JOE CANNING v Kilkenny
Leinster SHC final, July 5 2015, Croke Park: Kilkenny 1-25 Galway 2-15
“OH MY GOD!”
Marty Morrissey couldn’t contain himself, and who could blame him?
The RTE commentator had just seen one of the best goals scored at Croke Park by one of the best players to have graced the stadium.
In the end, it didn’t matter. Kilkenny were much too strong for Galway, running out seven-point winners. Later in the summer the Tribe would get a little closer, but the Cats still had too much for them in the All-Ireland final.
But, with the clock approaching 32 minutes in the Leinster final and Galway two points behind, Canning produced the moment of the Championship.
John Hanbury cleared the ball away from the Galway ‘D’, as far as the unmarked Andy Smith.
Smith, five yards outside his own 45, belted a long ball towards the Kilkenny goal.
Canning followed the flight of the ball as it fell from the sky. He got in behind Joey Holden but, having slightly over-run the ball, the Portumna man needed to swivel in order the claim the dropping sliotar, by which time he was facing away from the goal.
But his swivel continued and, as he, turned he smashed the ball past Eoin Murphy.
Oh my God, Marty. Oh my God.
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JOHN FENTON v Limerick
Munster SHC semi-final replay, June 28 1987, Thurles: Cork 3-14 Limerick 0-10
This began as an exercise to select the six best hurling Championship goals of the past 30 years. But, when the one so often cited as the best ever lies just two years outside that window, it’s fine to bend the rules of the game a little. Anyway, it’s my game, so
tough.
After a thrilling 3-11 apiece draw the first day, reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions Cork were much better in their replay against Limerick, running out 13-point winners.
But while the match itself has long faded from the memory, Fenton’s goal, just before the break, remains one of the most iconic moments in GAA history.
A long puck-out from Ger Cunningham was helped on by Tom Cashman before Tomas Mulcahy broke the ball into Fenton’s feet.
The Midleton midfielder, one of the sweetest strikers in the history of the game, scooped it forward before unleashing a blistering shot off the ground from around 40 yards that zoomed past Limerick goalkeeper Tommy Quaid in a blur of flying sliotar.
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MICHAEL JACOB v Kilkenny
Leinster SHC semi-final, June 13 2004, Croke Park: Wexford 2-15 Kilkenny 1-16
Some goals are great because they demonstrate outrageous pieces of skill. Some are great because of what they mean in the context of the game. This one was both.
Kilkenny hadn’t lost a Leinster Championship match for seven years and this one would prove to be their only defeat in an amazing 14-season span.
They were a point ahead with time virtually up when Adrian Fenlon stood over a sideline cut for the Yellowbellies.
They must have fancied their chances of grabbing a draw, as Fenlon was one of the great modern exponents of the skill, but his effort fell short,
and into the hand of Cats centre-back Peter Barry.
He stepped away from the goal to clear but was met by Jacob (below) who, in one motion, blocked him down, gathered the bouncing ball, spun around and lashed past James McGarry from an acute angle. Game over.
Kilkenny boss Brian Cody, who had made his way behind the goal, hit the deck in disbelief. Wexford went on to beat Offaly for what remains their last Leinster title.
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OLCAN McFETRIDGE v Offaly
All-Ireland SHC final, August 6 1989, Croke Park: Antrim 4-15 Offaly 1-15
IF you’re from Antrim an old enough to remember, but too young to recall the Second World War, this is the greatest hurling Championship goal ever scored. And it’s not even close.
McFetridge had already won one Brian Donnelly delivery a man of his stature had no right to in the first half. That time he was dragged down and Aidan McCarry converted the penalty.
The Saffrons were three points ahead, thanks in part to a McFetridge goal, when Donnelly again took possession tight to the right-hand sideline.
He arrowed the ball towards the Offaly goal.
The Armoy man rose at the edge of the square to grab the sliotar and on landing whipped it to the net. But he hadn’t landed on his feet. He landed on his knees but was still able to finish before any Offaly man knew what was happening.
From there Antrim powered through to just their second All-Ireland final appearance, and the first since 1943.
That final resulted in a heavy defeat to Tipperary, but ‘Cloot’ was honoured with an Allstar, in large part for his devastating semi-final display.
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RICHIE HOGAN v Tipperary
All-Ireland SHC final, September 4 2011, Croke Park: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 1-16
THE previous year Tipp had emphatically derailed Kilkenny’s ‘drive for five’ and the defending champions were favourites heading into the 2011 decider, the third in-a-row between the great rivals.
A Michael Fennelly goal six minutes before the half-time helped send the Cats in 1-8 to 0-6 ahead, and they were still five ahead, 1-12 to 0-10, 13 minutes after the break when Tommy Walsh mopped up a loose ball near his own goal.
A short stickpass found Michael Rice on the Kilkenny 20m line and he played the ball long down the right wing, bouncing it into the chest of Colin Fennelly.
Fennelly’s handpass found Eddie Brennan on the Tipp 65, racing into the open field.
Brennan reached the opposition 20m line before he handpassed to Richie Hogan, peeling away from goal.
Hogan deadened the sliotar on his stick before hammering it past Brennan Cummins into the top corner. A great team goal from the greatest team of all time.
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AUSTIN GLEESON v Cork
All-Ireland SHC semi-final, August 13 2017, Croke Park: Waterford 4-19 Cork 0-20
AUSTIN Gleeson burst into the hurling consciousness with the goal he scored on his senior Championship debut for Waterford against Cork.
After intercepting a Rebel sideline in midfield and riding a tackle he ran through the heart of the Cork defence before firing home. But as good as that goal was, the Cork defending left a little to be desired, with the red sea parting to allow Gleeson a direct route to goal. When the sides met in the 2017
All-Ireland semi-final, Gleeson had to work a lot harder, but he carried it off brilliantly.
A minute previously, with Cork leading by two, his dispossession and perfect crossfield ball had sent Jamie Barron in for a Waterford goal and the lead.
Then the Mount Sion man produced some pure magic.
After initially fumbling the ball on 45 he headed for goal, with plenty still to do. What he did was sell two outrageous, almost simultaneous, dummies to leave three Cork defenders splayed across the turf before a delicate, unhookable finish to the net.
