Finley scored a nail biting two point win in dramatic circumstances against Moama on Saturday to secure a Murray League grand final berth.
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The Cats will take on Congupna in a second semi-final rematch, with Saturday’s star Charlie Lang acknowledging after the game they will “be bloody hard to beat, but we will give it a crack and see how we go”.
Moama were four points in front late in the final term until Finley won clearance and Lang marked.
He was awarded a 50m penalty when a Moama player encroached on the mark, and subsequently kicked the winning goal from only 30 metres out.
It was an epic preliminary final at the Barooga recreational ground.
In howling winds and with a clear advantage to the northern end, both sides held the lead at certain stages.
The first quarter started at a frenetic pace and contested possessions were at a premium. The pressure applied in and around the ball was enormous.
The tackle pressure from both sides assured that when you had the opportunity to score, you needed to take it.
Finley were able to kick two goals for the first term and held Moama to only one.
The Cats led by six points at the break.
The second term saw the pressure go up another level.
Finley’s defence was standing tall, and this restricted the Mowers to only two goals with the wind.
The Cats were able to score one themselves through their captain Nik Burns.
When the siren went for half-time, it was the Mowers who held a slender one point lead.
The third quarter saw the Cats kick with the breeze again, and they were able to score three goals through Paul Massingham, Lachlan Hawkins and Matt Jackson.
Finley’s defence again stood tall and kept Moama to one goal to take a 15 point and game high lead into the last stanza.
The last quarter saw both sides throw everything at each other. The crowd were as loud as they had been all day.
Moama’s forwards, Tom Holman and Jobe Shanahan, both took big marks and scored to get the Mowers back into the contest.
With two minutes to go, it was Shanahan who took a big mark and kicked the goal to give Moama the lead, and it looked like they were going to spoil Finley’s party.
However, the Cats weren’t going to die wondering and the next centre clearance went the way of the Cats.
When Lang marked on the forward line and a subsequent 50m penalty was paid for a player going over the mark, this brought Lang within 30m and, with a cool head, he kicked what would be the match winner and the Cats were heading into the grand final.
Speaking to McPherson Media Group after the game, Lang said: “I took the mark. I wanted to wheel quickly, but then I saw the man encroaching in the protected zone.
“Initially, I was fine running down to take the shot and then one of my teammates came up to me and said this will be the last kick of the game — then the moment really sunk in.
“I just tried to kick straight and hope for the best. Now, I guess the rest is history.”
The scenes on the field after the match were pure jubilation for Finley fans, who swarmed into the change rooms after to celebrate with the players.
Lang said moments like these help bring small communities such as Finley’s together.
“It is an all-round good vibe for the town,” he said.
“The team and club have battled over the last few years, so just to see the smiles on faces is great.”
This week will be a rematch of the second semi that was played at Rumbalara two weeks earlier between Congupna and the Cats and will be a mouth-watering contest in front of what will be a huge crowd.
Final score: Finley 7.7(49) def Moama 7.5 (47).
Best players: Angus Robertson, Jordan Taylor, Nik Burns, Jesse White, Lach Hawkins, Jack Lang.
Goals: Paul Massingham 2, Nik Burns 1, Matt Jackson 1, Lach Hawkins 1, Mark Whiley 1, Charlie Lang 1.
Awards: Eagle i Machinery - Jordan Taylor; Marshall Ag Repairs - Angus Robertson; Kelly Grains - Lach Hawkins; O’Connors Case - Nik Burns; Country Club Hotel - Charlie Lang.
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