Late rally sees Dominic's down Brigid's in exciting finish

GEORGE BANNON SPORTS ROSCOMMON INTERMEDIATE FC GROUP A ST. DOMINIC'S 0-13 ST. BRIGID'S 1-8 A LATE, late comeback at Knockcroghery last Saturday evening saw St. Dominic's keep their season alive by the skin of their teeth. Three minutes into injury time, the home side were staring down the barrel of a relegation battle while St. Brigid's second team were on course for a quarter-final spot. In what had been a tight game, a 55th-minute Joey Cunniffe penalty, soon followed by his fifth point of the evening, forged St. Brigid's into a three-point lead and, seemingly, safely into the quarter-finals of the intermediate championship. By the third minute of time added on, the three-point gap remained intact and even when Conor Fallon, St. Dominic's top performer on the day, landed two in quick succession to bring it back to one, it appeared little more than consolation considering the draw wouldn't have been enough. But suddenly, all the momentum sat with St. Dominic's and with no sign of the final whistle, they went in search of what, minutes ago, looked an unlikely win. In the fifth added minute, Fallon equalised before a Paul Dolan free handed the home side the lead. There was still time for target man Aidan Fallon to add another and although he should have goaled, it didn't matter as time was up and Dominic's had snatched the win they needed. Knowing only a win would do, Dom's started Saturday's game with purpose and were two points to the good after 11 minutes through points from Ultan Kelly and a Fallon free. The lively Joey Cunniffe got Brigid's off the mark on 14 minutes and although Paul Dolan restored the two-point lead soon after, by the 22nd, Brigid's had grabbed the initiative for the first time with two more from Cunniffe and a first of the day from the busy Dermot O'Connor. Fallon equalised for Dom's but points from Eddie Egan and another from Cunniffe, gave Brigid's a two-point half-time lead. The game could and should have been out of sight just two minutes into the second 30 when a foul on Johnny Grehan saw referee Aaron Clogher award St. Brigid's their first penalty of the evening. Dermot O'Connor stepped up confidently but his poorly-struck effort was easily caught by 'keeper Mark Miley. That seemed to spark St. Dominic's, and Conor Fallon in particular, into action. Three quick points from play from the in-form corner-forward handed the lead back to the home side by the 40th minute and as the final ten minutes rolled around, that lead remained intact. Cunniffe's penalty appeared to have turned the tie in St. Brigid's favour. But that late Dominic's rally edged them into third place in the group and a playoff with Tulsk Lord Edwards this weekend to see who gets to the quarter-finals. Even the loss looked like it would have done for Brigid's as Clann na nGael were being soundly beaten by St. Michael's in the other group game in Cootehall. But in an indication of just how tight the margins were in the group, a late and unexpected revival from Clann in that game, including a spectacular David Henry goal with the last kick of the game snatched a draw which edged Clann into the quarter-finals and St. Brigid's to an unlikely relegation playoff. SCORERS - St. Dominic's: Conor Fallon (0-9, (3f), Paul Dolan (0-2, 2f), Ultan Kelly (0-1), Aidan Fallon (0-1). St. Brigid's: Joey Cunniffe (1-5, 2f), Dermot O'Connor (0-2), Eddie Egan (0-1f). St. Dominic's: Mark Miley; Andy Grady, David Corcoran, James Miley; Paddy Fallon, Aidan Weir, Tom Gately; Adrian Brennan, Declan Dowling; Paul Dolan, Mark Giblin, Robbie Beirne; Conor Fallon, Anthony Naughton, Ultan Kelly. Subs used: Trevor Brennan for Beirne (21 mins), Aidan Fallon for Naughton (23 mins), Kieran Shaw for Corcoran (51 mins), Michael Finneran for J. Miley (56 mins), Colin Farrell for N. Naughton (60 mins). St. Brigid's: Philip Martin; Paul Furey, Jason Kelly, Peadar Kelly; Eoin Mannion, Mark Grehan, Ian Monaghan; Basil Mannion, Brian Dolan; Gerry Dunning, Eddie Egan, Johnny Grehan; Niall McInerney, Dermot O'Connor, Joey Cunniffe. Subs used: Adrian Gleeson for M. Grehan (36 mins), Cian McDonnell for Dunning (51 mins), Kieran Kilkenny for J. Grehan (56 mins). Referee: A. Clogher Wides: St. Dominic's - 6; St. Brigid's B - 8 Yellow Cards: St. Dominic's - none; St. Brigid's 3 - B. Dolan (15 mins), B. Mannion (44 mins), D. O'Connor (60 mins). Player of the Match: Conor Fallon (St. Dominic's) The St. Dominic's corner-forward showed real leadership for his side, particularly in the second half when he single-handedly brought Dominic's back from the brink. For the defeated St. Brigid's team, Joey Cunniffe was in top form.