In one of the most dramatic games ever seen in Eamon Deacy Park, Maree Oranmore and Salthill Devon produced a game for the ages last night, with the Michael Byrne Cup eventually going to Maree Oranmore 6-5 after extra time. The winners led 2-0 after just 10 minutes thanks to early strikes from Donnacha McNamara and Colm Whelan, but Enda Curran cut the deficit on 25 minutes with Devon's opening goal. Another McNamara strike on 30 minutes restored Maree Oranmore's two-goal cushion, but just before half-time Paul Scally scored Salthill's second to leave the Connacht champions 3-2 in arrears at the break. There was no let-up in the second half scoring as Colm Whelan scored from the penalty spot for Maree Oranmore to make it 4-2 on the hour mark, but Salthill Devon weren't finished and a quickfire double from Princewill Diala on 78 and 85 minutes levelled the game at 4-4. Maree Oranmore thought they had won the game when Colm Whelan scored a 95th minute free kick to put his side 5-4 ahead, only for Colin Kelly to send the game to extra time with a 98th minute equaliser for Devon with the last kick of the game. In extra time it was Maree Oranmore who won the game, with Ify Osugu scoring in the 110th minute to finally settle an all-time classic.
After the game, Kevin Horgan spoke to Maree Oranmore FC Manager Brendan O'Connor...
Kevin also spoke to Maree Oranmore joint-captains Eoghan McDonagh and Malachy Black...
