Robbie Dolan of St Brigid’s in action during the Connacht championship clash versus Ballina Stephenites. The Roscommon and Connacht champions face Scotstown in this Sunday’sAll-Ireland semi-final. Photo: Paul Molloy.

Brigid’s bid to reach another final as Scotstown clash looms

Kieran Galvin

Published: Fri 2 Jan 2026, 7:57 AM

St Brigid’s will be bidding to reach the All-Ireland senior club final for the fourth time when they face Scotstown of Monaghan in this Sunday’s eagerly awaited semi-final showdown. Kingspan Breffni Park in Cavan is the venue for the All-Ireland semi-final with a throw-in time of 3pm.

In 2013, when the club finals were played on St Patrick’s Day, St Brigid’s famously won the Andy Merrigan Cup with Frankie Dolan scoring the winning point in the decider against Ballymun Kickhams.

The Kiltoom/Cam club also contested the All-Ireland finals of 2024 and 2011. It was Ulster opponents who defeated Brigid’s in both of those finals, with Crossmaglen Rangers proving too strong in 2011. But the agonising defeat to Glen of Derry in January 2024 came after Brigid’s had led for the vast majority of the contest, having played some splendid football in the process.

That narrow defeat is surely a driving force for Brigid’s as they aim to return to the club football showpiece and to go one better if they manage to get there.

When St Brigid’s defeated Maigh Cuilinn in the Connacht final on November 30, it was the Kiltoom club’s sixth provincial title. Only Corofin (ten) and neighbours Clann na nGael (seven) are ahead of them in the provincial roll of honour. Even though Maigh Cuilinn enjoyed more primary possession in that Connacht decider, Brigid’s showed the composure and footballing ability needed to eke out a victory.

Various St Brigid’s players have stepped forward at key moments during their successful Roscommon and Connacht campaigns. Accomplished defender and team captain Brian Stack scored the vital equaliser in the drawn Roscommon final against Pádraig Pearses. On other days, attacking ace Ben O’Carroll or the versatile Ruaidhrí Fallon have come to the fore. O’Carroll has plenty of capable support in attack from the likes of Conor Hand, Brian Derwin and Bobby Nugent, while the midfield pairing of Shane Cunnane and Eddie Nolan is strong with plenty of big match experience.

The bookmakers have installed Brigid’s as slight favourites to win Sunday’s semi-final. Considering how close they were to winning that aforementioned final against Glen and their overall pedigree, it’s understandable that many will expect the Kiltoom men to advance to another All-Ireland decider.

Yet there is plenty of pedigree in the Scotstown camp too. After all, they have won nine of the last eleven Monaghan senior titles, also contesting 13 finals in a row.

Despite their recent dominance in Monaghan, Scotstown have had to bide their time for a breakthrough in Ulster. Their Ulster final victory over Kilcoo on December 13 saw the Monaghan side claim their first provincial title since 1989. Scotstown have reached the All-Ireland final once before, losing out to Nemo Rangers in 1979.

With players such as Rory Beggan, the Hughes brothers (Darren and Kieran), Micheal McCarville, Ryan O’Toole, Conor McCarthy (who returned from injury in the county final) and Jack McCarron, there is plenty of quality in their squad. Beggan is surely the most complete goalkeeper in the country and he scored an incredible tally of 0-11 in the Ulster final.

Scotstown needed extra-time to overcome Inniskeen in the Monaghan final, and it was the same story in the Ulster semi-final (against Newbridge of Derry) and final, where David McCague’s charges finally edged out Kilcoo.

The choice of Breffni Park as the venue for the semi-final might be seen as an advantage to Scotstown. But considering that Brigid’s won their last two Connacht titles without having to step outside the familiar surroundings of Dr Hyde Park, they will probably see it as a ‘swings and roundabouts’ situation and take it in their stride. Indeed, Brigid’s manager Anthony Cunningham did not grumble when asked about the venue (see interview in this week's print edition).

The other All-Ireland semi-final is between Ballyboden St Enda’s of Dublin and Kerry champions Dingle (Daingean Uí Chúis), and it will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, (throw-in 3.15pm).

Both All-Ireland semi-finals will be televised live on TG4, with extra-time and ‘winner on the day’ applying if necessary. The referee for the St Brigid’s vs Scotstown game is Kildare’s Brendan Cawley.