If you braved the cold, wind and rain on Monday evening to go and watch Broadford take on Sixmilebridge in their Junior A League match then you were treated to something special; although it might not have seemed like that initially.
Broaford’s Eoin O’Brien scored the first point before the second minute of the match was over but this was soon matched by one from the ‘Bridge. Both scores were then repeated, again by Eoin for Broadford, and the score was even at 0-02 to 0-02 just five minutes in to the game. It seemed that Broadford and Sixmilebridge were evenly matched and would spend the game trading points; and a few wides as it happens. However the game quickly drifted in favour of the ‘Bridge and they soon started to rack up their score. Three over the bar followed by the first goal and then another point, all to the ‘Bridge by the 23rd minute. With a score line of 1-06 to 0-02 and the ‘Bridge consistently out manoeuvring Broadford, a turn-around in Broadford’s fortunes seemed a lot to ask for. Sean Considine got one over the bar for Broadford only for the ‘Bridge to send a further two over in quick succession (1-08 to 0-03). Not looking optimistic for Broadford and dark clouds gathering over the pitch, Eoin O’Brien and John McNamara closed the gap by two points to put Broadford in a slightly better place for the second half. Halftime score 1-08 to 0-05.
The second half started as the first had begun with a point from Eoin O’Brien. This was followed by no less than five wides for the ‘Bridge. Maybe the second half was not going to go so well for the ‘Bridge. Then a series of shots over the bar - one for the ‘Bridge and two for Broadford to put the Broadford lads now just four points behind. Two more points for the ‘Bridge followed and perhaps the gap was too wide again with just 15 minutes left on the clock. Suddenly a shot near the front of the ‘Bridge goal from Eoin O'Brien was deflected in to the net by a Sixmilebridge player in the 18th minute and then a direct goal from Seanie Casey in the 23rd and the scores were level 1-11 to 2-8; something which had seemed only a hope for much of the match and now gave everything to play for. Two more Broadford points and they were finally ahead with the excitement on the side lines mounting over the incredible turn-around. A two point lead though with only two minutes on the clock is a dangerous place to be and the lads from Sixmilebridge were not going to just let the match slip away and they came back with a goal to bring them a lonely point ahead but with just 90 seconds left on the clock. Tense! The game was just in to precious extra time but which team would make the most of it? Both teams were firing on all cylinders and a point for Broadford put them level again. Could they keep the scores level, was a win a possibility? One minute and 26 seconds in to extra time and the ‘Bridge stole the lead again (2-12 to 2-11). Surely that was it. No, a dropped hurly a hand pass and a heightened exchange around the ‘Bridge end 20m line and it was a free for Broadford. He opened the scores in both halves and he closed the scores in extra time, not from the easiest of angles and also in to the wind but over the bar it went for Eoin O’Brien. From what seemed an impossible position during the first half and was a battle in the second, Broadford came back from the brink to pull in a draw. Final score 2-12 to 2-12. Mighty!
Broaford’s Eoin O’Brien scored the first point before the second minute of the match was over but this was soon matched by one from the ‘Bridge. Both scores were then repeated, again by Eoin for Broadford, and the score was even at 0-02 to 0-02 just five minutes in to the game. It seemed that Broadford and Sixmilebridge were evenly matched and would spend the game trading points; and a few wides as it happens. However the game quickly drifted in favour of the ‘Bridge and they soon started to rack up their score. Three over the bar followed by the first goal and then another point, all to the ‘Bridge by the 23rd minute. With a score line of 1-06 to 0-02 and the ‘Bridge consistently out manoeuvring Broadford, a turn-around in Broadford’s fortunes seemed a lot to ask for. Sean Considine got one over the bar for Broadford only for the ‘Bridge to send a further two over in quick succession (1-08 to 0-03). Not looking optimistic for Broadford and dark clouds gathering over the pitch, Eoin O’Brien and John McNamara closed the gap by two points to put Broadford in a slightly better place for the second half. Halftime score 1-08 to 0-05.
The second half started as the first had begun with a point from Eoin O’Brien. This was followed by no less than five wides for the ‘Bridge. Maybe the second half was not going to go so well for the ‘Bridge. Then a series of shots over the bar - one for the ‘Bridge and two for Broadford to put the Broadford lads now just four points behind. Two more points for the ‘Bridge followed and perhaps the gap was too wide again with just 15 minutes left on the clock. Suddenly a shot near the front of the ‘Bridge goal from Eoin O'Brien was deflected in to the net by a Sixmilebridge player in the 18th minute and then a direct goal from Seanie Casey in the 23rd and the scores were level 1-11 to 2-8; something which had seemed only a hope for much of the match and now gave everything to play for. Two more Broadford points and they were finally ahead with the excitement on the side lines mounting over the incredible turn-around. A two point lead though with only two minutes on the clock is a dangerous place to be and the lads from Sixmilebridge were not going to just let the match slip away and they came back with a goal to bring them a lonely point ahead but with just 90 seconds left on the clock. Tense! The game was just in to precious extra time but which team would make the most of it? Both teams were firing on all cylinders and a point for Broadford put them level again. Could they keep the scores level, was a win a possibility? One minute and 26 seconds in to extra time and the ‘Bridge stole the lead again (2-12 to 2-11). Surely that was it. No, a dropped hurly a hand pass and a heightened exchange around the ‘Bridge end 20m line and it was a free for Broadford. He opened the scores in both halves and he closed the scores in extra time, not from the easiest of angles and also in to the wind but over the bar it went for Eoin O’Brien. From what seemed an impossible position during the first half and was a battle in the second, Broadford came back from the brink to pull in a draw. Final score 2-12 to 2-12. Mighty!