St Brigid's craft proves too much for Elphin as Kiltoom men capture tenth title

GAA: Shannonside FM Roscommon Senior Football Championship Final For the fourth time since the dawn of the new millennium and the tenth time in all, the Roscommon SFC title rests in the parish of Kiltoom and Cam following St Brigid's county final victory last Sunday evening, at a sunny and resplendent Dr Hyde Park. This latest success for Brigid's came against an Elphin side making their first appearance in a county final since losing to a Fran Nicholson captained Clann na nGael in 1986. It was a contest which balanced on a knife edge until the last ten minutes - and the scores were level on five occasions up to the 40th minute of play. In the end, however, the superior fitness and panache of Noel O'Brien's charges - combined with par-plus performances by experienced hands Frankie Dolan, Senan Kilbride and Karol Mannion - eventually combined to steer the green and red over the line against a visibly tiring Elphin. Brigid's managed to succeeded in countering the best that Peter Carney's men could throw at them. But make no mistake about it, there were spells, especially in the second quarter of an entertaining final - which attracted an estimated attendance of 5,000 to headquarters - when it looked that the tangerine and black attired North Easterners would bridge the gap of 53 years since last annexing premier honours in 1957. They took the contest big-time to the pre-match favourites, succeeding in restricting the known predatorial power-brokers of the St Brigid's attack to 'iron rations', while embarking on fruitful forays at the other end, which showed that their semi-final dethronement of two-in-a-row kingpins Castlerea St Kevin's was no one day wonder. They lofted over four superlative points from play, between the 24th and 31st minutes of the first half, to turn an 0-4 to 0-2 deficit into an 0-6 to 0-4 lead which had their huge support in seventh heaven. But, crucially, they were unable to apply the killer punch during this period of ascendancy. Although not performing to their optimum level in a first half where they had only one score from play by midfielder Karol Mannion, Brigid's - through two injury time points (free and '45;) by the deadly accurate Frankie Dolan - nevertheless went to the dressing rooms on level terms (0-6 each). Elphin, keenly striving to re-ignite their earlier dominance entered the second half fray in determined mood, but saw two early opportunities of scores go abegging. Firstly when Frankie Cregg saw his goalbound effort brilliantly saved by St Brigid's razor sharp goalie Philip Martin. Minutes later, a foul on Fintan Cregg saw free-taker Frankie Cregg, instead of pointing the straight forward free, kicking short to midfielder Paul Kellegher, whose shot went wide. From his cameo onwards, the game would, slowly but surely, slip from their grasp, as the 3-in-a-row champions of 2005-2007 inexorably tightened their grip on proceedings, forcing their opponents into the concession of frees, punished severely by the hugely experienced Frankie Dolan, with Senan Kilbride and Karol Mannion also contributing to the Newpark squad outscoring fading opponents 0-7 to 0-2 in the race to the winning post. Brigid's have been this way before. In the curtain-raiser, a highly impressive Roscommon Gaels took their third title in succession when walloping Boyle (2-19 to 0-9) in the minor football final and their 29th in all. A carnival atmosphere prevailed as both sets of partisan entered 'The Hyde' bedecked in their St Brigid's and Elphin colours for the first final meeting between the clubs since 1959. Garvan Dolan started instead of the listed Damien Kellegher on the St. Brigid's team, with Garvan going to midfield and John Tiernan switching to wing-forward. This meant that three Dolan brothers (St. Brigid's), and four Cregg brothers (Elphin) would start for 2010 final, in the glorious prevailing conditions. Just under two minutes had elapsed when Elphin's Brian Cregg's attacking ball to Colm Rock saw the No 14 being fouled with Frankie Cregg (free) edging Peter Carney's men in front. He missed a similar opportunity three minutes later when Michael Glancy drew the foul, but Frankie Dolan made no mistake (7th minute), when sending over the first of his seven points from placed balls when his brother Darren drew the foul. He added another a minute later, after a foul on Senan Kilbride. John Tiernan was put through by Darragh Dolan two minutes later, but his goal-bound shot blazed just wide. We then witnessed a somewhat negative ten minutes of stop-start play with defences generally on top. A Colm Rock, Kevin Brady, Shane Beirne passage of play saw the wing-back charge upfield to point on the run, after an eleven minute scoring moratorium, while, at the other end, Conor McHugh, Peter