Damien Browne was the hero of the hour as Red Hughes eked out a dramatic Junior Championship win over Urris today.
Urris 1-13 Red Hughs 1-14
When Charlie Doherty kicked his 8th point of the game to give Urris the lead for only the second time in the game, it looked for certain that Red Hughs would suffer their first defeat of the campaign.
However, a minute later, Red Hughs captain Damian Browne kicked a brillant long range free from 40 metres out near the sideline to equalise.
There was still time for Browne to score his 9th point of the game in the 63rd minute from a less difficult free to clinch a dramatic victory and top spot in the Group.
Urris
There was little to indicate the drama that would unfold later in the opening minutes of this game.
Playing against a strong wind Red Hughs had 1-03 on the scoreboard before Urris realised the game had started.
Odhran Doherty kicked a point, Johnny Carlin set up a goal chance which Calvin Bradley duly converted and Doherty and Damian Browne knocked over further points, all in the first five minutes.
Charlie Doherty finally got Urris on the scoresheet in the 11th minute from a free but it took an excellent save by Urris keeper Kieran Friel to deny Bradley and Red Hughs a second goal a minute later.
Damian Browne’s free put the visitors six ahead again but Urris had the better of it after that and points from play by Kevin McLaughlin, two from Conor Doherty, one from Aaron Harkin and two more from Charlie Doherty had them right back in the game.
Browne added two more to his tally and Peader McGlinchey should have goaled for Red Hughs when clean through but pulled his shot wide.
All that left just two points in it at half-time 1-06 to 0-07 in the visitors favour.
Johnny Carlin and Browne quickly added to the Red Hughs total but Charlie Doherty replied from a free to leave a goal between them in the 37th minute.
It should have been two goals between them a minute later but James Carlin drove wide when well placed.
Browne pointed another free, Charlie Doherty replied with two for Urris and then Calvin Bradley kicked two super points from play to leave it 1-11 to 0-10 points to Red Hughs in the 46th minute.
But Urris refused to accept defeat and credit to them for making an already excellent championship match a real cliffhanger in the last fourteen minutes.
A long ball into the visitors danger area was tapped down by Kevin McLaughlin and Alan Friel pounced to hammer it past Luke Kelly to leave just a point between them.
Charlie Doherty levelled it with his 7th point of the game and then Mc Laughlin put Urris ahead for the first time in the game with a super point from the right. Damian Browne kicked an equaliser a minute later to leave it at 1-12 apiece in the 53rd minute.
It remained like that until the final minute of normal time before Doherty knocked over his 8th of the game and a Urris win looked likely, but Red Hughs refused to accept that scenario and team captain stepped up with that brilliant equaliser in the 62nd minute and there was still time to knock over the winning score a minute later.
Well done to both teams for producing a cracking championship encounter, the defeat ends Urris interest for 2017 while Red Hughs will top the Group if the defeat Muff in their final round-Robin game at home next weekend.
Urris: Kieran Friel,. Declan Grant, Kieran Kelly, Andrew Doherty, James Griffen, Gary Doherty, Aaron Harkin (0-1), John McCarron, Paddy Doherty, Ryan Doherty, Alan Friel (1-0), Donal Kelly, Conor Bradley (0-2), Kevin McLaughlin (0-2), Charlie Doherty (0-8, 7f). Subs: Danny Devlin for Kelly (14), Peter Devlin for McCarron (15), Brian Doherty for R.Doherty (37), Mickey Grant for Harkin (46) Jason Doherty for Grant (50).
Red Hughs: Luke Kelly, Declan Irwin, Shane McGlinchey, Michael Devine, Gerard Melaugh, Stephen McMenamin, Ryan Kelly, Johnny Carlin (0-1), Odhran Doherty (0-2), James Carlin, Peadar McGlinchey, Ronan Gallen, Ricky Gallen, Damian Browne (0-9, 6f), Calvin Bradley (1-2). Subs: Thomas Doherty for Devine (50), Eugene Browne for Gallen (54).
Referee: Paul Clifford (Buncrana).
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