M&L Contracts SFC semi-final: Ballinderry Shamrocks v Erin’s Own, Lavey. Throw-in 6.30pm on Saturday 14th Sept at Owenbeg. The senior game is preceded by the BA Mullan and Son U16′B’ final: Loup v Newbridge (4.45pm).
Ronan McGuckin (6) and Stephen Henry during the epic 2010 encounter between Ballinderry and Lavey (Photo: Margaret McLaughlin)
People jump out of planes and experience less sensation. Three years ago at St Oliver Plunkett's Park, Greenlough, even the most hardened adrenaline junkie would have been satisfied, as the footballers of Lavey and Ballinderry served up a gut-wrenching, endorphin-fuelled bonanza of a roller-coaster ride.
If you missed it, you really missed out.
The game will be remembered for many things: Lavey's blistering second half performance overturning a four point half time deficit within minutes; the personal game of ping-pong between Cailean O'Boyle and Mickey C in the Shamrocks goals; Paul Hearty's run and finish for goal of the year; red cards, player's mistakes, official's mistakes and the looming darkness sweeping over the Clady countryside.
But the finish will go down in history as one of the most dramatic ever seen.
"We're saying it all year, we never count a championship game as 60 minutes, it's 63, 64, 65, 66 minutes. We pulled it out of the fire." Niall Conway, the then Shamrocks manager, told the Derry Post.
They sure did. With two minutes of normal time remaining, Lavey were as impressive as had been seen in the county that year, and deservedly led by five; 1-14 to 1-09.
Regulation time is up as Coilin Devlin strikes a free which seems to tail wide to the right of the right hand post. Point given.
Four in it.
Gavin McGeehan enters as a last ditch substitution given momentum by the five minutes of additional time just announced. Seconds later, he registers a vital goal following a defensive error and some opportunism by Conleith Gilligan.
One in it.
Lavey nerves become frayed but are calmed again by a Paul Hearty point ninety seconds later. With two points between the teams, there will be no replay now.
With thirty seconds of the additional five minutes remaining, the game enters the realms of the slow motion sound distorted film reel, as one final Ballinderry attack sees Ryan Scott to Conor Nevin, Conor Nevin to James Conway, who fires a low shot to the net triggering a upheaval of emotions across both sets of supporters rarely seen before, or since.
"I think we were five points down in injury time," said Conway. "It's unbelievable. Gavin got the goal and by pure luck, mine went in."
Whether it was luck, persistence, or a combination of factors, it was certainly unbelievable.
Ballinderry went on to lose out in the county final to first time winners, Eoghan Rua. That was the last time the club has lost a Derry senior football championship match, and sets the context for Saturday's encounter at Owenbeg.
Seemingly imperious and playing some champagne football, Ballinderry easily accounted for both Glenullin and Kilrea. Make no mistake; their eyes are firmly set on the historic three-in-a-row, which only Bellaghy Wolfe Tones have managed to achieve to date.
Lavey, for their part, bring championship tradition and an element of the unknown. They are no strangers to Owenbeg having taken part in the Official Opening involving a win over neighbours Bellaghy. A late surge got them over the line against a dogged Banagher outfit, setting up an enthralling quarter final win over an Eoin Bradley inspired Glenullin side.
Jude Donnelly, the Lavey trainer to the John Brennan and Henry Downey inspired effort in 2010, now takes charge of the Erin’s Own men. Martin McKinless is his opposite number having not lost a championship game since taking over in 2011.
Sixty minutes, or maybe sixty five or sixty six minutes, stand between both clubs and their shot at the title.
Whatever you do this weekend, don't miss out.
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