Everything we thought we knew about hurling... out the bloody window.
The Laois senior club hurling Championship semi-finals took place on Saturday, and the poor, and perhaps confused crowd in attendence may indeed have needed that, clarification, that it was actually a game of hurling and not gaelic football.
Clough Ballacolla and Abbeyleix took to O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, on Saturday, to compete for a spot in the county final.
Tommy Buggy's outfit started the game as they meant to go on, as they reeled off the first four points of the game, unanswered, and this was a lead that they never looked like surrendering.
https://twitter.com/Clough_Bcolla/status/906258488028012546
They stormed into a three point half-time lead, with former Laois star Willie Hyland and Stephen Bergin looking a class apart from the rest of the field.
Clough/Ballacolla last won this competition in 2015, and judging by Saturday's performance, they will be doing anything, anything within their power to regain that status, and that means they'll play some gaelic football, if needs be.
The second half resumed, and that familiar first half pattern wasn't long taking hold of the game again. Clough/Ballacolla were cruising to the county final, a class apart from Abbeyleix.
Then, in the 57th minute, their corner forward and Laois county panellist, Stephen Bergin did something that we'll likely never see in a hurling game again.
Bergin picked up the ball in a ruck of players, almost 40 yards out from goal. As the forward attempted to set himself free from the schemozzle, his hurl was knocked out of his hand.
Undeterred, he put the head down, sold two or three dummies, kick soloed the sliotar, and booted over the bar as he came to the 21 yard line.
Yes that did actually happen, and we would like to thank Laois TV and their phenomenal service for providing us all with this gift.
Is that fouling the ball? Does a kick-solo count in hurling? Did he take steps? Frankly, we don't care, and neither should you, because any man that scores a point, with no hurl from almost 40 yards out, that man deserves a white flag.
Stephen Bergin, we salute you.
