It ain’t over ’til it’s over.
58 minutes are on the clock in Portlaoise. Ronan O’Toole’s tidy finish looks to have all but put the writing on the wall for Moorefield and for the 2017 Leinster football final. St. Loman’s have turned over a three-point half time deficit in ruthless fashion and the scoreboard reads as follows with two minutes of normal time left:
Moorefield 0-10 St. Loman’s 2-10
Game over, you’d think.
Cool as you like, Ronan O'Toole 🔥
1-2 in the second half for the Loman's man. The Westmeath champs are powering home to Leinster glory pic.twitter.com/HQyDiwVmQP— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) December 17, 2017
Think again.
The next seven minutes of normal and injury time will forever be remembered in Moorefield folklore as the Kildare champions came back from the dead to win their second ever senior club provincial title.
And, my oh my, what a way to do it.
Six points became five.
AIB Leinster Club SFC Final
Moorefield 0-11
St. Lomans 2-10
58 minutes
Eanna O'Connor free— Moorefield GAA (@MoorefieldGaa) December 17, 2017
Five became two.
AIB Leinster Club SFC Final
Moorefield 1-11
St. Lomans 2-10
61 minutes
Ronan Sweeney goal— Moorefield GAA (@MoorefieldGaa) December 17, 2017
Two became one.
AIB Leinster Club SFC Final
Moorefield 1-12
St. Lomans 2-10
63minutes
Eanna O'Connor free— Moorefield GAA (@MoorefieldGaa) December 17, 2017
One became zero.
AIB Leinster Club SFC Final
Moorefield 1-13
St. Lomans 2-10
64 minutes
Eanna O'Connor point— Moorefield GAA (@MoorefieldGaa) December 17, 2017
And, with the game in the balance, with one last piece of play remaining, Moorefield found unlikely hero in wing half back Kevin Murnaghan who swung over his shoulder and made history.
Kevin Murnaghan will never have to buy a pint in Moorefield again pic.twitter.com/Mg5Tfrswb0
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) December 17, 2017
Moorefield 1-14 St. Loman’s 2-10
With club stalwart Ronan Sweeney so inspirational in what was a comeback for the ages, the scenes after the game were every bit as momentous and as magical as an occasion would dictate.
This wasn’t just any Leinster final win.
This was one of the greatest turnarounds in sport in 2017 and, in true Hollywood fashion, Moorefield wrote and followed a script that will become immortalised in the club.
Moorefield are Leinster champions! pic.twitter.com/1SQvbav7aq
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) December 17, 2017
The Lilywhite lynchpins progress to the All-Ireland semi-final now where they will meet the winners of Corofin and Fulham Irish.
All-Ireland series
Quarter-final: Fulham Irish v Corofin (January 21)
Semi-final: Moorefield v Fulham Irish/Corofin (February 17)
Semi-final: Nemo Rangers v Slaughtneil (February 24)
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