THE LAST POINT: Gaels' perfect fairytale victory

They might not have done with the speed Aughawillan did it all the way back in the 1970s but Leitrim Gaels' ascension to the pinnacle of club football in Leitrim by winning the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC is no less spectacular and no less important, last Sunday the almost perfect fairytale ending for the county's youngest club.

Leitrim Gaels took a bit longer than the awesome Willies to achieve the feat but, in fairness, the Gaels had a much lower starting point - Aughawillan had Patsy Prior and Noel Flynn to call upon with their vast wealth of experience with Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins as they went from being reformed in 1971 to winning a Junior title in 1974 and the Senior crown in 1976. 

Leitrim's new champions had a tough early existence as they sought to carve out their own corner under the shadows of their neighbours St Mary's Kiltoghert & Allen Gaels. Kiltubrid won the Fenagh Cup 20 years ago and days like Sunday seemed a million miles away as the Gaels struggled to escape the Junior ranks.

The path to glory wasn't easy - a Junior B in 2001 was followed by relegation but when they again lifted the trophy again in 2009, it was the start of a long, long road, through the Junior ranks and what was a massive breakthrough back in 2012 when the Junior A title was annexed. Speed picked up with an Intermediate final appearance in 2017 followed two years later when they joined the Senior ranks - all those moments eventually led us to last Sunday's crowning glory.

Maybe that is why the celebrations seemed a little muted - the final whistle witnessed an explosion of joy but the rampant, wild celebrations that characterise breakthrough wins were strangely lacking. It wasn't that the Gaels weren't over the moon but I believe that the players and fans couldn't actually comprehend what they had just  accomplished!

THE LAST POINT: A MOMENTARY PAUSE FOR BREATH

The laser-guided focus of these Gaels was so all encompassing, an almost messianic zeal to not get carried away by the occasion, that perhaps the one thing Mal Guckian's side didn't plan for was what would happen when they won. But I'm reliably informed by  Willie Donnellan, a very proud man Sunday evening, that once they got back home to the village, the celebrations hit full throttle!

That control was central to what the Gaels achieved - Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins are  opponents nobody wants; an experienced team full of talent  and no little grit, the sort of team that takes you to the depths and tests your inner resolve. Certainly that is what the 2021 winners did  last Sunday, dragging the Gaels into a blow for blow contest that left everyone on tenterhooks.

It would have been a brave man to put money on either side early in the second half but then the Gaels did what they had done so often this year - they exploded down the stretch after draining the strength of the Ballinamore men for the first 45 minutes. David Regan's goal was a signature moment, an exclamation point that signified that Leitrim Gaels were taking control of the game and suddenly, Ballinamore were chasing the Gaels, not the other way round!

With eerily similar echoes to their win over St Mary's earlier in the campaign, the Gaels went toe to toe with Ballinamore for 45, 50 minutes but when the dam broke, a flood of scores turned what had been a nail-biter into a procession. For that to happen once might be considered luck, twice underpins the enormous reserves of stamina, belief and superb organisation of the new champions.

Gradually squeezing the life out of Ballinamore around the middle of the field, cutting the supply off to the dangerous Tom Prior and Paul Honeyman and driving forward with lung bursting runs, Leitrim Gaels set their stamp on this contest as impressively as any champion I've seen in my time with the Observer, a truly superb performance on the biggest stage.

For Ballinamore, it is crushing to lose two Finals in a row and this was no less heartbreaking than last year's epic loss to Mohill. They lost nothing in defeat and  fought as if their lives depended on it but perhaps the toll of four games in four weeks caught up to them as Leitrim Gaels turned up the heat, the consequence of doing away with finish on the day protocols coming back to bite O'Heslins.

A fresher Ballinamore might have challenged the Gaels further down the stretch, we'll never know but you've got to say that Leitrim Gaels answered any and all the questions  - from man of the match Jamie Rynn through Liam Chandler who switched  to marking Paul Honeyman, the Jones brothers - whose influence cannot be overstated  - to Aidan Flynn, David Bruen, David Regan and Conor Guckian.

I could go on and on lauding Leitrim Gaels' heroes but I will say that Ryan Jones was my man of the match. Jamie Rynn was a very popular and a more than worthy choice for the gong, his thunderous runs and energy a springboard for the Gaels' victory and you've got to think Leitrim will be seriously looking at him such is his progression this year.

But, and this is just a personal preference, when the game was in the melting pot, Ryan Jones was the man in the trenches who steered the Gaels home. How many times did he come up with the ball and spring an attack? Or field a kickout he had no right to? He was so influential that,  if I was Steven Poacher, I'd strongly consider relieving Ryan from his selector's job with Leitrim Seniors and putting a jersey on him next year!

A word too about Paul Honeyman - it was a joy to watch his exhibition of scoring last Sunday and on most other days, it would have been more than enough to see Ballinamore over the line. The scary thing is that young Honeyman is still U20 next year - a frightening prospect for Ballinamore's rivals. 

THE LAST POINT: SWEPT AWAY BY A WINDY WEEKEND

Congratulations to all associated with Leitrim Gaels on a truly transformative victory - the challenge now will be to push on and if they can achieve half of what Aughawillan did after their 1976 breakthrough, they'll carve out a special legend for themselves.

Finally, I can't let the occasion pass without a word about my great mate Willie Donnellan - and judging by the messages he has been getting from all over the county and further a-field; and the congratulations showered upon him in Cloone last Monday evening (many people unable to believe he was actually there to cover the match!), I'm not alone in being thrilled for Willie when the Gaels achieved their  nirvana.

To make the weekend even better if that is possible, Willie's son in law Kevin Stritch  coached Ballyboden St Enda's team to the Dublin SFC title on Saturday, the team managed by Eamon O'Reilly, son of current Glenfarne Kiltyclogher manager and former Cavan GAA Chairman Tom O'Reilly so lots of local links in the capital.

Willie has enjoyed and endured the madness of County Final day for well over 50 years with the Observer but last Sunday was a special personal moment - a great, great weekend for the man who has captured  special moments from countless Finals through the years.