Brigid’s claim second Connacht crown after McHugh goal forces extra time

“The darkest night often gives way to the brightest dawnâ€. How often have we heard this pearl of wisdom being uttered to describe a rags to riches fairytale, or a situation when impending loss is suddenly transformed into glorious success. The latter scenario aptly describes the sequence of events which unfolded in a dramatic denouement to a tough, if unspectacular, Connacht Club SFC final at Tuam Stadium on Sunday afternoon last. With Galway kingpins Killererin holding a 1-8 to 0-8 lead as the game entered the second minute of second-half injury time and looking likely to bridge a 32-year gap since taking the last of their two titles in this competition back in 1978/79, St. Brigid's struck in lethal fashion to salvage extra-time. Frankie Dolan delivered a probing centre to the edge of the square and in the twinkling of an eye, wing-forward Cathal McHugh fisted the ball to the Killererin net to force extra-time, and what would ultimately result in a hitherto unlikely 7-point winning margin for Noel O'Brien's Newpark heroes. Killererin's resistance crumbled like the last days of Pompeii in those additional 20 minutes of extra time, in which their Roscommon conquerors outscored them by 1-6 to 0-2 . And it was a truly delighted Niall Grehan who accepted the magnificent Shane McGettigan Cup from Connacht Council Chairman Paddy Naughton afterwards as Brigid's regained a trophy last held in 2006, also at the expense of Galway opposition, Corofin, at Dr. Hyde Park. It was truly the best possible early Christmas present for a great club who, once again, displayed an insatiable hunger for success and, despite looking down the barrel of defeat, found the combination to extricate themselves from the enveloping quick sand, subsequently roaring to glorious victory. Take a deserved bow St. Brigid's, county and Connacht champions, with even greater honours within your grasp come 2011. As we made our way to the ancestral home of Galway football at Tuam Stadium, the red and white colours of county champions Killererin festooned every vantage point from Barnaderg to the parish boundary en route. They had been waiting for this day since suffering a humiliating 8-point reverse (4-10 to 1-11) to Sunday's opponents in the Connacht semi-final at the same venue in November 2007. Victory over Mayo's Ballintubber, minus the services of the talismanic Padraic Joyce, had booked them a place against a Brigid's squad who saw off the earlier challenges of Eastern Harps (Sligo) and Glencar/Manorhamilton (Leitrim). The historic old ground was bathed in winter sunshine, but bitterly cold for the latest confrontation of Galway/Roscommon rivalry with an estimated 5,500 crowd present, including a huge Brigid's support. With Padraic Joyce back in his favourite No. 11 jersey and both teams lining out as selected, the stage was set for a potential thriller on a late November afternoon. Brigid's enjoyed the benefit of whatever breeze there was in the first half, but a Nicky Joyce pointed free had Killererin ahead inside the opening minute. It didn't take the Roscommon men long to get into their strike, however, with Frankie Dolan and his brother Garvan combining to create the opening for Conor McHugh to shoot the equaliser from play a minute later. Wing-back Gearoid Cunniffe edged the Kiltoom side in front (7th minute) with a lovely point on the run. Frankie was again in the engine room when making the road for a fine Senan Kilbride point from play, and the 'pocket rocket' then punished a foul on his brother Darren by pointing the resultant free. Fracas Thus, by the 11th minute, Brigid's had taken an 0-4 to 0-1 lead. But a Padraic Joyce effort from play signalled a Killererin revival. It was also the precursor for a stupid and unnecessary fracas after which both sets of protagonists were lucky to retain their full compliment of players. This bellicose outbreak also had the effect of destabilising St Brigid's impetus, something which was quickly seized upon by resilient opposition. Left half-back Tommy Fahy drove forward an attacking ball from which corner-forward Gerard Butler took full advantage, finding the net from close range to give his side a lead they would hold until second-half injury time. Exchanges would become fragmented, untidy and aimless for practically the extra second quarter which only produced two further scores. We had to wait 10 minutes for the next score - a Padraic Joyce pointed free. But a very worrying aspect, from a Brigid's point of view, was a series of untypical wides from the usually accurate boots of Senan Kilbride and Karol Mannion. Noel O'Brien's charges had seven wides by the interval with the less profligate