St. Brigid's get the better of Pádraig Pearses after another pulsating decider
The St. Brigid's senior football panel with the Fahey Cup after retaining their Hodson Bay Roscommon SFC title at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon. Picture: INPHO/Ashley Cahill
St. Brigid's came good in extra-time to see off their great rivals, Pádraig Pearses, in another terrific Roscommon SFC final between these two South Roscommon neighbours in splendid autumnal sunshine at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park.
It was another game for the ages with two game-defining interventions in extra-time of normal time before the reigning county and Connacht champions took advantage of tiring Pearses limbs to retain the title for the first time since 2017.
Player of the Match Conor Hand looked to have secured the win with a timely two-pointer before — in the last act of the game — Pearses substitute Tom Butler landed a two-pointer for the ages to bring a phenomenal game to extra time.
Brigid’s bench made a huge impact, especially Charlie O’Carroll and Eddie Nolan, and the reigning county and provincial champions displayed excellent game management in extra time against a tiring Pearses side that had gone to extra time in their quarter and semi-final games.
Hand’s goal kickstarted a run of 1-2 for Brigid’s in the first period of extra time, and when Charlie O’Carroll and Shane Cunnane kicked their team’s fifth and sixth two-pointers, Brigid’s had finally snapped Pearses’ resistance, despite Declan Kenny’s late penalty.
Brian Derwin got the scoreboard working early for St. Brigid’s but Pádraig Pearses were the better team in the opening quarter.
Their two-point threat was unleashed as Eoin Colleran raised a couple of orange flags — the second one, in particular, a superb individual effort.
Lorcán Daly’s early endeavour was rewarded with a point, while Jack Tumulty also found the target as Pearses surged 0-06 to 0-02 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
St. Brigid’s shooting was erratic, while Paul McGrath cracked an effort off the butt of the post.
But the reigning champions gradually found their rhythm, led by Pearse Frost, Brian Stack and Ben O’Carroll.
A free from O’Carroll was followed by two superb individual singles from the talented corner-forward.
Conor Hand glided over a two-pointer, while his side were on advantage, and when Shane Cunnane effortlessly nailed a two-point free from 60 metres, Brigid’s had hit an unanswered seven points to lead 0-09 to 0-06.
But Paul Carey nailed his side’s third two-pointer of the half — this time from a free — to leave the bare minimum between the sides, 0-09 to 0-08, at the break.
Once again, Pearses made the better start to the second half as points from Lorcán Daly, Colleran and Carey (free) moved them two points clear.
But St. Brigid’s were back on level terms by the 37th minute through a sublime Bobby Nugent two-pointer.
Declan Kenny and Carey (free) nudged Pearses two points ahead but it could have been more as Niall Murray’s side wasted a number of opportunities.
Predictably, Brigid’s hit a purple patch aided by a big impact from the bench.
Four points from Hand, and substitutes Eddie Nolan and Charlie O’Carroll (2) left Brigid’s 0-15 to 0-13 ahead before, unbelievably, David Murray pounced for a scrappy goal to edge Pearses ahead with four minutes remaining.
Ben O’Carroll equalised immediately before Hand looked to have won it for Brigid’s in the first minute of injury time with his side’s fourth two-point of the game.
But there was still time for more drama as Ruaidhrí Fallon overcooked a pass with seconds remaining, allowing Pearses to mount one final attack, and substitute Tom Butler stepped up to the plate with an outrageous two-pointer to bring the game to extra time.
St. Brigid’s were utterly dominant in the first period of the new period, hitting three wides and dropping another effort short.
But the crucial score arrived when Declan Kenny coughed up possession, allowing the O’Carroll brother tee up Conor Hand for a decisive goal.
Further points followed from Senan Kilbride and Pearse Frost to hand Damien Mulligan’s side a 1-20 to 1-15 buffer at the change of ends.
Charlie O’Carroll and Shane Cunnane tagged on a couple of two-pointers to confirm the victory, even though Pearses grabbed a second goal through a Declan Kenny penalty.
But Brigid’s were Roscommon kingpins for a 20th time, and will now quickly turn their attention to retaining their Connacht crown where they face the Sligo champions, St. Mary’s, in a provincial quarter-final in three weeks’ time.
Scorers for St. Brigid’s: C Hand 1-5 (2 2p), S Cunnane 0-4 (1 2p, 1 2pf), B O’Carroll 0-4 (1f), C O’Carroll 0-4 (1 2p), B Nugent 0-2 (1 2p), B Derwin, R Fallon, E Nolan, S Kilbride, P Frost, B Stack 0-1 each.
Scorers for Pádraig Pearses: E Colleran 0-5 (2 2p), P Carey 0-4 (1 2pf, 2f), D Kenny 1-1 (1 pen), D Murray 1-0, L Daly, T Butler 0-2 (1 2p) each, J Tumulty, H Darcy 0-1 each.
ST. BRIGID’S: C Carroll; R Dolan, P Frost, M Sugrue; R Fallon, B Stack, P McGrath; M Daly, S Cunnane; B O’Hara Duggan, C Hand, B Nugent; B O’Carroll, C Sugrue, B Derwin. Subs: E Nolan for O’Hara Duggan (34), R Stack for McGrath (42), C O’Carroll for Derwin (45), S Kilbride for Daly (60), B O’Hara Duggan for C Sugrue (e-t), C Sugrue for Nugent (66), R Smith for M Sugrue (70), P McGrath for Hand (79).
PÁDRAIG PEARSES: P Whelan; M Richardson, C Keogh, J Downey; J Nevin, R Daly, D Murray; C Harley, D Kenny; K Kelly, L Daly, A McGreal; E Colleran, J Tumulty. P Carey. Subs: C Lohan for Nevin (22), H Darcy for McGreal (55), J Price for L Daly (55), T Butler for Kelly (58), N Daly for Harley (60), K Kelly for Richardson (66), J Nevin for Keogh (66), L Daly for Carey (78).
Referee: D Lyons (Castlerea St. Kevin’s).
