It was the result that nobody wanted at Croke Park in the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies junior football final between Antrim and Fermanagh.
Orlaith Prenter's late free earned a draw for the Saffrons and the sides must do it all over again in just under a fortnight on Saturday, August 13.
It was a huge anti-climax after a thrilling finale and it's a result Erne manager James Daly really could have done without.
The Armagh native flies out to Portugal today to get married on Friday.
“There is a contingency plan in place,” smiled Daly. "There's other people that can step into the breach here. It's just keeping the girls sharp now.
"I'll be back off the honeymoon, we'll be ready for training."
Back in July 2014, James lost his wife Ann following an eight-year battle with cancer. A year later Daly, then Armagh manager, organised a charity match – All in for Ann – featuring the cream of Ladies Gaelic Football where all proceeds went to Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. Daly also shaved off his beard at the time for the charity cause.
On the game itself yesterday, Daly was beaming with pride as his Fermanagh team trailed most of the game before they looked to have nicked victory thanks to a stunning score from Eimear Smyth late on.
“Anyone who watched that game will know it was a great exhibition for ladies football. It could have went either way," said Daly.
"Both teams got calls that maybe they shouldn’t have got but that’s the game. We are delighted but disappointed whenever they scored the point at the end.
“This is team that lost by 21 points in the first game of the season and from our starting team last year we have lost eight starters for one reason for another. We had to go out to the county and find the players. We showed a lot of character but we have shown that all year.”
Prenter scored in the final minute to send the two Ulster counties into a replay for the West County Hotel Cup on Saturday 13 August.
“We are disappointed, we thought we threw it away,” said Antrim manager Emma Kelly.
“It was a game there that we should have had for the taking. First half, I think it was 20 shots and we only converted eight. We should have been well out of sight.
“The girls can do nothing but blame themselves but we live to fight another day. We’ll go back to the drawing board.
“It could have been doors shut, only we got that free at the end. Again, two weeks to go. You shouldn’t have to lift anyone for an All-Ireland final.
“It doesn’t matter what way it ends, you’re still here and you’re raring to go.”
In the first all-Ulster junior final since 2017, Maria O’Neill’s goal was the difference as Antrim took a narrow 1-7 to 0-7 lead into half-time.
The 2020 champions relied heavily on Bláithín Bogue who scored 0-5 from play in the first half while Antrim took the lead when Prenter scored her second point in the tenth minute, and they never looked back.
Gráinne McLaughlin, Prenter and Cathy Carey all added further points while Bogue scored the last five points of the half for Fermanagh.
Antrim were looking to bridge a gap back to 2012 and when Prenter scored back-to-back points they held a 1-12 to 0-11 lead in the 47th minute.
But then Bogue was fouled and Smyth scored a goal from the resultant penalty two minutes later. Substitute Tierney scored a point and Smyth gave Fermanagh a precious 1-13 to 1-12 advantage in the 58th minute.
Nevertheless, Antrim were resolute and they found the equaliser.
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