Killererin having only three. But Brigid's finished the half on a positive note when Frankie Dolan turned provider for Karol Mannion to fist over his excellent centre and leave Brigid's just a point adrift (1-3 to 0-5) at referee Frank Flynn's short whistle. In what would later transpire as a master move, Noel O'Brien and his selectors introduced Damien Kelleher to the Brigid's attack at the interval. Killererin would, nonetheless, maintain relative control of this final but, crucially, could not translate this into a significant lead against Roscommon champions who had lost their way. After a promising opening quarter, Padraic Joyce and David O'Connor exchanged early second-half points. But, with player-manager Tommie Joyce cropping up all over the field and rallying his charges to greater effort, there followed more Killererin supremacy, manifested by further points courtesy of Micheál Boyle and a converted '45' by goalie Alan Keane, following a brilliant save by Brigid's goalie Philip Martin from Padraic Joyce. This gave the Galway champions a clear goal lead going into the last quarter, but Brigid's, thanks in the main to a stellar performance by midfielder Garvan Dolan, battled back to remain in contention. Karol Mannion placed Frankie Dolan for a smart point, with wing-forward Darren Dolan adding another. But a chance of an equaliser was fluffed by the green and reds before a couple of Killererin scores again left three points the margin as the clock ran down. Midfielder Tom Hughes earned a free pointed by Nicky Joyce and immediately placed Padraic Joyce for another point from play. They had a chance of an insurance point, but Nicky Joyce was wide just prior to that dramatic finish to normal time, when Cathal McHugh was the hero of his club by forcing extra-time with that stunning late goal. The old stand reverberated to the cheers of the delirious Brigid's support as we prepared for what extra-time would bring. Brigid's power on In what would ultimately prove a truly seismic recovery by St Brigid's, they moved on relentlessly towards regaining the Connacht crown. The Kiltoom/Cam men would literally torpedo tiring opponents out of the water in extra-time. Their defence, which had come in for some criticism following the Carrick encounter, returned to their brilliant best with another super-show from Ian Kilbride, augmented by a hyper effective full-back trio of Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly and team captain Niall Grehan. Peter Domican, though up against Galway star Padraic Joyce, showed his best form as the second half progressed while Gearoid Cunniffe, until injured, didn't put a foot wrong and held his direct opponents scoreless. Goalie Philip Martin was also back to his best form in a rearguard which obviously had their homework done in the second week since the semi-final. The first period of extra time produced 1-2 for Brigid's - points from Cathal McHugh and Frankie Dolan and a smashing goal from Senan Kilbride (following excellent work by Damien Kelleher). Killererin replied with a brace of points from Padraic Joyce and centre-back Daniel Mannion. Now a clear goal ahead, Brigid's superior fitness was very evident in the second half of extra-time. Four unanswered points, courtesy of Damien Kelleher, Darragh Donnelly, Garvan Dolan and Eoin Sheehy, brought their total to 2-14. It is a measure of their overall scoring power that this scoring total was completed by no less than 12 players. And so, victory was secured from the jaws of defeat. St Brigid's will enjoy the Christmas festivities before meeting the Munster champions in early 2011. SCORERS - St. Brigid's: S Kilbride 1-1, Cathal McHugh 1-1, F Dolan 0-3 (1f), Conor McHugh, G Cunniffe, D O'Connor, D Dolan, D Kelleher, D Donnelly, G Dolan, E Sheehy, K Mannion 0-1 each. Killererin: P Joyce 0-5 (1f), G Butler 1-0, N Joyce 0-2 (2f), M Boyle 0-1, A Keane 0-1 ('45'), D Mannion 0-1. ST BRIGID'S: Philip Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly, Niall Grehan (capt), Ian Kilbride, Peter Domican, Gearoid Cunniffe, Garvan Dolan, Karol Mannion, Cathal McHugh, Frankie Dolan, Darren Dolan, Conor McHugh, Senan Kilbride, David O'Connor. Subs: Damien Kelleher for Conor McHugh (h/t); Eoin Sheehy for O'Connor (47), David Nestor for Cunniffe (inj., 2nd period of e/t); Richard Blaine and Ger Ahern for D Dolan and F Dolan (double substitution - 2nd period of e/t). KILLERERIN: Alan Keane, Damien Flaherty, Colin Forde, Declan Kelly (capt), Ian Reddington, Daniel Mannion, Tommy Fahy, Tommie Joyce, Tom Hughes, Thomas Flynn, Padraic Joyce, Jonathan Keane, Micheál Boyce, Nicky Joyce, Gerard Butler. Subs: Tommie Wilson for Butler (45); James Hughes for Wilson (h/t, e/t). REFEREE: Frank Flynn (Leitrim).