Shock the only way for Abbi to describe Ballinamore's dramatic victory

“Shock is the only way to describe it!” Truer words were never spoken about Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins dramatic 1-10 to 1-8 victory over Steelstown Brian Ogs in the CurrentAccount.ie LGFA All-Ireland IFC Club Semi-Final and when you consider they were spoken by full-back Abbi Sweeney, it gives you some sense of just how dramatic the finish last Saturday truly was!

Collared by the Observer amidst the wild celebrations in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin, Abbi probably summed up the feelings of the delirious if shocked Ballinamore fans when asked about the dramatic finish: “In shock I think, I wasn’t expecting that - I thought we had lost it and then, what was it, the last ten seconds we got that goal, I think shock is the only way to describe it.”

From her vantage point at the far end of the field, Abbi would have been quite happy to take the game to extra time as she praised Aoibheann Flynn’s killer instinct: “Aoibheann did amazing - I didn’t know if she was going to go for a point or the goal but I’m just glad she went for the goal.”

A goal was the only thing on Aoibheann’s mind

Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins forward scores winning goal with last kick of All-Ireland Semi-Final

A mark of the woman, it is telling that Abbi’s next words were for Steelstown Brian Ogs: “Oh my God, they’re an amazing team, they are a strong unit and they should be so proud of themselves the way they played today because they didn’t make it easy.”

What got Ballinamore through two incredibly tight finishes on Saturday and the Connacht Final was the bond between the players: “I’m going to be honest, every single one of us on that team is best friends and I think we want to do it for each other just as much as we want to do for ourselves.

“So if we see the heads dropping, we know to pick each other up and keep going. I think we just want to do it for everyone so badly that it just drives us on.”

Equally the roars from the passionate support in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin last Saturday played it’s part: “Oh my God, it was amazing - it really does drive you on knowing the support is there. The crowd that is here supporting us, we never see support like this and I really think it is bringing us on, knowing the whole town and nearly county is backing. I think it just boosts us and drives us forward.”

Lightning strikes twice as Ballinamore strike late to snatch tip to Croke Park for All-Ireland Final

BALLINAMORE SEAN O'HESLINS 1-10 STEELSTOWN BRIAN OGS 1-8

Victory means another two weeks of training in the lead-up to Christmas but to get to Croke Park, Abbi is more than happy to put in the hard work ahead of the final: “I didn’t think I’d be making it to Croke Park but I am so happy, another two tough weeks ahead of us and lots of training but I don’t mind that at all. If it means we make it to Croke Park, I don’t mind at all.”