O'Connell's contribution boost Boyne Valley to final after extra-time thriller

The gift that is the Regional FC just kept giving at Dunganny tonight as Boyne Valley secured their place in the final of the inaugural competition with a 1-16 to 1-13 extra-time victory over Lough Crew.

There was no shortage of excitement or excellent football as Boyne Valley embarked on a rollercoaster ride before finally sealing their final spot.

It had looked like being a comfortable evening for Cathal O Bric's side as they opened up an eight point lead inside 18 minutes with Keith Curtis landing three frees and one from play, while David Curtis and Barry O'Connell were also on the mark before two stunning scores from Con Smith made it 0-8 to 0-0.

Wasteful and panicked Lough Crew took until the 24th minute to open their account, but once they got going they were superb with Harry Ryan opening their account with quickfire points (one free) before Michael Flood got in on the act to close the gap to 0-3 to 0-8 at half-time.

After Kevin Gilsenan closed the deficit to four 42 seconds after the restart Boyne Valley's dominance looked to be restored when Mark Dowdall, Barry O'Connell and Smith with another wonder score made it 0-11 to 0-4 with 23 minutes remaining.

However that was Boyne Valley's last score for 19 minutes as Lough Crew turned on the style again.

CJ Healy got them going with a point and after Sean Reilly was brilliantly denied by John Davis Reilly added three successive frees to close the gap to 0-8 to 0-11.

Brian O'Connell marked his introduction with a point from a free to settle Boyne Valley, but with just over two minutes remaining Daire Shine crossed for Flood to palm to the net and close the gap to the minimum.

Brian O'Connell made it 0-13 to 1-8 with a converted mark, but after Barry O'Connell sacrificed himself for the team with a black card tackle to prevent Jason Scully getting through on goals, Lough Crew managed to force extra-time with a Reilly free and a 64th minute equaliser from Scully.

Boyne Valley took control of the game in extra-time despite being still down to 14 men with Barry O'Connell in the sin-bin.

Smith with his fourth point scored after 10 seconds and six minutes later Brian O'Connell netted after outstanding work by Donal Keogan to make it 1-14 to 1-10, and the huge crowd though that was that.

However, Lough Crew never gave up. Scully pulled a point back before half-time and he kicked two more frees in the first two minutes of the second period of extra-time to make it 1-13 to 1-14.

It was game on, but Boyne Valley never panicked and with Barry O'Connell back on the field he made sure of the win for his side with two late points and even though Dylan Briody went close to forcing penalties when he had a palmed effort scrambled off the line there was no way back again for Lough Crew as Boyne Valley marched on to next Sunday's final against Tara in Ashbourne at 2pm.

Boyne Valley - John Davis; Adam Byrne, Donagh Garvey, Sean O'Hare; Alan Wall, James O'Hare, Cathal McConnell; Donal Keogan, Conor Farrelly; Mark Dowdall (0-1), Barry O'Connell (0-4), Con Smith (0-4); Davy Curtis (0-1 free), Keith Curtis (0-4 three frees), Marty Mulhall. Subs - Scott Sullivan, Lorcan O'Connor, Adam Quinn, Brian O'Connell (1-2 one free, one mark), Mark Byrne, Matthew Cully, Ciaran Cox, Francis Marry, Jim Marry, Matt Tully, Sean Martyn, Tristan O'Neill.

Lough Crew - Conor McHugh; Dylan Garrigan, Michael Flood (1-1), Shane Gibney; Ronan Maguire, Stephen Lawless, Darren Gibney; Sean Reilly (0-4 frees), Sean Geraghty; Pearse Sheridan, Jason Scully (0-4 two frees), Harry Ryan (0-2 one frees); CJ Healy (0-1), Robbie Farrelly, Kevin Gilsenan (0-1). Subs - Oisin McDermott, Colin Hawdon, Oran O'Reilly, Oran Mulvaney, Joseph Blake, Thomas O'Reilly, Luke Blake, Dylan Briody, Tom Shine, Rory Gibney, Daire Shine, Daragh Caffrey, Cian McPartland.

Referee - Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin).