St Thomas’ Triumphs in All-Ireland Club SHC Final
Eanna Burke’s Decisive Point Seals Victory
In a stunning All-Ireland win for St Thomas’, Eanna Burke produced a last-gasp moment of magic. His magnificent point, spun over with a snapshot as he hugged the Hogan Stand sideline, sealed the victory for St Thomas’ against O’Loughlin Gaels, with a final score of 0-18 to 0-17.
Controversial Goal Line Incident
The match was not without controversy. Eleven minutes into the final, Eoin Wall’s powerful shot carried Fintan Burke and the ball across the goal line. This incident, which saw the St Thomas’ full-back clutching the ball in his hand, was always going to be contentious.
St Thomas’ Overcomes Adversity
Despite being reduced to 14 players after James Regan’s red card for making contact with Jack Nolan’s face, St Thomas’ showed remarkable resolve. This adversity only spurred them on to make up for past disappointments in the club championship since their initial All-Ireland triumph in 2013.
David Burke’s Outstanding Leadership
David Burke, the 2017 All-Ireland winning Galway captain, led St Thomas’ brilliantly. Despite tearing a cruciate ligament last April, Burke made a remarkable comeback. His industry and involvement in everything was eye-catching, scoring three points overall.
O’Loughlin Gaels’ Missed Opportunities
O’Loughlin Gaels had a chance to equalise at the end. Mark Bergin, their usual saviour up front, stood over an 80-metre free. However, with the wind blowing down the field against him, his shot drifted wide, and St Thomas’ knew they had survived.
Eanna Burke’s Lucky Break
Eanna Burke, who had earlier scored a similar snapshot, was fortunate to remain on the field after pulling across Jordan Molloy’s body in the 42nd minute. Already on a yellow from late in the first half, referee Sean Stack didn’t show a second card, a let-off that the full-forward capitalised on.
O’Loughlin Gaels’ Dependence on Defenders
O’Loughlin Gaels struggled up front, relying heavily on defenders to get forward. Each of the half-backs – David Fogarty, Paddy Deegan and Molloy – scored two points each, while corner-back Mikey Butler added another. Seven from 17 tells its own story.
The Disallowed Goal
TV replays clearly showed that the goal should have been allowed to stand as it had crossed the line. However, real-time decisions play out differently, and it only became obvious with the benefit of slow motion.
St Thomas’ Defensive Performances
St Thomas’ had towering defensive performances from Cian Mahony and Fintan Burke, while Cathal Burke also had a big second half. They led by two points four times in the second half, despite Regan’s dismissal, but O’Loughlin Gaels got back level three minutes into added time through Fogarty.