Battling Caherlistrane come up trumps on traumatic day

CAHERLISTRANE 2-12

TUAM STARS 0-15

(After extra-time)

A GREY autumnal evening at Corofin on Sunday, tinged with both controversy and emotion, ended up with Caherlistrane tapping into a reserve of heart and passion that eventually saw them through this senior football championship preliminary quarter-final.

This contest, that began just after 5.15 didn’t reach a conclusion until almost 7.30, as a major wait cum stand-off developed over the playing of extra-time, after the sides ended up level at 2-8 to 0-14 at the end of the normal hour’s play.

For a solid half hour, after referee Tomás Ó Fatharta had blown for the end of normal time, there were serious doubts as to whether Caherlistrane would take to the field for the scheduled 20 minutes of extra-time.

In fairness to Larry Bane’s Caherlistrane side, it had already been a very emotional and sad day for them. Just as the team arrived into the dressingrooms in Corofin around 4pm they got word that popular local man Paddy McCabe – father of wing forward Barry – had passed away after a long illness.

At that stage the tie could have been postponed but in deference to the wishes of the late Paddy McCabe that he didn’t want any match called off when his time came, Caherlistrane decided to play the game, with Barry McCabe also lining out at right half forward.

For long periods of the ‘normal time’ game, the events of the day seemed to be taking their toll on Caherlistrane, but with the help of early and late goals, they grimly hung on for the draw.

Extra-time seemed to be the last thing they needed as they wanted to bring a halt to their day’s work, but after various phone calls were made to GAA officials in the county, the word was that they had to fulfil the extra-time stipulation or forfeit the tie.

At that point, composure and confidence seemed to favour a Tuam Stars side that should have won this match in normal time, but Caherlistrane unearthed reserves of will and commitment to finish with an energy that didn’t seem to exist a half hour previously.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.