Another day, another GAA free kick competition.
What was once the stuff of legend and folklore, has, over the past few months, become almost boring in its frequency.
But try telling that to the footballers of St. Mary's Belfast who upset all the odds yesterday to pip NUIG in the opening game of the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup.
The hero at Dangan Sports Grounds was wing half back Liam Rafferty. The Galbally man stepped up to clinch a 4-2 victory for the teaching college after a nail-biting 70 minutes of football that saw both side's locked at 1-11 apiece after extra-time.
Check out footage of the winning kick below. A bit grainy at the start, but stick with it to see the impressive swing of the right boot from the Tyrone McKenna Cup panelist.
They think it's all over.. it is now! Liam Rafferty with the winning free kick!!!!!! RANCH win 4-1 in the free kick comp!@ElectricIreland@officialgaa#FirstClassRivals #RanchSpirit pic.twitter.com/DmF1CwBtjb
— St Mary's SU (@StMarysBelfast) January 16, 2019
St Mary's, who defied all expectations to clinch the competition in 2017, were unfancied going into yesterday's game after a disappointing McKenna Cup campaign that saw them ship a cumulative of 8-45 in three games against Monaghan, Antrim, and finalists Armagh.
But the return to the panel of star players, such as Rafferty, Jarly Óg Burns (Armagh), and Shane McGuigan (Derry) after inter-county duty seemed to spur the Northern side by the banks of Lough Corrib.
Gavin McGilly's side looked dead and buried on more than one occasion, having to rely on late points from Rafferty and Danny McKinless to force extra-time, before Stephen McConville drew them level again in the dying embers of the additional ten minutes. That set the stage for the sudden-death shootout.
A @StMarysBelfast score today that everyone in Dangan could appreciate @HigherEdGAA @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup 🏐🎥😎 #AvenirSports #Performanceanalysis #Gaa #Hudl pic.twitter.com/trcRbiPIwN
— Avenir Sports (@AVENIRSPORTS) January 16, 2019
Final word has to go to Lavey frontman, Niall Toner, however, who improvised superbly to set Rafferty up for this point during normal-time.
NUIG will now play the losers of Sunday's tie between Queen's and Maynooth, as they enter the newly introduced back door system introduced to the competition this year.
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