St. Brigid’s to derail the Dingle juggernaut
TIME TO GET OFF THE FENCE: Nicole Nestor and Marie Kelly, with their "Elf on the Fence" during St. Brigid's victory against Scotstown, will be hoping that their team can land the ultimate prize in Croke Park on Sunday. But will the Elf be making the journey to GAA headquarters? Picture: Bernie O'Farrell
When the ball is thrown in on Sunday afternoon, Dingle will become the 53rd team to play in an All-Ireland club senior football final. In terms of final appearances, opponents St. Brigid’s are joint sixth alongside Kilmacud Crokes, behind Nemo Rangers, Crossmaglen Rangers, Corofin, Clann na nGael and St. Vincent’s.
It will be the first ever meeting between the sides. But it’s one that nearly came to pass two years ago as the West Kerry men lost out on penalties to Castlehaven in the Munster club final. A few weeks later, St. Brigid’s beat the Cork and Munster champions in the All-Ireland semi-final in Thurles before suffering heartache in the dying minutes against Glen in the decider.
Two years on, St. Brigid’s, with Dingle for company, will light up Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
As the journey has progressed, St. Brigid’s have been getting better by the game. But Dingle are the comeback kings, rising from the ashes on several occasions, On Sunday, they will arrive in GAA headquarters with a steadfast belief that no matter what the Roscommon club champions throw at them, they are ready to go the distance.
St. Brigid’s have more match winners in their locker than changing rooms during a Brown Thomas January sale. Anthony Cunningham’s side have the best half back line in the country in Ruaidhrí Fallon, Brian Stack and Paul McGrath. These three are the tarmac — the launching pad for the St. Brigid’s plane to take flight during games.
Sunday’s final will be an expansive, open, free-flowing gripping encounter, taking supporters on a magical tour. The Geaneys will be like Santa Claus, delivering scores decorated in fancy wrapping paper. Paul’s left foot is the most prized possession in club football.
Tom O’Sullivan glides like a hot air balloon in the Forest Park in Boyle. Geelong player Mark O’Connor’s stay from Australia has been extended. Here’s hoping that St. Brigid’s hopes don’t go “Down Under” as the Daingean Uí Chúis midfielder calls the shots.
Dingle have at least half a dozen quality footballers who, in full flow, will turn water into wine. We know that when Kerry footballers get to Croke Park, they usually become giants.
The Kerry and Munster champions have had more lives than a cat. It took two late Paul Geaney goals to win the Kerry SFC final against Austin Stacks. Twice in the Munster final against St. Finbarr’s, they were seven points down and on the way out of the championship until they pulled it out of the blazing fire with an incredible Conor Geaney two-pointer from a free to snatch it at the death.
The Munster final revival was only a picnic compared to the All-Ireland semi-final against Ballyboden as Pádraig Corcoran’s men came from ten points down with only 20 minutes remaining to stun the Dublin and Leinster champions. It was another perfectly-timed comeback as Paul Geaney fired over an incredible two-pointer to force extra time.
In the last three games, the Dingle machine has produced mission impossible, making them a dangerous opponent when the game is coming down the track.
The Kerry champions have been driving on black ice, but St. Brigid’s have been heading up the motorway with different drivers taking their turn at the steering wheel.
It’s hard to believe that Pádraig Pearses had clearcut opportunities to end the St. Brigid’s dream before it got going in the drawn county final. Since then, the Kiltoom-based side men have been foot perfect. In three of their last four games, they have hit 1-16 — against Pearses in the replay, and in the Maigh Cuilinn and Scotstown games.
My gut feeling is that St. Brigid’s will need more than 1-16 to win on Sunday. Dingle are averaging 0-21 in their last three games. Yet, in four of the past five club finals, 0-16 has won the day.
St. Brigid’s have so many different score getters and match winners, which resembles a child’s Christmas wish list. It’s strange to say that Ben O’Carroll hasn’t been firing on all cylinders but, like a good wine, the dynamic forward is capable of leaving Dingle punch drunk with his silken skills and sharp moves, which would do justice to a ballroom dancer.
