid’s in touch, and the bench made a massive impact.
In the closing minutes, substitute Mark Daly competed for a dropping effort and the ball broke perfectly for Ruaidhrí Fallon. He stayed cool to fire the decisive goal. Ben O’Carroll’s late free then sealed a famous win and an All-Ireland semi-final date with the Ulster champions.
Munster SHC Final: Ballygunner-0-21 Éire Óg Inis-1-9, 📍 Semple Stadium
Ballygunner underlined their status as a modern hurling powerhouse with a controlled nine-point win over Éire Óg Inis to reclaim the Munster title at Semple Stadium.
The Waterford champions were briefly tested early on, trailing 0-3 to 0-2 after eight minutes, but once they settled, it became one-way traffic. Philip Mahony swept up everything in defence, while the forwards clicked into gear.
Dessie Hutchinson was unmarkable, hitting 0-7 from play as he drifted in and out of the corners. Patrick Fitzgerald added four from play, including a sensational effort from the New Stand sideline, as Ballygunner reeled off 10 of the last 11 points of the first half to lead 0-12 to 0-4.
The gap stretched to 10 after the restart before Éire Óg rallied slightly, winning a penalty that Danny Russell converted on his way to 1-6 from placed balls. But Ballygunner always had another gear and closed it out comfortably to move on to another All-Ireland semi-final.
Ulster SFC Semi Final: Scotstown-2-20 SOL Newbridge-2-20 (AET), 📍 Athletic Grounds
Scotstown and Newbridge served up a classic in the Athletic Grounds, with the Monaghan champions eventually prevailing 4-2 on penalties after a 2-20 apiece epic.
Scotstown looked to be cruising when they led 2-16 to 1-11 late on, helped by three first-half two-pointers from Mattie Maguire, Micheal McCarville and goalkeeper Rory Beggan, plus goals from McCarville and Tommy Mallen.
But Newbridge refused to fold. Conor Doherty’s 58th-minute goal lit the fuse, and captain Conor McAteer twice landed enormous scores to force first extra-time and then penalties. Their 1-5 without reply to finish normal time was a serious show of character.
In the shoot-out, Scotstown’s big names delivered. Beggan, Jack McCarron, Kieran Hughes and Darren Hughes all converted, while Newbridge missed twice. After nearly two hours of football across two weekends, Scotstown finally edged through to a ninth Ulster final, where they’ll face Kilcoo back in Armagh on December 13.
All-Ireland SCC Semi Final: St. Finbarr’s-3-15 Loughgiel Shamrocks-3-14 (AET), 📍 Ashbourne
St Finbarr’s and Loughgiel Shamrocks produced an all-time classic in Ashbourne, with the Cork champions edging a 3-15 to 3-14 thriller after extra-time.
Orlaith Cahalane’s early goal and a second from Sorcha McCartan had the Barrs in charge, but Loughgiel never went away. Lucia McNaughton’s inspirational point and a string of saves from Ciara Hurley kept things tight before Róisín McCormick finally rattled the net to put the Ulster side ahead late on.
Cahalane and Keeva McCarthy replied, yet Amy Boyle’s equaliser forced extra-time at 2-7 to 1-10. The momentum swung again as Annie Lynn and Caitrin Dobbin hit goals for Loughgiel, only for Eimear Hurley to hit back with a huge green flag.
McCormick, who finished with 1-9, and Cahalane traded scores deep into extra-time. Finally, a long delivery from Cahalane broke for Golden, who showed incredible composure to clip the winner from distance and send St Finbarr’s into the All-Ireland final.
