Kilmacud Crokes defeated Meath champions Wolfe Tones in the quarter-finals of the Leinster club football championship on Sunday. It was a 1-13 to 1-9 victory for the Dublin champions.
The Kilmacud goal is one that only scorer Ben Shovlin can confirm whether was intentional or not.
In the 14th minute a superb pass from Paul Mannion found a gap in the Wolfe Tones defence and landed in the hands of corner-forward Hugh Kenny. He laid the ball off to the on running Shovlin whose shot was saved by Cian Farnan.
The rebound landed at the feet of Shovlin. Though, he was laying on the ground with his back to goal. Still, it hit the back of the net off his heel, and he celebrated like a man whose cheeky effort had just come off.
Ben Shovlin goal for Kilmacud Crokes vs Wolfe Tones
14 nóim@wolfetonesmeath 0–01@KCrokesGAAClub 1-03
CÚL DOS NA CHRÓCAIGH!!! 🤩
Ben Shovlin's goal extends the lead!@GAA_BEO @gaaleinster #GAABEO #TheToughest
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/jHNBrlwPvT
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) December 5, 2021
"Delighted for him," Man of the Match Paul Mannion, who scored six points, told TG4.
"I think that's his first goal in championship. He's been going really, really well."
On seeing a replay of the goal, Kilmacud manager Robbie Brennan added: "Acrobatics! It was a huge score. It was important for us because it gave us a good foothold in the game. We were under pressure then after that because we slacked off a bit."
This is Kilmacud's first Leinster campaign since they unexpectedly lost the 2018 final to Mullinalaghta.
"It's been mentioned a few time, 2018 and that Leinster final," said Mannion.
"We came away from that really, really hurt. There was a lot of talk about it in the last couple of years. A lot of mistakes were made that day that we hope to learn from."
Lán Ama
"There was a lot of fight out of them and they deserve a lot of credit” 👌
Is é Paul Mannion Laoch na hImeartha inniu! - Comhghairdeas leat! 👏@KCrokesGAAClub @GAA_BEO @gaaleinster #GAABEO #TheToughest pic.twitter.com/W1zRbMybUn
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) December 5, 2021
See Also: Dejection For Legion After Losing Monumental Kerry Relegation Playoff
