Medtronic footballers suffered a cruel blow when they were denied at the death in a keenly contested All Ireland interfirms senior football final in Corofin during the week.
The Galway outfit led all the way until a penalty goal turned the tide in the Dublin side’s favour with just two minutes to go, and the Dublin outfit finished 1-11 to 2-6 winners.
Playing against the breeze in the first half, goals from Martin Coady and Colm O’Donovan had Medtronic five clear at the interval.
Medtronic found scores hard to come by in the second half, but they still led by three as the match entered the closing stages. As Medtronic tried to play down the clock, a turnover led to a Suir penalty, and Niall Hurley Lynch converted to level the contest.
Suddenly the Dublin side had the wind in their sails, and two points in injury time clinched a first All Ireland football title for Suir Engineering
It was a turnaround in fortunes as Medtronic were off to a flier when Enda Tierney fed Martin Coady, who rattled the Suir Engineering net inside two minutes. Both sides found it difficult to cope with the blustery conditions, but although facing into the elements, Medtronic were playing the better football.
Martin Coady, after linking well with Michel Lundy, stretched Medtronic’s lead on 11 minutes. Lundy added another, and moments later as Medtronic built up a five-point advantage.
Chris Healey opened Suir’s account in the 14th minute, but this was quickly cancelled by another Coady effort as Medtronic led by five at the end of the opening quarter.
O’Donovan fires second goal
Early in the second quarter, Suir came back into the match with three unanswered points, narrowing the gap to two by the 20th minute. But two minutes later Medtronic had restored the margin to five when Colm O’Donovan fired home his side’s second goal after a move involving Michael Lundy and Cathal Newell.
Medtronic stretched their advantage when Lundy punched over, before Suir reduced the deficit to five when Chris Healey converted a close range free, leaving the half-time score Medtonic 2-04 0-05 Suir Engineering.
Suir Engineering started the second half brightly when Robbie Smyth pulled one back in the 33rd minute, but minutes later Martin Coady replied for Medtronic.
However the margin was down to three after Brendan Redden and Shane Darcy were on target for Suir Engineering.
Medtronic remained in control, edging four ahead with a Barry O’Donovan free in the 48th minute, and this was to be Medtronic's last score.
Brendan O’Shaughnessy reduced the gap down to three with eight minutes remaining, but Medtronic were content to close out the match by keeping the ball. However a turnover in the 58th minute led to a penalty and Niall Hurley Lynch dispatched to level the contest with time running out, and with the momentum, the Dubliners scored two points in injury time to seal the title.
Medtronic: K Murphy, A Warde, K Doohar, G Cafferky, B O’Donovan(0-1,f ), D Walsh, O Mannion, E Tierney, D Hogan, M Coady(1-3 ), M Lundy(0-2 ), B McLoughlin, C O’Donovan(1-0 ), C Newell, D Canney. Subs: G McWalter, M McNamara, E Fleming, E Mullarkey, D McHugh.
