St Brigid's see off Pearses to secure quarter-final berth

With both teams having suffered narrow reversals to reigning champions Castlerea St Kevin's in their opening game of the Roscommon football championship, it was 'sink or swim' time at beautiful manicured Kiltoom on Saturday evening last when St Brigid's entertained South County rivals Padraig Pearses, to determine who would take the second quarter final berth from Group 'A'. A draw would do Jack Murray's Reds, having lost by a point to Castlerea at Woodmount. But it was 'win or bust' for Noel O'Brien's charges following that two-point reverse at O'Rourke Park in early July against the West Roscommon squad. It was a measure of both sides' disappointment at those defeats that many changes were made to their starting fifteen, especially by St. Brigid's who must employ the same surgeon as Conor Counihan (Cork) the previous Sunday, as they almost totally recast the team listed on the programmes. They were forced to find a replacement for the suspended Ger Aherne, but welcomed back Senan Kilbride after a lengthy absence through injury. Though still without Mark O'Carroll after the terrible injury at Ruislip, while on county duty earlier in the season. Pearses, too, were badly hit, having to do with out the highly influential duo of Niall Carty (injured) and Enda Barrett (suspended), for this confrontation. The few hundred shirt-sleeved spectators on an evening blessed with glorious weather saw both protagonists deadlocked on the scoreboard on four occasions in the opening 25 minutes. Pearses, with subsequent top scorer Sean Fahy very much on form, found themselves 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the 11th minute, the No. 13 notching all their scores, including two from frees, while at the other end, Brigid's hero of many a battle Frankie Dolan, completed a lovely move. Fahy, however, was causing problems in the home defence with the ceaseless foraging of Michael Duignan also ensuring that optimum pressure was maintained. But Brigid's thanks to excellent rearguard action from the ever-dependant Robbie Kelly and Peter Domican in particular saw out this fruitful Pearses spell in impressive fashion. They gradually imposed their will on proceedings, a brace of points by Conor McHugh and John Tiernan levelling the contest by the end of the first quarter. Noel O'Brien and his selectors then made a telling substitution when introducing the highly-effective Damien Kellegher. Pearses had edged ahead again when Paul Moran, Paul Duke, Niall Finneran and young Aaron Fehilly combined for the latter to split the upright before Kellegher and Frankie Dolan respectively pointed to put Brigid's ahead for the first time on 22 minutes. Sean Fahy continued to prove tormentor-in-chief to the host club when beating two defenders before clipping over a delightful equaliser on the run. This, however would be the last time in the Group 'A' clash that stalemate would prevail on the scoreboard as an ever-improving Brigid's made a definitive statement in the minutes approaching half-time. Seizing the initiative in the midfield area where John Tiernan and Karol Mannion established ascendancy and augmented by Peter Domican with super-sub Damien Kellegher, the pendulum swung inexorably their way. Gearoid Cunniffe made the road for a Niall Grehan point, with Cathal McHugh, Senan Kilbride, and that man again, Frankie Dolan, adding a further trio to put the Kiltoom/Cam men 0-9 to 0-5 ahead, at referee Michael Brennan's short whistle. Crucially all the Brigid's first-half points came from play, and indeed they could have struck a lethal blow on the 30th minute when a high centre from Karol Mannion was fisted only inches wide by the lurking Darren Dolan, with Pearses goalkeeper Tomas Dolan off his line. Pearses needed early scores on the resumption to get back into contention, but it was Brigid's who extended their lead with two quick-fire points via Senan Kilbride from a free and then a fine effort from play. With the margin now six points, and the game slipping away from them. Pearses, who had just introduced under-age star Padraig Corbett, strove valiantly to get back into contention. Buoyed on by the experience of Denis and John Whyte, the workrate of Niall Finneran and Niall Daly and the forward prowess of Sean Fahy and Michael Duignan, they lifted the siege. Points by Niall Finneran and Sean Fahy (2 frees) reduced the deficit to three points, before a Frankie Dolan free steadied the Brigid's ship. Michael Duignan was narrowly wide for Pearses before Sean Fahy made it a 'goal game' again with another point with 10 minutes of normal time remaining. St Brigid's, as they had done approaching half-time, again turned up the heat and with the hard-working Darren Dolan drawing the foul, Frankie scored his fifth point of the evening from the resultant free. Senan Kilbride, showing clear signs of a return to his best form, added another from play immediately before both goalies displayed their abilities with Philip Martin (St Brigid's) parrying a Niall Daly effort, while, at the other end, Damien Kellegher drew a good save from Pearses Thomas Dolan, ensuring that this local derby would remain goalless. Referee Michael Brennan (Boyle) allowed six minutes injury time at the conclusion and while Pearses fought commendably to the finish adding a 65th minute point by sub Sean Ryan, it was Brigid's who finished this game on a high note with Senan Kilbride blazing over from play to give his team an 0-15 to 0-10 win. Following that narrow defeat to Castlerea in early July, the Brigid's team, management and supporters will be delighted to get back to winning ways and will be further boosted when players return from suspension and injury. However, they appeared still some distance short of the form which brought them a hat-trick of county title successes from 2005-2007. While they were a little slow in springing from the starting block on Saturday, they did display evidence of even better days on the horizon when danger did threaten. In a team which contains a near-ideal blend of youth and experience, goalie Philip Martin, defenders Robbie Kelly, Roscommon team capt. Peter Domican and Niall Grehan and midfielders John Tiernan and Karol Mannon, performing assiduously throughout. They will also be justifiably pleased with the splendid form of Frankie Dolan and Senan Kilbride up front, in a sector where Cathal and Conor McHugh, Darren Dolan and sub Damien Kellegher also impressed. Padraig Pearses were badly hit by the absences of Enda Barrett and county under-21 star Niall Carty, Minor starlet Eamon Donoghue did well in the first half, while, in a team which is also a near-perfect amalgam of youth and experience, Tomas Dolan, Denis and John Whyte, Paul Kelly, Niall Finneran, Niall Daly, top scorer Sean Fahy and Michael Duignan stood out, but Fahy lacked consistent support in attack. Scorers St Brigid's: Frankie Dolan (0-5, 0-2 frees) Senan Kilbride (0-5, 0-1 free), John Tiernan (0-1), Conor McHugh (0-1), Damien Kellegher (0-1), Cathal McHugh (0-1) and Niall Grehan (0-1). Padraig Pearses: Sean Fahy (0-7, 0-4 frees), Aaron Fehilly (0-1), Niall Finneran (0-1) and Sean Ryan (0-1). Team St Brigid's: Philip Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly, David Nestor, Niall Grehan, Peter Domican, Ian Kilbride, John Tiernan, Karol Mannon, Gearoid Cunniffe, Cathal McHugh, Darren Dolan, Conor McHugh, Senan Kilbride and Frankie Dolan. Subs: Damien Kellegher for Nestor (16); Eoin Sheehy for Conor McHugh (55). Padraig Pearses: Tomas Dolan, Denis Whyte, John Connell, John Whyte, Gerry Kelly, Paul Kelly, Paul Duke, Niall Finneran, Eamon Donoghue, David Moran, Niall Daly, Aaron Fehilly, Sean Fahy, Michael Duignan and Paul Moran. Subs: Padraig Corbett for Gerry Kelly (32); Sean Ryan for Duke (39); Aidan Fallon for Donoghue (42); Emmet Kelly for David Moran (51). Referee Michael Brennan (Boyle)