St Brigid's retain Connacht crown in tense decider
by Sean Guinan Updated: Wednesday, 23rd November, 2011 5:30pm
St Brigid's 0-11 Corofin 0-10
The idyllic setting that comprises St Brigid's GAA headquarters at Newpark, Kiltoom, has seen many glorious sporting occasions in its time. For sheer passion, edge-of-the-seat drama and sense of occasion, however, it would be nigh impossible to emulate last Sunday's Connacht Club SFC final.
It was a 'clash of the titans' confrontation between, without doubt, the two top clubs in the province over recent years, the hosts and holders St Brigid's, and Galway kingpins Corofin.
Since the 2006/07 season, both clubs have taken the magnificent Shane McGettigan Cup on two occasions each (Ballina Stephenites won out in 2007/08). And, in many previews, Sunday's clash before an estimated 3,500 attendance on Brigid's illustrious home sod was classified as a modern day tie-breaker. The stakes couldn't have been higher.
A glorious mid-November day, with the sunshine breaking through, ensured a carnival atmosphere in the build-up to throw-in, prior to the serious business of confrontation. Victories over Tourlestrane and Ballintubber respectively earned the Roscommon and Galway contenders the right to vie for the high kingship of Connacht. To the strains of the Castlerea brass band and vocalist Orla Grehan (sister of Brigid's wing-back Niall, who preformed the National Anthem) it was time for a repeat of the 2006 final of these great rivals. With wind not a factor and the pitch looking its best, the game began.
Both teams showed last changes from this match programme. Brigid's introduced Gearoid Cunniffe - who would ply his trade mainly as a third midfielder - instead of corner-forward Padraig Kelly, while Corofin brought on Mike Farragher at full-forward replacing the listed Justin Burke. Farragher would almost immediately justify his selection when, from a defensive clearance by the impressive Kieran McGrath, he secured possession to point inside the first minute. Maintaining the impressive opening, corner-forward Kieran Comer lofted over a fine point off his right foot (second minute).
Play would become of a stop-start nature, thanks in the main to a fussy referee who, from the 4th minute on, issued an abundance of yellow cards which, by the final whistle, reached a total of 14 in a game which, by no means, could be classified as dirty.
A worry for Noel O'Brien's men was an inordinate number of turnovers of possession, but the hard grafting of Gearoid Cunniffe earned a 7th minute free, pointed by Senan Kilbride. And when midfielder Garvan Dolan drew a foul (9th minute), his brother Frankie duly obliged with the equalising free.
Corofin continued, however, to maintain the impetus and Kieran Comer, this time from his left foot, lofted over a beauty from the stand side, closely followed by another point by the on-fire Mike Farragher.
A foul on Cathal McHugh which earned perpetrator Padraic Kelly the now almost inevitable yellow card, brought Senan Kilbride his second pointed free of the match just on 15 minutes. But the industrious Farragher was then impeded to give marksman Alan O'Donoven his team's first point from a placed ball two minutes later.
Corofin now introduced originally selected full-forward Justin Burke to attack, with Farragher moving out to the half line and Gary Sice reverting back to a defensive berth. The Brigid's attack was making little headway against a tight-marking Corofin rearguard where Athlone-based garda Kieran Fitzgerald, Sice, Gary Delaney and Michael Comer were particularly impressive. But wing-back Eoin Sheehy launched a Brigid's attack, and forced a free, which was pointed by Frankie Dolan (23rd minute).
The holders, all of whose four points to date had come from frees, would not score again before half-time, both causes of concern to the home supporters. Justin Burke pointed from play to complete a good movement involving inside forward Micheal Lundy and Mike Farragher.
But the 28th minute would produce an incident destined to have a big say in the eventual outcome of the decider as events would unfold. Major controversy erupted when a probing centre from Gary Delaney was fisted to the Brigid's net by the lurking Farragher. Referee Devenney immediately signalled a free out for 'square ball', but the big travelling support were incensed by this decision, as indeed were Galway pundits in the press box who were of the opinion that Farragher had timed his run-in to perfection and that the goal should have stood.
In any event, the Brian Silke-managed Galwegians finished the half strongly and corner-forward Micheal Lundy's 32nd-minute point gave they a deserved 0-7 to 0-4 lead at the short whistle.
