Errigal Ciaran beat Dr Crokes after extra-time epic

The Canavan brothers inspired Errigal Ciaran to a thrilling 2-18 to 1-18 extra-time victory over Dr Crokes in the opening All-Ireland Club Football semi-final as they became the first Tyrone team to reach the decider.

Darragh Canavan finished with 1-6 with Ruairi notching 0-7 although Joe Oguz contributed massively in extra-time as his sensational goal started an unanswered run of 1-3 which eventually broke Crokes despite Charlie Keating's late major for the two-time All-Ireland champions.

Errigal's Ulster Final match-winner Peter Og McCartan also produced another huge intervention with his levelling point from play in second-half injury-time after two-time champions Crokes had appeared to have snatched victory.

Errigal Ciaran's and Tyrone's losing run in All-Ireland Club semi-finals seemed destined to continue after almost incredibly, Ruairi Canavan and then Ben McDonnell fired injury-time wides before McCartan took the responsibility to swing over a superb score from distance.

But for most of the Newbridge contest, Errigal Ciaran's performance was all about the Canavan brothers' brilliance.

Padraig McGirr, having come on seconds earlier, was the first Errigal player apart from the Canavans to register a score when his 54th-minute point put the Ballygawley club 1-11 to 0-13 ahead.

Darragh Canavan's goal had come some 14 minutes earlier as he blasted to the net after being found by a sublime pass from his brother.

Ruairi Canavan also produced the pass for Oguz's goal before the midfielder ran on to produce a wondrous finish with the outside of his right boot.

Kerry star Gavin White and Evan Looney were given the seemingly impossible tasks of attempting to mark the Canavan brothers in the first half.

Darragh Canavan turned inside White to rattle over the first score of the game and while Crokes responded with three unanswered points and again led by two after Ruairi's opening score, the remainder of the opening period was a tour de force by the brothers.

With the duo tormenting White and Looney, Errigal moved 0-5 to 0-4 ahead in the 21st minute and their advantage was stretched to 0-7 to 0-5 when Ruairi swung over the point of the half with a magnificent right-footed effort from the 45-metre line.

To their immense credit, Dr Crokes were retaining their resolve with Micheal Burns' three points meaning they only went in 0-8 to 0-7 down at the break.

A thumping David Shaw score levelled proceedings after the restart and while Darragh Canavan's latest score from play restored Errigal's advantage, another Burns score and a Tony Brosnan free put Crokes 0-10 to 0-9 up in the 39th minute.

Crokes' lead proved to be shortlived as the Canavans sensationally combined for Errigal Ciaran's first goal.

But Crokes were refusing to yield as a superb Brian Looney score and another Brosnan free tied proceedings with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Over the next eight minutes, Errigal three times moved one up, which included their first non-Canavan score from McGirr, but on each occasion Brosnan responded with a levelling score - which included his 59th-minute from play.

The game seemed to have slipped away from Errigal Ciaran in the dying embers as Ruairi Canavan's uncharacteristic miss of a routine chance and McDonnell's pulled effort wide was followed by Burns swinging over a point from play in the third minute of injury-time.

Referee Brendan Cawley had signalled five added minutes and Errigal needed every second of it before wing-back McCartan's nerveless effort ensured extra-time.

Extra-time was the usual chaotic affair with players going down with cramp and substitutes appearing seemingly by the second.

Darragh Canavan had an immediate goal chance brilliantly tipped over by Crokes keeper Shane Ryan but after the opening 10 minutes, the sides remained deadlocked at 0-18 to 1-15.

Then came ultimately the decision moment as Qguz, who had notched Errigal's previous score, blasted in his sensational goal.

As Crokes finally appeared deflated, Ruairi Canavan, McDonnell and substitute Mark Kavanagh stretched Errigal's lead to six and while they had to repel some late pressure after Keating's goal, Enda McGinley's side stood firm to secure their cherish All-Ireland Final spot.