Domican, Frankie Dolan and Karol Mannion in a sweeping movement, combined for Karol to point from play almost immediately. A Senan Kilbride pointed free (foul on Cathal McHugh) edged Brigid's 0-4 to 0-2 ahead, but we then were treated to a purple patch of Elphin power-play. With their half back trio of Conor Beirne (in particular), Paddy O'Connor and Shane Beirne mopping up every break from midfield and driving forward relentlessly, the tide turned in their favour. Four superb points, all from play, ensured, courtesy of team captain Brian Cregg, Colm Rock, Paddy O'Connor and lively corner-forward Brendan Rock, wiping out arrears and establishing a two-point advantage. But Senan Kilbride was winning good primary possession up front for St. Brigid's. He drew a foul which was pointed in injury time by Frankie Dolan, and also forced Elphin full-back Ronan Brady into the concession of a '45', clinically converted by Frankie again. And so, despite shooting seven wides and not playing particularly well, Brigid's were on level terms at the short whistle against opponents who took control of proceedings in the run up to half-time, but were punished for conceding scorable frees. Brigid's take control As stated, early second-half chances were squandered by Elphin. Points from Brigid's wing-back Gearoid Cunniffe and Fintan Cregg (free) had the sides level for a fifth time on 40 minutes. Indications at this stage pointed to a possible draw as fortunes ebbed to and fro. However, as time elapsed, the greater experience and street-wise craft of the Kiltoom/Cam men emerged starkly. Substitute David O'Connor, as he had done against St. Faithleach's in the semi-final, began winning the so-called 'dirty ball' up front and creating opportunities for his colleagues. In a defence which closed up ranks from a certain looseness early on, team captain Niall Grehan was seen to good effect in rallying his colleagues, with excellent displays produced by Darragh Donnelly (who forced his way upfield into scoring positions as well as dealing with his defensive duties) and Robbie Kelly and a now impregnable half-back trio of Ian Kilbride, Peter Domican and the ultra-reliable Gearoid Cunniffe. That final quarter saw a new rampant Brigid's effectively clean out gallant opposition who had given it their all up to then, bearing in mind the loss of their inter-county star Brian Higgins (in Australia) for the latter stages of Championship 2010. For their part, St Brigid's have been without key midfielder Mark O'Carroll throughout the championship due to a long-term injury . Noel O'Brien men made a definitive statement of intent as their tenth title inevitably became a reality. Points by Frankie Dolan (3 frees), Senan Kilbride (2 frees and a brilliant effect from play in injury time) and a Karol Mannion spectacular from play, left the result beyond any doubt, with Elphin confined to just two scores in response - a pointed free from Fintan Cregg and a fine effort from sub John Collins, placed by corner-back Damien Cregg). And so, when referee Michael Brennan (Boyle) sounded the long whistle, St. Brigid's had regained the Fahey Cup and were already looking forward to meeting Eastern Harps (Sligo) in the opening round of the Connacht Club Championship and an early renewal of rivalry with the Yeats County, as 2010 enters Autumn. St. Brigid's had many heroes in this latest success for the South Roscommon stronghold, but the displays of Niall Grehan, Gearoid Cunniffe, Karl Mannion, Senan Kilbride, Frankie Dolan and Darragh Donnelly were especially noteworthy. Elphin played some delightful football at various stages of an entertaining final and their young squad had excellent performers in Ronan Brady, Conor Beirne, Paddy O'Connor, Brian Cregg, Fintan Cregg and Brendan Rock. Presentation After the game, the Fahey Cup was presented to St. Brigid's captain Niall Grehan by Michael McGuire, Chairman, Roscommon County Board, amidst tumultuous and rapturous joy and excitement. ST BRIGID'S: Philip Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly, Niall Grehan (capt.), Ian Kilbride, Peter Domican, Gearoid Cunniffe (0-1), Garvan Dolan, Karol Mannion (0-2), John Tiernan, Cathal McHugh, Darren Dolan, Conor McHugh, Senan Kilbride (0-4, 2 frees), Frankie Dolan (0-7, 6 frees, 0-1 '45'). Subs: David O'Connor for Tiernan (25), Damien Kellegher for Cathal McHugh (44). ELPHIN: Ronan Collins, Jason Carney, Ronan Brady, Damien Cregg, Conor Beirne, Patrick O'Connor, Shane Beirne, Brian Cregg (Capt.), Paul Kellegher, Michael Glancy, Fintan Cregg, Kevin Brady, Brendan Rock, Colm Rock and Frankie Cregg. Subs: John Collins for Glancy (47), Michael Callery for Kevin Brady (51), Shane Tiernan for Brian Cregg (58). REFEREE: Michael Brennan (Boyle) who issued two yellow cards, one to each side, during a robust, but fairly contested encounter.