Monaleen manager Eoin Brislane credited his side for their late second half comeback against Tooreen to win the Intermediate club All-Ireland final.
In a truly epic contest in Croke Park, the Limerick side did not lead until the dying moments, in what can only be described as a heartbreaking defeat for the Mayo club.
Tooreen seemed to have Monaleen figured out, but the Limerick side dug deep at crucial moments to win a thrilling contest, with Brislane full of praise for the Mayo side for their performance.
They were the better side for 50 minutes of that game, their tackling, their work-rate, their chasing down, their hurling ability. People say there is no hurling in Mayo, I think that was fairly rectified this evening. They are a senior team, a proper senior team.
By far the best team we played all year, and we really had to dig it out. People might turn around and say we didn't play well today, we weren't let play. All credit to our lads, they stuck at it, stuck at it.
The one thing we spoke about at half-time was we were delivering the ball to far out the field, so we had to involve our wing backs more and get the ball up the pitch further."
Monaleen Late Fightback Wins All-Ireland
The game got off to a flying start with Shane Boland opening the scoring Tooreen with a quality point five minutes in.
The Mayo side had built up a five point lead after 15 minutes, but Monaleen got back into the game through Dan Power's goal in the 19th minute.
20 nóim
@TooreenHurlers 0-06@monaleengaa 1-03
Féach ar an cúl iontach seo atá faighte ag Dan Power!
Fantastic goal for Monaleen! 👌
#GAABEO #TheToughest @GAA_BEO | @officialgaa | @AIB_GAA
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/zhL5zvUjge— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 14, 2023
With the teams level in the 27th minute, Tooreen regained the lead through a great goal from Liam Lavin to give them a 1-09 to 1-07 lead at the interval.
28 nóim
@TooreenHurlers 1-08@monaleengaa 1-05
Cúl deas ó Liam Lavin le haghaidh An Tuairín!
Lavin retakes the lead with a lovely goal for Tooreen! 👌
#GAABEO #TheToughest @GAA_BEO | @officialgaa | @AIB_GAA
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/BZZrurviEM— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 14, 2023
After maintaining their lead for so long in the second half, Tooreen could have been forgiven for thinking they were on their way to their first All-Ireland title.
However, like all Champions do, Monaleen dug deep when it really mattered, with man of the match Donnacha Ó Dálaigh instrumental to their comeback.
43 nóim
@TooreenHurlers 1-12@monaleengaa 1-10
Cúilín iontach ó Donnacha Ó Dálaigh!
Lovely point for Monaleen! 👌
#GAABEO #TheToughest @GAA_BEO | @officialgaa | @AIB_GAA
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV pic.twitter.com/ytiO1l8qxy— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 14, 2023
It wasn't until the 53rd minute when the Limerick side were ahead for the first time in the game, and put in a huge defensive shift to become All-Ireland champions.
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