A last-gasp free from county star Mark Kerins earned underdogs Clarinbridge a draw with Loughrea in a scrappy Galway SHC final at Pearse Park yesterday.

Clarinbridge 2-11
Loughrea 1-14

A replay was no more than Clarinbridge deserved as they had led by two points when Johnny Coen blasted home a penalty in injury-time to give Loughrea - conquerors of Portumna in the semi-final - a one-point lead. But there was still time for Kerins to level from a pressure free.

Seeking only their second ever county title, Clarinbridge led by 2-6 to 0-7 at half-time thanks to goals from Paul Coen and Kerins in the 20th and 29th minutes. With teenage star Neil Keary in fine form from placed balls, 2006 champions Loughrea had led by 0-6 to 0-5 after 17 minutes before Coen burst through to fire home the opening goal three minutes later.

Keary kept Loughrea in touch during the third quarter, but they still trailed by 0-11 to 2-9 with nine minutes remaining. Further scores from Johnny Coen and Keary cut the deficit to the minimum before Kerins - who top-scored with 1-9 - looked to have settled it with his second point from a '65.

However, after Gavin Keary was fouled, Johnny Coen blasted what looked like the winning goal from the resultant point, only for Kerins to save the day for the maroon and whites. Tweet

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