A rivalry built on respect and talent
Ronan Daly steals a match on Eddie Nolan during the 2024 Roscommon SFC quarter-final between Pádraig Pearses and St. Brigid's at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park. Picture: INPHO/Tom Maher
Nothing beats local rivalry to bring an edge to proceedings.
All great teams need a fix of serious competition in a competitive environment to get the juices flowing.
Major rivalries have been developed in the Roscommon Senior Football Championship — St. Patrick’s and Tarmon, Roscommon Gaels and Castlerea St. Kevin’s, Clann na nGael and Roscommon Gaels, and then St. Brigid’s arrived to bring an end to the Clann dynasty.
At the beginning of the new millennium, Roscommon had five different SFC winners in a six-year period until St. Brigid’s became as dominant as Clann na nGael in the 1980s, winning 12 of the last 20 championships.
For over six decades, Padraig Pearses weren’t even in the conversation. They had become the bridesmaids of the senior football championship, losing eight finals.
After knocking the door down in 2019, however, they have become one of the most consistent sides, winning the county championship on three occasions and a Connacht club championship.
Talk about going from a famine to a feast.
During the past six years, Pearses have built up a serious rivalry with St. Brigid’s, which has captured the imagination of supporters near and far. With five titles between them over the past six years and number six to be decided on Sunday, both clubs are the undisputed heavyweights of Roscommon club football.
It began in Ballyforan in 2019 as a goal-hungry Pádraig Pearses, managed by Pat Flanagan, landed a knockout blow on St. Brigid’s, who were on the rebound after losing the 2018 final to Clann na nGael.
That crucial win over St Brigid’s was the catalyst for Pearses to go on and win their first-ever SFC title against Roscommon Gaels. That historic moment changed the mindset of the club into a winning one, with no fear for any opponent going forward.
In 2020, a young, vibrant St. Brigid’s side, with Benny O’Brien at the helm, gained revenge with a 1-11 to 0-8 final triumph.
By now, the rivalry was growing like apples in an Orchard. For the third year in a row, they went head-to-head in the 2021 semi-final in an extraordinary contest that had more fireworks than a Halloween cracker.
Conor Daly and Brian Stack saw red, as did Pearses manager Pat Flanagan. After an explosive game finished level, it was Pádraig Pearses who held their nerve in extra-time to dethrone the champions by 0-18 to 2-10, laying the foundation for the Red and White to go on and win their second senior title at the expense of another arch rival, Clann na nGael.
Over the next two years, Boyle took out both heavyweights in the semi-final stages — St. Brigid’s in 2022 and Pádraig Pearses in 2023. Incredibly, the North Roscommon men failed to win the championship on either occasion.
Normal service resumed in 2024 as a mouthwatering quarter-final clash came to pass in the Hyde. It didn’t disappoint as beaten All-Ireland club finalists, St. Brigid’s, lost everything to their deadly rivals in another pulsating contest that went to extra time. Pearses prevailed by 0-15 to 0-13 as Frank Canning’s men went on to win as third championship, once again with Roscommon Gaels as their victims.
For the fifth time in seven years, both sides will lock horns on Sunday, with Pádraig Pearses ahead 3-1. The dream final has materialised, and to slightly change George Hamilton’s famous words, “a county holds its breath”, as they square up in the 2025 senior football final.
And so to the game itself.
Virgin Media News anchor Collette Fitzpatrick chairs the big presidential election debates in bullish fashion. On Sunday at King and Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park, the big debate will chaired by Tulsk referee Jimmy Donoghue.
Can Pádraig Pearses hold their current form, or can St. Brigid’s produce their best display of the year on the biggest day of the club calendar?
History has taught us that St. Brigid’s are masters at timing their run to perfection. Telltale signs emerged during their second-half showing against Clann na nGael in the semi-final that they are ready to hit the ground running on Sunday.
Anthony Cunningham’s men are like Heather Humphries, hoping to peak on polling day. The Kiltoom men will not want to lose to their neighbours for a second year running.
Pádraig Pearses have been like Catherine Connolly — they have answered all the tough questions thrown at them. Crucially, they are still standing with momentum in their sails entering the home straight.
