Last Saturday’s All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final between Errigal Ciaran and Dr Crokes will live long in the memory as two teams fought out an incredible semi-final with the Tyrone men claiming a three-point win after extra-time in St Conleth’s Park.
However, playing extra-time just eight days before an All-Ireland final was never going to be easy for the winners. Dr Crokes lost the influential Micheál Burns to cramp while Enda McGinley called both Cormac Quinn and Peter Óg McCartan ashore.
While McCartan, who kicked the equaliser to force extra-time, was able to return, Quinn was struggling and didn’t feature in extra-time.
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Yet, the Tyrone defender is hopeful he’ll be fit to feature in Sunday’s decider against Cuala.
“You see all the emotion that’s coming out now so this is something that means a lot – not just to us players but to everybody,” said Quinn.
“We’re still in it, we’ve another big game to come so my immediate thought is recover.
“That took a lot out of the legs and I know myself I had a bit of cramp so that (recovery) is the main goal at the minute. Coming back at end of normal time to win – will give you enormous confidence for final. It was class.”
Errigal’s incredible run to the All-Ireland final has included one-point victories over Killyclogher, Trillick, Clann Éireann and Kilcoo before extra-time last weekend against the Kerry and Munster champions.
Quinn feels those tough battles have stood to the Dunmoyle men, but they know they have another massive hurdle to clear in the final against Cuala of Dublin.
“We’ve been in a lot of tight games like that before this year and it was all about not panicking,” said Quinn.
“It was Peter Óg (McCartan) who kicked the last one to get us extra-time so well done to him. In extra-time it was Big Joe (Oguz) so you have different men stepping up to the mark and that’s all you can ask for.
“Nobody remembers who played in the semi-finals. We’ll not get too ahead of ourselves. Yes, we’ll enjoy winning this game but this is a big week for us.
“We go out and take every game as it comes and whatever happens, happens. Hopefully in every game we’re there or thereabouts come the end and hopefully it’ll be the same next Sunday.”
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