An Cheatru Rua and Claregalway’s marathon

Date Published: 31-Jul-2008

THEY must be already sick of the sight of each other but Claregalway and An Cheathru Rua will have to do it all over again after the second time in six days two ten minutes periods of extra time failed to produce a winner in a thrilling Claregalway Hotel Senior Football Championship second round replay.

When the final whistle blew in the drawn game the previous Sunday tempers flared and there was a bit of jostling as both sets of players and officials left the field. But at Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening, the players – bruised and battered after draining encounter – could barely muster up the energy to shake hands never mind jostle.

Claregalway’s full-forward Martin Kelly was the visible expression of the chronic fatigue that was no doubt being felt by all. When he pointed with the last kick of the game two minutes into injury time in the second period of extra time to salvage another replay he immediately collapsed to the ground like a man who had just been shot by a sniper’s rifle.

As his team mates celebrated and the small contingent of Claregalway fans went wild, Kelly stayed down holding his right leg aloft in attempt to get some relief from cramp. The sharp-shooter was out on his feet, but he ……..