Loughinisland 1-18 Mayobridge 2-16 – MORGAN FUELS SFC
MAYOBRIDGE are becoming the great escape artists after denying Loughinisland a quarter-final place at a sun-kissed Castlewellan yesterday with a late winner in extra time.
Just as in the first round win over Burren, Mayobridge were staring defeat in the face, but they are now thriving on adversity and overturned a 1-17 to 2-11 lead in the second period of extra-time to run out one-point winners.
Caolan Gallagher fisted Mayobridge into an early lead and Conleth O’Hare followed this up in the second minute with another point. Loughinisland kept plugging away and were rewarded in the sixth minute with a penalty after a Mayobridge defender was adjudged to have blocked a shot with his foot.
Stefan Mason was coolness personified as he drilled the spot kick high into the net and give his side a 1-0 to 0-2 lead.
Stefan followed up his penalty with a 45’ before Corey Quinn netted at the other end to give the ‘Bridge a 1-2 to 1-1 lead after 13 minutes.
The game continued to flow from end-to-end and two unanswered points from Jonny Flynn and a Rory Mason free had Loughinisland back in front with a 1-4 to 1-2 lead.
Mayobridge responded with a point from Cathal Magee, but Jody Gormley’s men finished the half on top and points from Stefan Mason and Conor Megoran sent them in at the break with a 1-6 to 1-4 lead at the break.
Rory Mason extended that lead to three points at the start of the second half, but O’Hare kept Mayobridge in touch with his second point of the day.
Megoran and Quinn, Stefan Mason and O’Hare and Quinn and Rory Mason swapped scores before Stefan Mason and Dean McLaughlin pointed the Blues into a 1-12 to 1-8 lead with only a few minutes remaining.
Anyone who thought that Mayobridge were dead and buried were forced to think again as a point from O’Hare and a goal in the sixth minute of added time from Jamie McKay sent the game to extra-time.
Loughinisland held a three-point advantage going into the second period of extra-time after Dan Gordon and Stefan Mason swapped points with Quinn.
Mayobridge kept chipping away at Loughinisland’s lead and somehow dragged the game from the fire at the death to break Loughinisland’s hearts.
