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Clare's Domhnall O'Donovan hits the equalizing point. INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Meet Domhnall O'Donovan - Clare's All-Ireland final scoring hero

The right corner-back was the unlikely figure who tied the teams in Croke Park yesterday.

HE IS THE 25 year-old corner-back on the Clare senior hurling team and the most unlikely of scoring heroes in an All-Ireland final.

But it was Domhnall Oโ€™Donovan who commanded the headlines after yesterdayโ€™s dramatic clash in Croke Park.

As Clare faced the prospect of a devastating defeat when they trailed Cork by 3-16 to 0-24, it was Oโ€™Donovan who strode forward in the 72nd minute to loft over the leveling point near the Cusack Stand.

His score was critical and ensures the teams will be back in Croke Park on September 28th to battle it out again for All-Ireland honours.

Oโ€™Donovan is not renowned for his scoring endeavors. Earlier this summer he joked on Twitter about how he was the only one of Clareโ€™s 14 outfield players not to score against Laois in their qualifier tie in Ennis.

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Brendan Bugler celebrates with Oโ€™Donovan after his point.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Yesterday he ended that scoring drought in style. Notching important points for is a family trait. In 2009, when Domhnall was part of the Clare team that claimed a historic All Ireland U21 hurling title, it was his twin brother Cormac who shot the winning point against Kilkenny.

And that was a superb effort from underneath the Hogan Stand in the 60th minute of that game into the same Davin End.

โ€œHe would be a much prolific shooter than I would be traditionally,โ€ Domhnall laughed afterwards.

โ€œFirst ever championship point. I got a bit of slagging after the Laois game, even from the sponsor Pat Oโ€™Donnell.โ€

So how did the right corner-back end up at the end of Clareโ€™s last move in desperation?

โ€œWhen Pat Kelly had the ball from the puck out, I said, โ€˜Iโ€™m not looking for the ball but Iโ€™ll make myself available because my job as a defender is overโ€™.

โ€œI mean, if Cork score again it doesnโ€™t make a difference. Somehow it went to Pat Oโ€™Connor and Nicky Oโ€™Connell, and then Nicky popped it out to me.

โ€œIt was a bit of hit and hope. I hit it falling over. I had a bit of a look so I wouldnโ€™t be closing my eyes and shooting.

โ€œGrowing up my left side was always my best side even though Iโ€™m a right handed hurler. I weighed up the options and thought Iโ€™d give it a go anyway even though I wouldnโ€™t be the best shooter.โ€

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And the feeling when the ball sailed between the posts?

โ€œThe lads said it went so high in the sky that they didnโ€™t know where it was going. I didnโ€™t see the ball too much as it went over. I just heard the crowd so thankfully I kind of new then that it was saved.

โ€œIt was just crazy. I didnโ€™t focus on it too much, I just sprinted back, the what if scenario, maybe there might be a few seconds left for Cork to score so I had to get back.โ€

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23 Comments
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    Mute Boo Forever
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:25 AM

    Im an emotional wreck still.

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    Mute ๎ŒตAimie Walsh ๎Œต
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:43 AM

    Heart has barely returned to its normal beating paceโ€ฆ. Oh what a match

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    Mute Mark Jordan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:35 AM

    Watching him hit that ball and noticing the 2 on his back just thought โ€œthe balls on that lad!โ€. So good to see it sailing over.

    What a game.

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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:06 AM

    Was a brilliant score,pity the ref kept cork in the game though

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    Mute Frank Buffalo
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:32 AM

    He did yeah.

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    Mute TheBlackMouse
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:16 AM

    Come on the Banner !!!

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    Mute Kieran Harvey
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:34 AM

    Letโ€™s be clear here. Clare didnโ€™t just deserve a draw, they deserved to win. Far superior in terms of skill, first touch, tactics and heart. But thatโ€™s fine, theyโ€™ll show it again in replay and Cork wonโ€™t be let off the hook next time. Tony Kelly for player of the year

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    Mute Major Minor
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:04 AM

    I agree Clare deserved to win but credit must be given to Cork for their never give up attitude. A great match and as a neutral Iโ€™m really looking forward to the replay.

