A rematch that can't come soon enough
NO WAY THROUGH: Pádraig Pearses full-back Conor Lohan is tackled by St. Brigid's wing-back, Eoghan Derwin, during Sunday's pulsating county senior football final at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
Well, that was dramatic.
As Paul Carey’s last-minute free carried on the breeze towards the right post at the Graveyard End, every pair of eyes in Hyde Park strained to gauge the trajectory of the ball.
The umpire was the person who counted and he was emphatic — the shot was wide. The appeals of the Pádraig Pearses players were muted, which was a giveaway that the umpire had got his decision right.
Referee Jimmy Donoghue blew the final whistle immediately to signal not just the end of an enthralling, dramatic match, but also the first replay of a county senior football final since 2008.
In truth, neutrals wouldn’t have complained if Donoghue had ended the match after Brian Stack had slotted the equaliser for Brigid’s in the final minute of the allotted five minutes of injury-time.
In fairness to the referee, there were stoppages during injury-time, but if ever a match deserved to finish in a draw, this was it.
That is a tribute to both teams, given the level of expectation going into the match. It even had a row at half time, which always livens up the occasion. Incidentally, Donoghue was on the money in dealing with the shemozzle.
How often have much-hyped finals, in all sports, fail to deliver? In contrast, this match lived up to its billing.
It wasn’t just because it was exciting. Some of the excitement was caused by mistakes but the thrills were also due to terrific examples of skill and courage by two teams who played football in the spirit the new rules intended.
The game was also illuminated by two superbly-taken goals.
Over the years, we have witnessed many one-sided finals, often when great teams were in their pomp. This era is a rarity, maybe something not seen since the 1970s when Castlerea St. Kevin’s, Roscommon Gaels and Clann na nGael had accomplished teams — two very good teams have emerged simultaneously.
St. Brigid’s and Pádraig Pearses are recent Connacht club title winners, and have held their own at All-Ireland level. It means they bring out the best in one another — and also expose flaws in one another that, in the past, would not have been apparent until the Connacht championship.
Whoever emerges from the replay will be battle-hardened, but all that matters in Woodmount and Kiltoom at the moment is winning the Fahey Cup.
This was a rollercoaster match of fluctuating fortunes. Backed by the strong wind, Brigid’s raced into a seven-point lead after 11 minutes. However, as is their wont, Pearses didn’t buckle. The Woodmount-based side reminded everyone why they are the reigning champions.
They stemmed the onslaught and gained a foothold while Brigid’s didn’t kick on. Anthony Cunningham’s team declined to go for the jugular when half-chances of goals presented themselves.
Pearses were buoyed by a marvellous two-pointer into the wind from midfielder Conor Ryan. I was behind Ryan’s kick and its path never deviated in the contrary breeze.
On this display, Ryan has kicked on since his eye-catching exploits with the county U-20s last year. He could become the next young footballer to be saddled with the moniker of “Roscommon’s big midfield hope”.
Ryan is an exciting prospect but he won’t celebrate his 21st birthday until December. Hopefully, he is given the time and space to develop his potential.
Brian Stack was a tyro once too. In his second county final in 2017, he scored a goal inside a minute. He was a nippy corner-forward back then, playing off Senan Kilbride.
In the eight years since, Stack has evolved into a generational talent — one of those rare Roscommon footballers who would earn his place on any modern county team. Last Sunday, Stack was majestic, breaking down ball, diving on loose ball, and driving his team forward.
Neither Ryan nor Stack was alone. Mark Richardson had an absorbing duel with Ben O’Carroll. Both players had their moments but the Pearses defender probably had the edge.
Declan Kenny showed why he should get more than a few minutes in the last match of the season under the next Roscommon management. Ruaidhrí Fallon produced telling vignettes from his box of tricks.
Brigid’s half-time lead of six points looked precarious. Within four minutes of the resumption, Pearses had whittled the gap to one and the outcome looked inevitable. Then Brigid’s scored one of the great county final goals.
Shane Cunnane kept a Conor Carroll kickout in play with his fingertips. The ball was worked to Seán Trundle who drilled a raking pass at pace towards O’Carroll. All the while, Robbie Dolan was rampaging upfield, doing a passable impression of Galopin Des Champs.
O’Carroll got to the ball ahead of Richardson and flicked instantly to Dolan who took the pass at full pelt, took a few strides and walloped a rising shot beyond Paul Whelan.
Cue gamechanger.
Pearses were shaken but, crucially, not knocked out. They regrouped and hit back emphatically in the 51st minute. Slick passing undid the Brigid’s defence with Seán Canning at the hub. Yet, as a pass was lofted towards Adam McGreal, lurking towards the left of goal, the most likely outcome was that he would direct the ball across the square. Instead, McGreal audaciously palmed his shot over Carroll and sent it nestling into the net.
As an epic match went down the stretch, a wonderful two-pointer from Ronan Daly put Pearses into the lead for the first time. Now, momentum was with the champions.
Since Brigid’s came tantalisingly close to All-Ireland glory, it has been remarked that the missing link was a Senan Kilbride-like figure up front. Last Sunday, the Kiltoom team cut out the middle man and went back to the original as Kilbride came on in the closing stages.
Pearses had the chance to go two up but over-elaborated. Aptly, the indefatigable Stack slotted the equaliser.
With the five minutes of injury-time up, all would have gone home happy then. Still, the play went on and a contentious free, which was correctly brought forward for dissent, looked set to give Pearses victory.
Instead, it’s back to Hyde Park next Saturday. We await that replay with glee.
