Imagine playing four finals in four consecutive weeks and all ending in draws after normal time, writes Stephen Barry.
The hurlers and footballers of Oran, in Roscommon, experienced that and it even looked like they might lose out on both titles.
It started with a draw in the Intermediate football final…
Intermediate Cship Final Full Time Oran 0-8 Kilmore 1-05 #rosgaa
— ORAN GAA (@ORANGAA) October 9, 2016
Followed by a draw in the Senior hurling final, despite leading at half-time by seven points…
Senior Hurling Championship County Final #rosgaa
— ORAN GAA (@ORANGAA) October 16, 2016
Full Time Oran: 3-8(17)
Four Roads: 0-17(17)
Then the football replay went to extra-time – a game made famous by this Kilmore fan’s lack of sympathy for the Oran hurlers’ plight…
Intermediate Football Final Replay FT Oran 1-10 Kilmore 0-13 #rosgaa extra time to be played
— ORAN GAA (@ORANGAA) October 22, 2016
They ended up losing after extra-time…
Intermediate Football Final Replay FT Oran 1-11 Kilmore 2-16 #rosgaa
— ORAN GAA (@ORANGAA) October 22, 2016
And the hurling replay looked likely to go the way of Four Roads, who were chasing a nine-in-a-row.
That was until 2009 All-Ireland Poc Fada champion Jerry Fallon stepped up to a last-minute 100-yard free…
Of course, the Shannonside FM commentary in the background makes it, as it’s declared “the score of the century”.
So it ended a fourth draw at the end of 60 minutes.
Senior Hurling Championship County Final Replay #rosgaa
— ORAN GAA (@ORANGAA) October 29, 2016
Full Time Oran: 0-11(11)
Four Roads: 0-11(11)
Mercifully, extra-time was kinder to the Oran players, as they ran out six-point winners to end Four Roads’ stranglehold on the title.
Senior Hurling Championship County Final Replay extra time #rosgaa
— ORAN GAA (@ORANGAA) October 29, 2016
Full Time Oran: 2-15(21)
Four Roads: 1-12(15)
A proud day for @ORANGAA 💛💚 pic.twitter.com/Q0kBgBRIpH
— Ruth (@toobadirwin) October 29, 2016
A well-deserved piece of silverware at the end of 280 minutes of final action.
There’s no rest for the wicked, though, as Oran will play Ballyhaunis in the Connacht Intermediate Hurling semi-final on Wednesday night.
