Last gasp winner as Amsterdam pip understrength Longford Slashers for Leinster hurling title

A piece of GAA history was made at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday last as Amsterdam came storming back to pip Longford Slashers in a tense and exciting finish to the Special Leinster Club Junior Hurling Championship Final with chief marksman Grahame McDermott scoring the winning point from a sweetly struck free in the third minute of stoppage time. 

Amsterdam . . . 0-15  Longford Slashers . . . 0-14 

Leading by 0-9 to 0-7 at the break and who stretched that advantage with a point piece from Sean Tiernan and Reuben Murray in the early stages of the second half, it was looking good for the county champions despite the absence of a few key players.

Long term injuries ruled out Karl Murray and Micheal Mulcahy while the suspended David Buckley and Niall Hawes (illness) were also unable to feature in this uphill battle.
Harry Mulvihill was also on the casualty list but he was brought on at half-time in the hope that Slashers would still be good enough to become the first team from Longford to win a historic Leinster club hurling title.
Despite dominating most of the second half with the aid of the wind, Amsterdam started to panic in squandering several scoring chances and appeared to have blown their chance of some significant silverware when the prominent Reuben Murray fired over his 8th point after converting a free in the 57th minute.
That left Slashers in a slender 0-14 to 0-13 lead but the gutsy exiles just refused to accept defeat and were on level terms when Dara O’Farrell landed a very good score.
Extra-time was looming at this late stage but there was one more chance for Amsterdam to snatch the Leinster title when they were awarded a free and the impressive McDermott kept his composure to fire over the winner, much to the bitter disappointment of Slashers.
Watched by an appreciative attendance in the region of 300, this was a most entertaining encounter and Amsterdam were the better team in a fact clearly reflected in the wides count (15 to 8).
While the understrength Slashers side were in front at the break, the visitors should have scored at least one goal in the first half with a point-blank shot blocked by Keelan Cox with three minutes gone on the clock.
Commanding Slashers full-back Stephen Oates came to the rescue when he kept out a goalbound strike in the 21st minute and it was all very frustrating for Amsterdam who failed to build on a strong start that yielded a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.
Reuben Murray converted a free in the 7th minutes and a further four scores followed from Darragh Caslin, Matthew Hawes, Sean Tiernan and goalkeeper Adan Murray (a fine free) in a big boost for Slashers who had settled down to play some constructive hurling.
The Amsterdam dangerman McDermott then landed the first of his total of 9 points (7 frees) and a ding dong battle developed with Reuben Murray shooting 3 points (2 frees) along with another excellent score from Darragh Caslin to consolidate the Slashers lead going into the second half.
While the sky blues piled on the pressure in adding two more scores to their tally with Reuben recording a very inspirational point from play with two minutes gone on the changeover, the scores dried up during the remainder of the match.
Three points from frees converted by attacker Murray kept Slashers in contention but it was not enough to prevent Amsterdam from lifting the Leinster title.
Five more points ( 4 frees) from the deadly McDermott along with a score apiece from substitute Chris Ryan, Damian Murphy and Dara O’Farrell got the Europe champions over the line and their famous success was deserved with Newtowncashel native Fergal Walsh a member of the triumphant Amsterdam squad.

LONGFORD SLASHERS: Adam Murray (0-1, free); Kealan Cox, Stephen Oates, Daryl Swaris; John Murray, Daire Regan, Shane Maguire; Diarmuid Caslin, Johnny Casey; Sean Tiernan (0-2), Darragh Caslin (0-2), Jack Horgan Swaris; Reuben Murray (0-8, 6 frees), Matthew Hawes (0-1), Stephen Murray.

Subs:- Harry Mulvihill for J Horgan Swaris (half-time); Gary Hand for S Murray (41 mins); Finn Neary for S Maguire (60 mins).

AMSTERDAM: Padraic Slattery; Eoin Breheny, Ed Caffey, Michael O’Riordan; Fionn Murphy, Luke Ryan, Con Mahon; Sean Brogan, Brian O’Malley; Cian O Riain Broin (0-1), Grahame McDermott (0-9, 7 frees), Dara O’Farrell (0-2); Damien Murphy (0-1), James Naughton, Luke Conroy (0-1).

Subs:-  Chris Ryan (0-1) for J Naughton (27 mins); Paddy Herlihy for C O Riain Broin (60 mins). 

Referee: Dean Alford (Dublin).