After losing to St. Faithleach’s in the opening round, Pearses haven’t put a foot wrong. Frank Canning’s troops have ticked all the boxes. Despite Boyle giving them a grilling that Collette Fitzpatrick would have been proud of, they survived.
Despite missing key personnel, the holders have dug deep, winning five on the bounce, which has included two victories after extra time before cutting loose against St. Faithleach’s. In their last three games, they have blasted 8-69.
Both teams have developed strong benches. The match-ups will be as mouthwatering as a Sunday roast. In the modern game, especially under the new rules, trying to predict who will mark each other is a mug’s game. Both sides will have so many fires to put out when trying to gain an advantage.
This highlights how strong both sides are as they pack a punch from all over the field, thriving on counter attacking football by turning leftovers in the fridge into a tasty meal.
The general feeling is that St. Brigid's have the greater scope for improvement as they have yet to scale the heights their talent warrants.
Pádraig Pearses have reached the mountain top after producing powerful victories over Oran, Boyle and St. Faithleach’s. New Roscommon senior team football manager Mark Dowd will be hoping that this one is a classic and the players he has already earmarked for his panel will rise to the occasion.
With so many big guns gone in the All-Ireland Club SFC, the winner on Sunday will fancy an extended stay, once they leave the county as top dogs. The stakes are high and the pressure is on. But with so many top players on show, this showdown simply has to deliver.
St. Brigid’s and Pádraig Pearses have met in five SFC finals. St. Brigid’s have won all five. By the law of averages, the tide has to turn.
Maybe that moment has arrived for Pádraig Pearses to step forward to end their final famine against the Green and Red, rubberstamping their position as the best team in County Roscommon.
They get my vote.
As the club football championship moved up several notches, my Teaser followed a similar theme.
Can you name the former Mayo footballer who captained a team from Galway to win a senior All-Ireland football title? It was Maurice Sheridan who led Salthill-Knocknacarra to All-Ireland club SFC glory in 2006.
QPR, Frenchpark, was first to join the dots. Eamon Campion, Castlerea; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Lisa Flanagan, Frenchpark; Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis; Michael Scally, Ballyhaunis; John Croghan, Bundoran; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; Seán Farrell, Dublin; Pat Deane, Williamstown; Colm, Ballaghaderreen; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mick Fetherston, Dublin, and Pat, Sligo, also solved the puzzle.
This week’s Teaser: Can you name the only Offaly footballer to have won three All-Ireland SFC medals?
Answers by e-mail to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s Teaser came from Dublin.
On behalf of myself and my Tuesday Teaser contributors, I would like to pass on my deepest condolences to Michael Kearns on the sad passing of his beloved wife Eileen.
Michael, a proud Sligo man, is one of my most loyal weekly Teaser contributors. Each week, the answers arrive from Michael, Mary McCarthy, Kevin Flanagan and Seán Toolan from London.
I will keep Michael and his family in my thoughts at this sad time.
Star pupil: Roscommon defender Conor Cosgrove who was named Nickey Rackard Cup Hurler of the Year.
Crucial win for: St. Croan’s who will be back playing intermediate football in 2026 after winning the Junior A championship on Saturday.
Much do better: While the best team won the match, Éire Óg will look back at the chances they missed during their IFC final defeat to Strokestown, and wonder what might have been.
Spot of bother: Shamrock Rovers are still waiting for the point they need to clinch the League of Ireland Premier Division title.
Last weekend. St. Pat’s put the Hoops’ champagne back in the fridge for another week.
Weekend highlight: Athlone Town winning the FAI Women’s Cup to clinch a historic league and cup double for the midlanders.
What a cracker: Go to any fortune teller this week and they will tell you the same thing — that St. Brigid’s and Pádraig Pearses are primed to produce a cracking senior football final.
“In a race between a lion and a deer, many times, the deer wins because the lion runs for food and the deer runs for life. Remember, purpose is more important than need.”
Fifty-three clubs have contested the All-Ireland senior club football final since 1971.
Of those 53 clubs, only ten remain in this year’s championship before we’ve reached the provincial competitions.
At least three more will be heading out of their local county championships.
Best of luck to all the Roscommon Harriers runners taking part in Sunday’s Dublin City Marathon, especially David Hoare who is hoping to shake off an injury to complete his second successive Dublin Marathon.