Aspects of that opening half would have worried the Brigid's squad as they headed for the dressing room. Full-back and captain Darragh Donnelly was unable to restart due to an ankle injury and with Damien Kelleher short of his excellent form from the semi-final, Ian Kilbride and originally selected dual player Padraig Kelly were introduced as a double substitution for the second half. For Corofin, centre forward Damien Burke gave way to the subsequently lively Ronan Steede up front.
Although Gary Delaney made a fine interception when blocking down an attempted Frankie Dolan through-pass, the pendulum was about to swing decisively Brigid's way. Inspired by the leadership of centre-back Peter Domican and, after a relatively quiet opening half, the now dominant Karol Mannion at midfield, along with the wizardry of Frankie Dolan, first-half indecisiveness gave way to what we've come to recognise as vintage St Brigid's.
In six devastating minutes, a 3-point deficit was transformed into a 2-point lead with five superb unanswered points. A '45' conceded by a Corofin defender was brilliantly converted by ice-cool Frankie Dolan. Then Senan Kilbride, in typical style, struck a brace of points (one free and a superb strike from play). As the power-packed third-quarter cameo continued, a delightful effort by Cathal McHugh and a further Frankie Dolan point from a free (brought forward for dissent) saw the holders go in front for the first time.
But in the style of champions, Corofin struck back to equalise per their marksman-in-chief Alan O'Donovan. He punished a foul on Justin Burke (49th minute), and then combined with Burke again and Lundy for a good point from play. As the final 10 minutes approached, who would carry the day?
Play was tough, uncompromising and physical, but at no stage dirty as the clock wound down. It was indeed a fitting clash of champions on the Kiltoom stage. Corofin tried all they knew to bring their total haul of Connacht Club titles to 6 (they took All-Ireland honours in 1998), while Brigid's displayed extraordinary work-rate and zeal to ensure the retention of the Shane McGettigan Cup on the Newpark sideboard, and its annexation for the third time in all.
It was indeed stirring stuff in those closing minutes. In the 53rd minute, Padraig Kelly was adjudged to have been fouled and the free was converted by Frankie Dolan. A minute later, Eoin Sheehy was denied a goal as Corofin goalie David Morris got a vital touch, but, in ensuing play, Frankie sent a glorious right footed kick over the bar from a difficult angle. This turned out to be the champions' final score. But Corofin weren't finished yet.
A foul on Damien Burke (re-introduced minutes earlier) was punished by O'Donovan, but some outstanding outfield work by Karol Mannion was somewhat wasted with a brace of bad wides. In injury-time, Corofin continued to press but a resolute Brigid's defence held firm and there was unbridled joy among their huge throng of supporters at the final whistle when they were confirmed champions again.
A section of Corofin supporters vented their anger at the end on the referee, but great work by the stewards present prevented a potentially ugly situation from getting out of hand.
And so it was another wonderful day in the history of the highly progressive St Brigid's club as, in the semi-final, they overcame a shaky opening to take control of proceedings in the second half. It was, as expected, mighty close at the end. They now prepare for a trip to Ruislip to meet the London champions in a quarter-final on Sunday, December 4.
Scorers
St Brigid's: F Dolan 0-6 (4 frees, 0-1 '45'), S Kilbride 0-4 (3 frees), C McHugh 0-1.
Corofin: A O'Donovan 0-4 (3 frees); M Farragher, K Comer 0-2 each; J Burke, M Lundy 0-1 each.
St Brigid's:
James Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly (capt.), Darragh Sheehy, Eoin Sheehy, Peter Domican, Niall Grehan, Karol Mannion, Garvan Dolan, Darren Dolan, Cathal McHugh, Damien Kelleher, Gearoid Cunniffe, Senan Kilbride, Frankie Dolan. Subs: Ian Kilbride for Donnelly (injured, h/t); Padraig Kelly for Kelleher (h/t); Richard Blaine for McHugh (59); Damien Kelleher for D Dolan (injured, 63).
Corofin:
David Morris, Padraig Kelly, Kieran Fitzgerald (capt.); Kieran McGrath, Alan Burke, Gary Delaney, Michael Comer, Daithi Burke, Greg Higgins, Gary Sice, Damien Burke, Alan O'Donovan, Micheal Lundy, Mike Farragher, Kieran Comer. Subs: Justin Burke for Kelly (18); Ronan Steede for Damien Burke (34); Damien Burke for Kieran Comer (53); Joe Canney for Lundy (59).
Referee:
Liam Devenney (Mayo).
