Listowel Emmets manager Enda Murphy said his side were "dead and buried" but for the heroics of Jack McElligott in the Kerry GAA Premier Junior Championship final against Ballymacelligott.
Listowel held a seven-point lead at half-time but Ballymac came back in the second half and took the lead in the fifth minute of injury time.
As blue smoke from the Ballymac supporters drifted onto the pitch, McElligott rose from the Austin Stack Park turf to kick an equalising point for Listowel and send the game to extra-time.
"All that comes from underage, practising with both legs. I'd always have faith in it," McElligott told Clubber TV, broadcasters of the game, about kicking the score with his left foot.
"I know I slipped and I came back up then. There was just one thing in my head, to kick the ball over the bar. I'm glad I did."
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Enda Murphy added: "On 64:50, I remember looking at [the clock], we were down a down a point and I thought we were gone, and the next thing Jack McElligott again. What a hero, and he puts it to extra-time."
Amazing finish to the @Kerry_Official Premier Junior Final. Deep into injury time, amid smoke and fireworks, Jack McElligott sent over an equaliser to send the game into extra time.@EmmetsCLG pic.twitter.com/KB1UvxJJ8B
— John C. O'Shea (@jcoshea) October 29, 2023
McElligott kicked four points from play in a Man of the Match display as his side won 0-23 to 1-15 to take the step up to intermediate level in Kerry next year.
Towards the end of the first half, the 20-year-old kicked an inspirational solo score to put his side ahead by six. The former Kerry minor picked up the ball on his own half back line, laid it off to Eddie Healy, and retook possession before setting off on a run through the Ballymac defence.
22 December 2020; Kerry players, from left, Dara O'Callaghan, Joey Nagle, Cian McMahon and Jack McElligott celebrate following the Electric Ireland Munster GAA Football Minor Championship Final match between Kerry GAA and Clare GAA at LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
"He was sensational," Murphy said about McElligott.
"I worked with Jack since he was about 15. I know what's in him. He had a habit in games of coming with that stride and maybe not finishing but by God, did he finish today.
"Look, we were dead and buried only for Jack. It was a squad effort but he was definitely the hero that got us lifting the cup today."
THAT run and score by Jack McElligott of @EmmetsCLG in their @Kerry_Official Junior Premier Final win yesterday. pic.twitter.com/tXU5Ekis2E
— John C. O'Shea (@jcoshea) October 30, 2023
The victory means that Listowel will face either Waterford's Affane or Clare's Killimer in the Munster Junior Club Football Championship semi-final later this month. Kerry sides, including David Clifford's Fossa last year, have won the last four Munster titles at this grade.
"We might have to hold back the celebrations for a while," said McElligott, before realising the reality.
"Well, I don't think so, the town is going to get wrecked tonight!"
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