Kilmeena into Connacht semi-final after extra-time thriller

GAA - CONNACHT INTERMEDIATE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Kilmeena 1-21

Caltra 0-21

In Tuam Stadium

What a game this Connacht quarter-final was.

Whether it was the drama, the sumptuous scores, the tight and frenetic nature of proceedings, or the end-to-end fare, Kilmeena went through one hell of a battle against the Caltra commandos.

After 80 minutes of sheer drama and spectacle, the men from the shores of Clew Bay emerged with the spoils, but not without a serious test of their credentials.

When they needed men to step up and be counted, they weren't in short supply.

Whether it was Cormac O'Malley booming over two-pointers from distance, Jack Mulchrone rattling the net, or Jack Carney popping up with the clincher, there were plenty of leaders in a game with more twists and turns than the Amazon River.

Caltra will be gutted, especially Alan Naughton, who ended the day with a whopping 0-17 to his name.

The Galway king-pins fought back well on a multitude of occasions, and were close to resurrecting their prospects in extra-time, having been five down at one stage.

However, the day was Kilmeena's. Sligo's champions, Collaney-Mullinabreena, await in the last four.

Kilmeena started the brighter, cutting their opponents open at will early on, and could have been ahead by plenty.

However, the unplayable Naughton raised an orange flag to hand the Green and White the lead for the first time at the change of ends.

The lead was out to three for the men from East Galway soon after, but O'Malley was inspirational with his two-pointer to bring it back to the minimum and keep Kilmeena rolling.

However, the sides couldn't be separated, and extra time was signalled after the hour.

Then, Kilmeena came alive. Joint-captain Mulchrone was in the right place at the right time to slam home a goal, and before long, the chasm stood at five.

Caltra fought valiantly, but couldn't reel in Kilmeeena, who celebrated wildly on the pitch where they felt such pain in 2023, losing narrowly to Monivea-Abbey.

Damian Egans' men are on the hunt for history. Who knows where it might take them?