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Coolera-Strandhill, winners of the last two county titles and last year’s provincial crown, started as slight favourites for this replay, although Shamrock Gaels, who scored in second-half stoppage time to force a rematch, had emerged as resilient contenders despite the gap to their last final at this level, all the way to 1994. The crossfield breeze and a cagey approach from both sides, with neither team willing to make unnecessary risks, led to a low-scoring opening period that ended 0-2 each. Holders Coolera-Strandhill spurned a marvellous opportunity for an ideal start when their leading scorer Niall Murphy sent a spot-kick effort wide in the sixth minute. The penalty was awarded following an infringement on Kevin Banks in the Shamrock Gaels goalmouth. Murphy shrugged off that uncharacteristic miss by notching Coolera-Strandhill’s two points in that first-half, with Shane Deignan responsible for Shamrock Gaels’ two scores. During an error-strewn first-half, with turnovers aplenty, there were four wides each. Coolera-Strandhill were denied a point when a Niall Murphy effort came off the upright and later in the first-half Keelan Cawley was through for a potential goal shot but he was stopped by Ciaran Kenny’s last-gasp tackle. The second-half belonged to Shamrock Gaels, who outscored their opponents, 2-9 to 0-6. The first 15 minutes of the second-half told the tale as Shamrock Gaels landed four points without reply to go four up, 0-6 to 0-2, and Coolera-Strandhill lost Leo Doherty to a straight red card. The holders' top scorer and talisman, Murphy tried to keep his side in touch with a hat-trick of two-pointer frees but he was his side’s only scorer. Shamrock Gaels were precise and pacy and had numerous outstanding performers, among them Ciaran Kenny, later named Player of the Match, who is a brother of Glasgow Celtic’s Johnny Kenny. Two other Kenny siblings, Niall and Patrick, were part of the winning team. Shane Deignan’s late goals - in the 59th minute and seventh minute of additional time - reflected Shamrock Gaels’ overall power, although it took until the second-half for them to show it. Scorers for Coolera-Strandhill: Niall Murphy 0-8 (3tpf) Scorers for Shamrock Gaels: Shane Deignan 2-3, David Quinn 0-3 (2f), Karl McKenna 0-1, Ciaran Kenny 0-1, Patrick Kenny 0-1, Niall Kenny 0-1, Sean Carroll 0-1 Coolera-Strandhill: K Harte, J Cassidy, C McDonagh, S Murphy, O Harte, P Laffey, C Gilligan; K Banks, M McDaniel, L Doherty, B O’Mahony, R Doherty, K Cawley, N Murphy, C Burke. Subs used: C Murphy for K Cawley, 43; C O’Neill for S Murphy, 46; H Rooney for J Cassidy, 57 Shamrock Gaels: D Lyons; O Conlon, E Lyons, D King, K McKenna, C Kenny, P Kenny, C Sheridan, D McDermott, N Kenny, L Deignan, G Barlow, S Deignan, D Quinn, J Foley Subs used: S Carroll for J Foley, 44 Referee: Barry Judge
