Brigid’s produce nine-dart finish
BUSY SCHEDULE: Laura Fleming and Jonathan Mannion who were married on Friday (yesterday). Laura will line out for Athleague in this year's All-Ireland junior club camogie final this afternoon.
One of the great sporting occasions of the year is the World Darts Championships, which commenced on Friday (yesterday) and last until Wednesday, January 3rd. It’s a sporting event that always produces plenty of dramatic finishes and excitement over the festive period.
On our own doorstep, the senior footballers of St. Brigid’s unleashed their own version of a nine-dart finish to claim a county and Connacht double for the fifth time in the club's history.
It took the Kiltoom-based side nine games to conquer the much sought-after Fahey and McGettigan Cups. This young and exciting side played the game of their lives against Corofin on Sunday week last, hitting the bullseye on several occasions. When the Galway champions threatened a comeback with two goals, Jerome Stack’s troops upped the ante to run out convincing winners.
How appropriate that, on the tenth anniversary of winning their sole All-Ireland senior club championship in 2013, St. Brigid’s have put themselves in a position of chasing another day out in Croke Park.
Their fifth provincial crown caught many by surprise (not me!) as they stand in third place behind Corofin (10) and Clann na nGael (7) in Connacht’s roll of honour.
The club’s first provincial title in 2006 was sensational and spectacular as an injury-time Karol Mannion blockbuster stunned Corofin. Their second in 2010 was more straightforward in Tuam Stadium as they powered past a leg-weary Killererin side who were coming towards the end of their great adventure. A St. Brigid’s side on the rise would go on to contest the All-Ireland final the following March, only to run into the Crossmaglen Rangers juggernaut in Croke Park.
Their third provincial crown in 2011 was like an episode from the O.K. Corral. The Wild West moved to Kiltoom as St. Brigid’s edged out Corofin by 0-11 to 0-10 in a game where there were rows, punch-ups, plenty of cards and a Garda escort for the referee.
St. Brigid’s fourth Connacht title in 2012 completed a famous three-in-a-row. Despite a heavy fog in MacHale Park, Castlebar, Kevin McStay’s side could see clearly as they marched to a comprehensive win over Mayo champions, Ballaghaderreen, who were managed by Mark Dowd, by 1-12 to 0-6.
Into the New Year in 2013 and their next victim was Crossmaglen Rangers after another intense arm wrestle in Mullingar. That opened the door for a tilt against Ballymum Kickhams and the rest, as they say, is history. Croke Park became a sea of Red and Green on St. Patrick’s Day as St. Brigid’s became the first Roscommon club to cross the River Shannon with the Andy Merrigan Cup.
Their fifth Connacht crown nine days ago saw them lead Corofin into a false sense of security. All the talk was about the Galway champions who only had to tog out, in many people’s eyes, to collect the trophy. But St. Brigid’s perfectly-prepared ambush saw Corofin walk straight into an uppercut as the Roscommon champions delivered a performance that ranked with any of their previous provincial wins. Indeed, it could be argued this was their best performance in a Connacht final.
There is no better feeling for any side when all the work they have put in on the training ground comes to fruition in a big match against a feared opponent. But St. Brigid’s now have a target on their backs after taking out Corofin and face a massive challenge against Castlehaven from Cork on the first weekend of January.
I started this piece by comparing St. Brigid’s to the best darts players in the world. Roscommon clubs that won the county senior and intermediate championships since Covid have produced two superb double top finishes in Connacht — Pádraig Pearses and St. Faithleach’s in 2021 followed by St. Brigid’s and Castlerea St. Kevin’s in 2023.
Club football is on a high in the county and who’s to say that the good days won’t keep on rolling in January when Roscommon and Cork lock horns in the last four of both championships.
This weekend has been a huge one in the life of Laura Fleming.
