O’donnell left feeling smile high

Clare 1-30 Galway 1-30 AET - All-ireland SHC semi-final BY PAT NOLAN

JUST the two senior games at Croke Park for Shane O’donnell, neither of which will be forgotten in a hurry.

It would have been too much to expect O’donnell (below) to repeat the heroics of five years ago, when he hit 3-3 in the All-ireland final replay, but he did his bit.

It was a landmark game in Championship history as, for the first time, both teams raised 30 white flags in an epic contest that sits comfortably with the best All-ireland semi-finals ever played. Amazingly, yesterday’s epic semi-final set a new record again.

Saturday’s game had so many moments of drama and quality; Peter Duggan’s freewheeling point, surely the score of the year, in the second half, Tony Kelly’s delightful ball control and points from distance, not to mention his and Joe Canning’s sideline balls.

“It was great to get back to Croke Park, it was great that the occasion wasn’t wasted on us,” O’donnell said. “If you’re playing well at that stage, you’ve a smile on your face. It’s brilliant.

“We were two down at half-time in extra-time but you’re enjoying it so much by then, you feel there’s nothing you can’t do.”

The replay is in Thurles next Sunday (2pm). Much will hinge on the fitness of injured Tribe stars Gearoid Mcinerney (calf) and Joe Canning (knee). SCORERS - GALWAY: J Canning 0-12 (6f, 2 sl), C Mannion 0-4, C Cooney 1-1, C Whelan, D Burke, J Flynn (1f) 0-3 each, J Coen 0-2, J Glynn, N Burke 0-1 each. CLARE: P Duggan 0-14 (11f), J Conlon 0-4, A Shanagher 1-0, S O’donnell, T Kelly (0-1 sl) 0-3 each, I Galvin 0-2, D Reidy, C Galvin, D Fitzgerald, J Mccarthy 0-1 each.

EQUALISER Sub Jason Mccarthy levels semi-final

SCORE O’donnell enjoys his late point in extra-time