Errigal Ciaran manager Enda McGinley was praised for substituting Darragh Canavan due to a head injury in the first half of the All-Ireland senior club football final.
The Tyrone champs endured a nightmare start on All-Ireland club final day, falling behind early on before losing their star man to injury.
Cuala half forward Cal Doran scored an early goal, getting his side off to the perfect start and they kept their foot to the floor, going eleven points up after twenty minutes.
David O’Dowd hit their second goal, finishing calmly after being slipped in by eventual man-of-the-match Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne.
Seconds later, it went from bad to worse for Errigal Ciaran when Darragh Canavan was forced off having suffered a heavy knock to the head. Danny Conroy was the Cuala player who caught Canavan in what was an unfortunate and innocuous coming together as they competed for a ball.
Cuala captain James Power lifts the cup with Luke Keating. Sportsfile.
Their manager Enda McGinley subbed his captain instantly, having checked on his welfare.
A physiotherapist himself, McGinley was praised for the decision as he brought on Mark Kavanagh to replace Canavan, before escorting the 25-year-old off the field.
Fair play to Enda McGinley and the Errigal medical staff for taking Darragh Canavan off. Clearly the right call but there are so many that would have resisted it at all costs
— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) January 19, 2025
Stunned by the loss of their captain, Errigal Ciaran conceded a third goal moments later as Con O’Callaghan cut through the middle before finding Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne.
The midfielder finished soccer-style to the net, helping Austin O’Malley’s side into a thirteen point lead at the break.
Inspired by a mesmeric goal from Peter Harte, Errigal Ciaran came roaring back into the game. Harte and his long-time team-mate Tommy Canavan were instrumental in their revival as they whittled the deficit down to three points with the game entering injury-time.
Conor Groarke scored a late insurance point, fisting over having been set up bu who other than Con O’Callaghan, who made his own piece of history by achieving the All-Ireland club hurling and football double.
After the game, McGinely confirmed that both Canavan brothers were taken to hospital for ‘further checks’ with Ruairi having apparently picked up a head injury late on.
Ruairi Canavan of Errigal Ciarán recieves medical attention after his side's defeat in the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship final match between Cuala and Errigal Ciarán at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
“I didn’t realise at the time but he was the first player I went to after the match and he was well out of it,” McGinley told the Independent.
“So, the two boys will go and please God they’ll come round, I’m sure they will.”
