A dramatic one-point victory for Cratloe over Feakle on Saturday afternoon in Dr Daly Park brought clarity to the final standings in Group Three. Level on points entering the contest, both sides served up a tense, full-blooded encounter with knockout hurling on the line.
While scorable opportunities were missed at both ends in a nervy opening period, Owen McGann’s first-half brace of goals kept Feakle in the driving seat, sandwiching a Conor Ryan finish from the edge of the square for Cratloe to leave Feakle holding a slender 2-07 to 1-09 lead at the interval.
Feakle surged out of the blocks on resumption, stretching their advantage to five points with well-taken scores from Shane McGrath, Eoghan Tuohy, Enda Noonan, and Martin Daly. A vital double save from Cratloe netminder Eoin Deegan provided the spark his side desperately needed, steadying the ship midway through the half.
Thereafter they chipped away patiently at the deficit before Marc O’Brien drilled a low strike past Eibhear Quilligan to level the game entering the final ten minutes. A gripping finale ensued as Shane McGrath and Rian Considine traded frees, setting the stage for Cathal Lohan to gather a breaking ball on the stand sideline and float over a towering winner.
The 2-18 to 2-17 result sends Cratloe through to a quarter-final clash against Inagh Kilnamona in three weeks' time. Feakle’s championship campaign ends with a third place finish.
