What a way to win a championship. As the discussion around the use of replays in the GAA gained more momentum, it became obvious that some sort of changes was needed.
The previous method of multiple replays to eventually decide a winner had become antiquated, especially in a tight club calendar which allows very little room for extra games.
How these games would now be decided was a matter long up for debate. Free-kick shootouts were the preferred method for a while, but the more widely used penalty shootout has now come into use.
There have been a few examples of them in use over the past year or so, but few have had bigger consequences than this one.
Oughterard were taking on Mícheál Breathnach in the Galway Intermediate Intermediate Football Final replay yesterday, playing out what would be another tight game.
The teams were level on 0-13 each at the end of the 60 minutes, meaning extra time was needed. After a further 20 minutes of play a huge point from Oughterard's Matthew Tierney would send the game to penalties.
The Most incredible Intermediate Football Final Replay has just finished in Galway. #MichealBreathnach 1-16 #Oughterard 0-19 after Extra Time.....Matthew Tierney with a MONSTER to bring the game to Penalties!
— John Mulligan (@Mulliganj) October 19, 2019
Tierney would ultimately have the final say in the contest, scoring the decisive penalty to ensure a 5-4 win for his team.
This was Oughterard's first intermediate title since 2001, and they will now face either the Roscommon or Leitrim champions in the Connacht semi-final.
Championes !!! @TribesmenGAA @CoachingGalway @Galway_GAA @gbayfm @SportRnaG @TuamHerald pic.twitter.com/GefxZxRCiJ
— Oughterard GAA / LGFA (@OughterardGAA) October 19, 2019
