McHugh leads the charge as Brigid's ladies crush Kilglass challenge

St Brigid's - inspired by Cliodhna McHugh (in particular) Aine O'Brien and Rebecca Joyce who between them scored 5-11 of their side's total - powered to their second successive Roscommon ladies senior football title last Saturday. Brigid's had 22 points to spare over Kilglass Gaels at Ballyleague, as they claimed their sixth title in seven years. These two clubs have crossed swords in the last three senior finals with the spoils shared. In 2009, Kilglass deprived the Kiltoom/Cam ladies of a fifth title in a row and St Brigid's exacted revenge last year. Thus, in many respects Saturday's final at the highly impressive Ballyleague complex (home to St Faithleach's) could be regarded as a tie-breaker between these two protagonists. The penultimate round wins for St Brigid's (9-14 to 0-7 over Castlerea St. Kevin's) and Gaels (3-18 to 1-2 over Padraig Pearses) indicated the scoring ability of the respective attacks, with the south county ladies (jointly managed by Patsy O'Connor and Mayo's Diane O'Hora) putting away an awesome nine major scores. Goals would again play a significant part against Kevin Burke and Kieran Gallogly's Kilglass charges as, with the final only three minutes old, full-forward Aine O'Brien drilled home goal number one for the reigning champions. A diagonal crossfield wind favoured Kilglass in the opening half, but the situation would get progressively worse for the Primrose and Blue, as three further first-half goals were registered by the Brigid's attack, courtesy of Cliodhna McHugh Aine O'Brien and Cliodhna again just on referee Paul Fahy's short whistle. Kilglass enjoyed a sizeable percentage of the play but lacked the firepower of the Brigid's attack who always looked the more potent. Inter-county minor star Natalie McHugh, sited at full-forward for the east county side, certainly gave of her all in initiating attacking moves, but she lacked the necessary support to break down a Brigid's defence in which few, if any, weaknesses were discernible. The Brigid's rearguard was led with aplomb by the outstanding Claire Grehan at wing-back, while team captain and goalie Sarah Finnerty was soundness personified between the posts. Brigid's had one hand on the cup when leading by 4-7 to 0-2 at half-time and while that same diagonal breeze favoured Kilglass on the resumption, the gulf was always too great to be bridged. The 2009 champions came more into the contest after the interval but were still out scored 1-6 to 0-4 in this spell as they succumbed to a heavy defeat, similar in many aspects to their reverse a year ago. Frequent and thundery showers thankfully stayed away for the senior final - Strokestown overcame Kilbride in the Intermediate decider by 2-11 to 2-8 and will ply their trade at Premier grade in 2012. The host club had everything in apple-pie order, with the county board having an attractive programme available and the Castlerea Brass Band in attendance. A sizeable attendance was present at the Shannonside venue and it was a formidable looking Brigid's outfit who struck all the right notes from the off. Taking over from where they left off in the semi-final, they went straight into attacking mode with Cliodhna McHugh pointing a free after two minutes. Kilglass were dealt a major blow when another Brigid's attack saw Aine O'Brien strike for the first goal a minute later. Kilglass tried hard to respond to the early big setback and their pressure was rewarded in the sixth minute, when Tianna Kelly made the road for team captain Nicola Tully to point (6th minute), but Cliodhna McHugh (8th-minute free) negatived this. A possible goal situation was averted by Brigid's defence, and it took good Kilglass resistance at the other end to ward off a wave of green and red pressure. Despite losing sterling defenders Chrissie O'Malley and Laura Harrison to injuries, the holders steadily proceeded to impose a stranglehold on proceedings as the second quarter progressed. A flurry of scores (3-5 in all) ensued with the only reply from Kilglass being a 24th minute pointed free by Tianna Kelly. Those three Brigid's goals were scored by Cliodhna McHugh (18th minute, after a pass from wing-back Claire Kelly); Aine O'Brien (25th-minute, after good approach work by midfielder Michelle Walsh and Cliodhna McHugh); and McHugh (31st minute, having combined with Aine O'Brien). During this spell of almost total ascendancy, points were also scored by Rebecca Joyce (free, 17th minute), Aine O'Brien (two), Jenny Conlon (26th minute) and Cliodhna McHugh (free, 29th minute). This blitzkrieg aptly illustrates the now nearly absolute power of the champions and, with barely a chink discernable in a rock-like rearguard, they went to the dressing-rooms 4-7 to 0-2 ahead. To be bluntly honest, it looked little more than a damage limitation exercise for Kilglass Gaels as they came out for the second half, despite the slight wind advantage. And while they had the opening score of the half when Nicola Tully pointed a free three minutes in, Rebecca Joyce struck for another Brigid's goal two minutes later. Kilglass, to their credit, responded strongly but Ellie Ann King (put through by Nicola Tully), saw her searing goalbound shot clip the crossbar and go over for only her team's second point from play to date. Brigid's scorer-in-chief Cliodhna McHugh added a further brace of points (one free) before Natalie McHugh replied with a point at the other end. As the clock signalled the final ten minutes and with the destination of the honours long since decided, Brigid's finished strongly. Four further points were flagged via the lively Jenny Conlon, Cliodhna McHugh (two, one free) and Rebecca Joyce (free) while, for Kilglass, a Nicola Tully free punished a foul on Natalie McHugh. And so, it's onwards to the Connacht Club campaign for the all-conquering St Brigid's ladies. They impressively sealed their status as county champions with a display of disciplined defending, imposing midfield power and free scoring attacking. Top notch displays were the order of the evening, with the brilliant Cliodhna McHugh leading the way. Player of the match: This award was deservedly won by Cliodhna McHugh. After the game the Championship Cup was presented to St. Brigid's team captain Sarah Finnerty, by County Board Chairman Sean " Muirí. ST BRIGID'S: Sarah Finnerty (capt), Aisling McHugh, Fiona Gavin, Chrissie O'Malley, Claire Kelly, Laura Harrison, Claire Grehan, Catherine Kilcommins, Michelle Walsh, Nicole Nestor, Rebecca Joyce (1-2, 0-2f), Jenny Conlon (0-2), Catherine Galvin, Aine O'Brien (2-2), Cliodhna McHugh (2-7, 0-5f). Subs: Aine Kelly for C O'Malley (inj. 16); Claire Shanagher for L Harrison (inj. 25); Grainne Cunniffe for N Nestor (37); Michelle Kelly for A McHugh (57). KILGLASS GAELS: Majella Cox, Siobhan Nugent, Emer Walshe, Laura Coyle, Emma Compton, Linda Corcoran, Rebecca Coyle, Louise Tully, Rachel Corcoran, Antoinette McCormack, Nicola Tully (capt, 0-3, 2f), Katie King, Tianna Kelly (0-1f), Natalie McHugh (0-1), Ellie Ann King (0-1). Subs: Rachel Coyle for Siobhan Nugent (h/t), Sinead Compton for Ellie Anne King (55). REFEREE: Paul Fahy (Strokestown).