Pearses stunned as Coolera/Strandhill secure Connacht glory

Pádraig Pearses were left stunned as Coolera/Strandhill secured a dramatic Connacht final triumph, prevailing 1-15 to 1-14.

John McPartland’s outfit became the first Sligo side to be crowned Connacht senior champions since 1983. Pearses will feel they ought to have prevailed having led by five points after 38 minutes.

Frank Canning’s men kicked 14 wide sand dropped six further efforts short. Coolera/Strandhill sent just four efforts wide of the mark as the Sligo side showed remarkable grit to secure the club’s greatest day. Coolera/Strandhill will progress to face Cuala in the All Ireland semi final on the weekend of January 4/5.

The early stages were tense with ball retention to the fore. After the sides shared the opening four scores evenly between them, a lovely diagonal ball from Keelan Harte to his brother Oran led Coolera/Strandhill to move in front before Kevin Banks doubled his side’s advantage.

From there, Pearses kicked five of the last six points in the first half as they gained a stranglehold on the Coolera/Strandhill kickout.

Conor Ryan kicked a vital score from range to narrow the deficit while another beauty from Conor Daly and an Eoin Colleran free that the home faithful felt went wide of the mark levelled the contest.

With Pearses’ big names being well marshalled, Jack Tumulty stepped up to slot over two crucial scores as the away outfit led 0-7 to 0-5 at half time.

Although Keelan Harte kicked a gem of a score from range, Pearses appeared to strike a significant blow with a quickfire 1-1. Paul Carey won turnover ball before Kenny fed Tumulty, who was brought down by Oran Harte for a penalty. Kenny stepped up to slot home before a Colleran free gave Pearses a 1-8 to 0-6 advantage.

From there the Sligo side kicked six of the last seven scores in normal time as two Murphy frees cut the gap to the minimum. Eoin Colleran won a vital turnover before earning a free he slotted himself.

However, the momentum was with Coolera/Strandhill as Niall Murphy slotted over after another cheap Pearses turnover and moments later McDaniel nailed a long range effort to level the contest.

McDaniel missed a huge chance from 25m out to give Coolera/Strandhill the lead in injury time while Emmett Kelly saw an effort from play travel adrift of the posts. With the final kick of normal time, Kelly saw a tricky free from near the sideline drift wide to send this game to an extra 20 minutes.

After Murphy (free) and Colleran traded efforts, Coolera/Strandhill struck a telling blow with 1-1 inside two minutes. The goal came as a Murphy free dropped short with Ross Doherty palming the ball to the net. Pearses hit back with scores from Jack Nevin and Colleran (free) but Coolera/Strandhill led 1-14 to 1-12 at the change of ends.

Adam Higgins produced a key turnover on Kenny and even though he enjoyed a two on one with Murphy appearing to be in position for a shot at goal, the sub kicked his third point of the contest.

Pearses battled back with Tumulty, who returned to the fray in extra time slotting a free before Kenny cut the gap to the minimum. The Woodmount side had a shot at sending this game to a penalty shootout but Tumulty’s effort dropped short and with that Coolera/Strandhill held out for a famous win.