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Liebherr Container Cranes 2-6, Mayo Teachers 1-8

LIEBHERR are through to their third All-Ireland Senior Football Final in a row after an epic battle with the Mayo Teachers on Saturday in Fitzgerald Stadium. Both sides took a while to settle and Liebherr got the first score of the game with a well-taken point by Donal Murphy on the ninth minute and when Gavin Kelly Goaled shortly after Liebherr looked to be well in control, both teams traded points just before the break with Liebherr’s score coming from the boot of Eoin Lawlor to leave Liebherr ahead at halftime 1-2 to 0-1.

The Mayo Teachers came out in the second half and goaled within two minutes of the re-start, they added points in the 35th, 36th and 38th minutes to take the lead for the first time in the game. Liebherr’s defence were finding it hard to prevent the wave of attacks from the Mayo Teachers and Liebherr’s Keeper Colin Myers had to make a point-blank save to keep out a certain goal, but after two pointed frees from Daniel O'Shea and Eoin Lawlor in the 43rd and 44th minutes, the sides were level again.

A point by substitute Michael McCarthy put Liebherr back in front again but The Mayo Teachers reeled off the next three points to leave the teachers ahead going into the 50th minute. Liebherr battled hard and after some brilliant defending, Liebherr worked the ball down field and Daniel O'Shea was left isolated to finish the ball to the next.

Liebherr had a free pointed by Daniel O'Shea in the 56th minute to leave them two points ahead. The Mayo Teachers weren’t giving up though and after a pointed free, there was only a point between the sides heading into injury time. Liebherr held out to win by a point though and set up a home All-Ireland Final against Intel on February 25 in Killarney.

Team: Colin Myers (captain), Danny Wrenn, Mike Joe Kelleher, Padraig Reidy, Colm Kelly, Padraig O’Connor, AJ O’Connor, Kevin Gorman, Daniel Sullivan, Thomas Dennehy, Eoin Lawlor (0-2 (0- 1 free)), Michael Shaughnessy, Gavin Kelly (1-0), Daniel O’Shea (1-2 (0-2F)), Donal Murphy (0-1)

Michael McCarthy (0-1) for Thomas Dennehy, Anthony Kennedy for Gavin Kelly, Cillian O’Connor for Michael Shaughnessy, Conor Breen, David O’Mahony, Keith Crowley, Daniel Donoghue, Eanna Reidy (inj).