Brigid's prepare to defend Connacht title on home soil

A bumper crowd of over 3,000 is predicted to be in attendance at Kiltoom on Sunday, when local outfit St Brigid's face up to Galway champions Corofin in the Connacht Club SFC final (throw-in: 2pm). Although the game will be screened 'live' on TG4, that's not expected to impact dramatically on the day's attendance - with St Brigid's GAA club chairman, Gerry McInerney, predicting a fantastic day at the south Roscommon venue. Speaking in the build-up to the game, Gerry said the fact that Kiltoom is deemed suitable for such a massive encounter is a tribute to the many people who work tirelessly at the club. "It's going to be a fantastic occasion for everyone connected with St Brigid's, and it's a huge honour for the club to host a Connacht club senior football final," said McInerney. "It's massive reward for the many people that so much into the pitch, and the rest of our facilities, over the years. We have a very hard-working and dedicated committee at St Brigid's, and the Park Committee of Tom Blaine, Pat Dennehy and Peter McHugh do a magnificent job. "Hopefully, the day will run very smoothly off the field of play, and we'll see a tremendous game of football on the pitch," added the chairman. One of the biggest ever attendances at the Kiltoom venue, in the region of 4,000, was for the Connacht U21 football final between Roscommon and Mayo in 2008. St Brigid's are not expecting to match that figure on Sunday, but have been advised to prepare for approximately 3,000 spectators. Weather conditions are likely to be a significant factor in the attendance. A repeat of the mild weather last Sunday would boost the crowd, but a wet day may deter neutral GAA fans around the Athlone region. Club officials are advising patrons to attend early at the venue, and on that note, the clubhouse will be open from lunch-time onwards. The club is also hopeful of securing extra car-parking facilities around the venue, but urged spectators to get to the venue as early as possible to avoid traffic congestion. St Brigid's are looking to record back to back Connacht championship titles, while Corofin have also been champions of the province in 2008 and 2009, and have five senior Connacht titles to their credit. The clubs met in the 2006 Connacht Club SFC final in Dr Hyde Park, when St Brigid's defeated the Galway outfit, and the vast majority of the crowd in Kiltoom this coming Sunday will be desperate for a repeat of that great day in St Brigid's recent history.