Bobby Nugent, with ball in hand, is like Luke Littler throwing darts, Conor Hand is like a Knight Rider — impossible to catch.
While Dingle will fully respect St. Brigid’s, they will expect to win because they are from the Kingdom. When one crunches the numbers, however, the advantage lies with St. Brigid’s — they are the more experienced side and were in Croke Park two years ago.
Dingle’s county title this season was the club’s first in 77 years. While they have real quality, St. Brigid’s, collectively, are a better team. If they continue on their upward trajectory current, I have no doubt that the Andy Merrigan Cup will be heading to Kiltoom for a second time.
The majority of the current panel, who were young boys cheering on their heroes in 2013, can now become the men making their own history.
Two years ago, Brigid’s were four up with four minutes to play and blew it, so one can only imagine that there’s hurt still inside the gut. It's time for redemption.
It has been a fairytale campaign for Dingle, with a Hollywood storyline of incredible endings breaking more hearts than Paul Mescal.
On this occasion, however, the Roscommon holders will script their own special ending and leave with the Oscar.
For the tenth time on Sunday, a Roscommon club will play in the All-Ireland club senior football final, with St. Brigid’s swimming against the tide in terms of success.
In the previous nine finals, Roscommon have only managed one win — St. Brigid’s climbing Mount Everest in 2013 to bring the Andy Merrigan Cup back to the county for the first time.
On eight other occasions, Roscommon clubs have worn the bridesmaids tag — Roscommon Gaels (1976), Clann na nGael (1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990), and St. Brigid’s (2011, 2024) coming off second best on the biggest day of club football in the country.
The opening teaser of the year was like last weekend’s frosty weather, resulting in lots of my readers having a fall.
Can you name the three clubs who have played in the All-Ireland club senior and intermediate football finals? Crossmolina, Ballinderry and An Ghaeltacht were the trio.
Liam Dooley, Ballyhaunis, was first to stay on his feet. QPR, Frenchpark; John Croghan, Bundoran; Michael Scally, Ballaghaderreen; Paddy Conlon, Taughmaconnell; Murt Hunt, Ballyhaunis; Tom Mullaney, Boyle; Mick Fetherston, Dublin; Paddy Duignan, Castlerea; Paddy Boland, Youghal; Mary McCarthy, Holloway; Kevin Flanagan, Dartford; Seán Toolan, Heston and Michael Kearns, Clapham, also negotiated the black ice.
This week’s teaser: Can you name the last county to beat both Dublin and Kerry in the All-Ireland SFC in the same season?
Answers by email to willieefc@gmail.com or by text to 086 8356227. This week’s teaser comes from London.
Star pupil: Gavin Ryan’s incredible long-distance free, with the last puck of the game, which forced extra time for Upperchurch-Drombane in their All-Ireland club intermediate hurling final against Tooreen.
Crucial win for: Leinster over La Rochelle after a gripping European Rugby Champions Cup pool game.
Much do better: Everton’s tame exit in the FA Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to Sunderland leaves manager David Moyes with serious questions to answer.
Spot of bother: Heartbreaking defeat for both Easkey and Tooreen in their All-Ireland club hurling finals. Both clubs gave so much, only to end up with no silverware.
Weekend highlight: A throwback to the good old FA Cup days as Wrexham and Nottingham Forest produced a cracking six-goal thriller in the third round, with the Welsh side winning 4-3 on penalties, after extra time.
But the story of the weekend was Macclesfield Town — from the sixth tier of English football — giving holders Crystal Palace their P45.
What a cracker: No need to spice up this encounter — just sit back, relax and revel in the All-Ireland senior club football final between St. Brigid’s and Daingean Uí Chúis.
“The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning.”
St. Brigid’s will be managed by a former intercounty hurling manager, Anthony Cunningham, in Sunday’s All-Ireland club football final.
Ballygunner from Waterford will be managed by a former intercounty football manager, Jason Ryan, in the All-Ireland senior club hurling final.
Another home-grown appointment on the managerial club front as Paddy Murray is the new manager of Shannon Gaels.