The Roscommon Community College teacher and talented sportswoman is togging out for two massive occasions. On Friday (yesterday), she married Jonathan Mannion in Kilbegnet Church. Then, this afternoon (Saturday), she will play in the All-Ireland junior club camogie final for Athleague against Granemore from Armagh in Kinnegad at 1 p.m..
The bride-to-be will be hoping to say “I do” twice on the same weekend. Wouldn’t the after-party of the wedding be a special moment if an All-Ireland club title sparkled like the wedding ring on her finger?
Laura isn’t long back from her ten-day charity stint in Kenya along with 50 other intercounty male and female players from the four national GAA codes. Talk about all the best-laid plans of arranging one’s wedding day for mid-December. Surely nothing could get in the way bar the weather, but Liam Gordon’s band of Athleague camogie players have reached an All-Ireland club final. Some guests might not even have gone to bed by the time the sliothar is thrown in!
Laura and Jonathan are two calm, cool soulmates who will take everything in their stride. Jonathan plays club football for St. Joseph’s and was centre-back during this year’s junior championship. Meanwhile, Laura served the county intermediate ladies’ football team, the St. Ciaran’s ladies’ footballers and the Athleague senior camogie team — all this while trying to arrange a wedding.
I hope that Laura and Jonathan had a wonderful day and I wish them only the very best in the future as a married couple. It is some weekend to look forward to for the bride, groom, family, friends and a bunch of Athleague Roses!
Just like Storms Elin and Fergus over the weekend, my Teaser gang held their nerve, despite the inclement weather.
Can you name the first goalkeeper to save a penalty in a FA Cup final? It was Dave Beasant for Wimbledon against Liverpool in the 1988 final when he saved John Aldridge’s spot kick.
The last Tuesday Teaser of 2023 was in safe hands with Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis, collecting the match ball. Fr John McManus, PP Castlerea; QPR, Frenchpark; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; PJ Martin, Kiltoom; John Croghan, Bundoran; Dermot O’Connor, Kiltoom; Pat Higgins, Ballaghaderreen; Tommy Rock, Dublin; Mary Gilfillan, Kilmore; John Wynne, Kilteevan; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Martin Walshe, Carrowbehy; Eamon Keaveney, Ballyfarnon; Bernard Duffy, Longford/Loughglynn; Luigi, Ballyhaunis; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Pat, Sligo; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Liam Feely, Prince of Wales; Gabriel Ward, Lytham; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Seán Toolan, Heston, and Michael Kearns, Clapham also kept a clean sheet.
As this is my last column of the year, I have decided to give my Tuesday Teaser enthusiasts the Christmas off to recharge the batteries before we go again for another season early in the New Year.
I’d like to thank everyone who entered each week. It made it very rewarding for me personally, waiting for the answers to arrive. Enjoy the festive period — instead of chewing on the Teaser, have a tasty mince pie.
Star pupil: Darragh Cahalane as the Castlehaven goalkeeper scored two and saved one penalty during his side’s sensational victory over Dingle in Sunday’s Munster club senior football final.
Crucial win for: Cashlehaven who won the Munster club SFC final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Dingle Much do better: Chelsea have lost seven times this season under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.
Spot of bother: A bad weekend for the Irish provinces in the opening round of the European Champions Cup, with only Leinster winning.
Weekend highlight: Great news for Roscommon GAA as the Dermot Earley Centre of Excellence has been given the green light by Roscommon County Council.
What a cracker: We are about to find out how good the Galway SHC was this year as holders St. Thomas’ face high-flying Ballygunnar in the All-Ireland club SHC semi-final on Saturday.
“Mindset is everything, to be successful you don’t need a beautiful face or a heroic body. What you need is a skillful mind and the ability to perform.”
Connacht will be represented in the three All-Ireland ladies’ football club finals this weekend — Claremorris (junior), Ballinamore (intermediate) and Kilkerrin/Clonberne (senior).
I’m taking a break from the column until the New Year, so have a Happy and Peaceful Christmas. There will be plenty of action to get our teeth into in early January to get rid the Yuletide excess.
