“This one’s for the boys.”
All Offaly needed was a distraction but Shane Tierney gave them so much more. The Daingean club man was summoned from the bench by John Maughan in the 68th minute of their do-or-die League clash with Sligo with the game, and with the future of Offaly football in the melting pot.
At that stage, the scores were level at 1-10 apiece, had been for the last ten minutes. Tensions were at an almighty high as if it stayed that way, Offaly were heading down to Division Four.
Then came the breakthrough.
After plenty of probing, substitute Mark Abbott stepped up to put the Faithful one ahead in the second minute of injury time.
All they’ve to do is see it out now. This is going to be the longest minute of their lives.
That’s where Tierney comes into it though. From the resultant kick-out, not so much a distraction he causes as sheer and utter chaos as with Sligo goalkeeper Eamon Kilgallon lining up the kickout, Tierney takes matters into his own hands.
He sprints full on towards the teed-up ball and lamps it in the direction of the sideline to kill a few seconds for his county.
The Sligo lads lost the rag. The kick-out is eventually taken, the Offaly lads turn it over and the ref blows it up. Offaly live to fight another day.
“This one’s for the boys,” he tweeted afterwards.
This ones for the boys #Athycartel pic.twitter.com/VoeT5Lf6lb
— @Shane Tierney (@TierneyShane) March 25, 2019
A real life hero.
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