1994 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final

Summary

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Limerick were leading by 2-13 to 1-11 and looked to be heading to their first title in 21 years when Offaly were awarded a free 20 metres from the goal. Limerick goalkeeper Joe Quaid later admitted that he was to blame for the resultant goal in that he didn't organise his defence well enough to stop a low-struck free from Johnny Dooley. Quaid was erroneously blamed for Offaly's second goal after what was described as a quick and errant puck-out leading to Pat O'Connor putting Offaly a point ahead with a low shot to the net. Quaid later described the puck-out: "I didn’t rush back to the goals. I went back and picked up the ball, walked behind the goals like I normally would. Hegarty was out in the middle of the field on his own. I dropped the ball into his hand 70 yards out from goal. He caught the ball and in contact the ball squirted out of his hands." Because the television coverage was still showing a replay of the first goal, very few people got to see the build up to the second and when live transmission was resumed, the sliotar was still dropping towards Pat O'Connor leading people to assume that Quaid rushed his puck-out. Limerick went on to lose the game by 3-16 to 2-13.

Match details

date = 1994-09-04 15:30 UTC+1 Final | team2 = Limerick | score = 3-16 – 2-13 | team1 = Offaly | goals1 = Johnny Dooley (1-4), Joe Dooley (1-2), B. Dooley (0-5), P. O'Connor (1-0), J. Pilkington (0-2), J. Troy (0-1), D. Pilkington (0-1), M. Duignan (0-1). | goals2 = D. Quigley (2-3), G. Kirby (0-6), C. Carey (0-2), M. Houlihan (0-1), L. O'Connor (0-1). | stadium = Croke Park, Dublin

Legacy

In 2012, ''The Guardian'''s Barry Glendenning (who is from Offaly) listed it as one of six "late sporting dramas", alongside events from The Ashes and the Winter Olympic Games.

References

References

1. Stapleton, Shane. (17 December 2018). "Managing the gap with Brian Whelahan".
2. (12 April 2019). "The Great Escape - Celebrating the supreme heroes of '94 that delivered one of the great GAA comebacks". Irish Independent.
3. (19 March 2020). "Flashback: 1994 All-Ireland SHC Final - Offaly v Limerick". GAA.ie.
4. Duggan, Keith. (10 October 2009). "Tale of the sorrowful mysteries". Irish Times.
5. Duggan, Keith. (15 May 2014). "Limerick hurling: home to hope and hardship". Irish Times.
6. (15 August 2009). "Limerick: where broken dreams are a way of life". Irish Examiner.
7. O'Toole, Fintan. (4 September 2014). "20 years ago today Offaly produced THAT All-Ireland final comeback against Limerick". The 42.
8. (23 November 2012). "The Joy of Six: late sporting dramas". [[The Guardian]].