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    Mute Danny Murphy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:31 AM

    Agree and disagree in equal measure!
    Clare played by far the better hurling indeed! They were simply brilliant! They had the greater skill and touch throughout the match, agreed! A fantastic team!
    That said, Iโ€™m not with you regarding the tactics, as of course they looked tactically superior when they had the better players on the day! Easy for Davey to look like Napoleon when his players are hammering their opposing markers all over the pitch! Iโ€™d put tactics on the day as being secondary to be honest, as it was the individual battles all over the pitch that held more significance for me! By all means elaborate if you think I missed examples of how Clare were dominant tactically though!
    As for heart, Iโ€™d argue that Cork displayed greater levels of this attribute! It is far easier to be getting the better of your opponent for 69 minutes and only have to display heart for the final minute rather than having to do so for a full 70 minutes, time after time, constantly having to go to the well as you are being out-classed everywhere and never letting your head drop, as was Corkโ€™s position yesterday as the fought constantly to stay in the game! They both displayed desire in equal measure I accept, but the greater display of heart throughout the day was by the Cork team in my opinion!
    Christ, itโ€™s gonna be some game!!!

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    Mute Stuart Holly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:03 AM

    Cork showed great heart but by God, Oโ€™Donovan showed balls.

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    Mute Danny Murphy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:20 AM

    Youโ€™re the 2nd to mention his balls!!! Did I miss something?!?!

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    Mute Elaine Gannon
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:21 AM

    Hon de banner what a game !!!

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    Mute Denice McNamara
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:32 AM

    What a great story! #sharpshooter #banner

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    Mute Kev O Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:36 AM

    At 60 mins Iโ€™d have taken a draw all day. Ref made up for not sending off cork back by adding an extra minute. He was shocking all game.

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    Mute Shane Farrell
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:45 AM

    Kev, I canโ€™t see any correlation between the โ€˜sending offโ€™ that wasnโ€™t and the extra seconds. Itโ€™s not a factor. If you watch the clock for the Cork line ball it took 31 secs to take it and it was replaced once. Look these are little issues anyway. Hurling is the winner. I didnโ€™t want anyone to lose after the last 10-15. I agree the ref had a mediocre day. He doesnโ€™t set out to have such a day and he rarely gets a chance to redeem himself. If a player makes a near fatal mistake we all say โ€˜hard luckโ€™ and the likes. The ref even for one mistake is usually a b@@@@x. I am neutral and had no preference for who won. both counties need a title.

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    Mute Kev O Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:54 AM

    Ref made multiple howlers all game. The draw was a fair result for cork and as a corkman I canโ€™t believe we got away with being as bad as we were. Players come out in front of the media and justify themselves. The ref. nothing. They should have to explain decisions. Some of yesterdayโ€™s were real basic.

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    Mute Joe Mahon
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:57 AM

    Some people donโ€™t seem to realise that the additional time arrangement in the gaa is different to soccer. The stadium announcer said AT LEAST 2 minutes of injury time will be added, the same as every gaa match. In every game the ref must play the allotted time as a minimum and is free to add on extra time at his discretion, unlike soccer.

    O Donovan scored his equalising point at 2:28 seconds, and the ref was well within his rights to add these seconds on as it took cork 35 seconds to take a sideline cut awarded in the 2nd minute of injury time.

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    Mute Kev O Sullivan
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    Sep 9th 2013, 8:59 AM

    Couldnโ€™t care less about the time on the clock. His level of performance worries me. If thatโ€™s the best we have.

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    Mute Nelly
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:04 AM

    I heard the ref was seen heading to coppers with the cork team to celebrate their draw

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    Mute Stephen Bell
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:22 AM

    Kevโ€ฆ Aside from Munster final cork have had the benefit of bad referees decisions particularly against Dublin and to a lesser extent against Kilkenny

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    Mute Shane O Donnell
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    Sep 9th 2013, 10:53 AM

    Nice one joe, someone who knows the rules at last.

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    Mute Danny Murphy
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    Sep 9th 2013, 11:10 AM

    Would the ref have blown for full-time if Cork or Clare were 4/5 points ahead following the side-line cut that went wide or straight after the resulting puck-out?! Yes, he most definitely would have done so and therefore should have performed as he usually would have, not played on to see if the scores could be levelled!
    No grudge here, as it is only fair for those Clare men to have another crack at it, but the fact remains he acted as he would not usually have had in my opinion! Be it out of the goodness of his heart or for the goodness of the GAA is irrelevant in my mind!

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    Mute Bernie Sharkey Eustace
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    Sep 9th 2013, 9:14 AM

    Humorous and Humble when he was scoreless even more humble now that heโ€™s in the history books โ€ฆ Great story .

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