Brigid’s can edge it as Pearses lie in wait again

Roscommon SFC final preview: St Brigid's v Padraig Pearses

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Pearses will hope for a shootout at the death to dethrone a St Brigid's team that likes to control the play. That is the simplest summation we can come up with heading into Sunday's Roscommon SFC final at Dr Hyde Park (2pm).

If St Brigid's manage to control proceedings, the champions will retain their title. If Pearses can drag it into chaos and a late shootout, the trophy could be going to Woodmount on Sunday evening.

This final is very hard to call as both sides have aspirations and the capabilities of not only winning the Fahey Cup, but contesting for the Andy Merrigan Cup also.

Pearses’ efficiency will have to continue if they are to win. They had just three wides in their last two games, both of which went to extra-time, and that is an incredible return at any level. If Brigid's allow them into a shootout and Pearses are again as efficient as in previous games, the Fahey Cup will be going to Woodmount. But that is a big if against a Brigid's side that is built to stop teams doing exactly that.

These two clubs have met in six county finals. The first was the year Pearses were first founded in 1963, they met in the Covid final of 2020, they also met last year in a final that went to a replay. St Brigid's have won all six finals. That is the monkey on Pearses' back now, gone is the overall county final monkey.

Pearses have beaten Brigid's in a number of championship games, including knockout games like quarter-finals, but the Woodmount outfit has yet to beat the Kiltoom side in a senior championship final. Six finals, six defeats. History says St Brigid knows how to get it done when it matters most.

This Brigid's team also has plenty of experience on an even bigger stage. St Brigid's have played in two All-Ireland club finals in the last three years. This makes them not only one of the strongest club sides in the country but the most consistent.

They will be trying to plan a journey back to Croke Park and win the Andy Merrigan Cup, but the Mayo duo of Damien Mulligan and Peadar Gardiner along with the highly successful and experienced Moate man John Murray will know that, in the year sandwiched between both those narrow All-Ireland final losses, they didn't get out of Roscommon and the winner was, Pearses.

That 2024 season will be fresh in their minds. Some might say they will hope to keep something in reserve for a possible All-Ireland campaign, but Brigid's cannot afford to play at 80 per cent if they want to beat Pearses.

Tactically, this final is fascinating. Pearses will hope to be patient in possession, slowing the play up, kicking the ball from flank to flank, to spread the St Brigid's defence and once they get space, they'll up the pace and try to kick scores. They will also be hoping their exceptional efficiency continues and they have two-point shooters in abundance - Eoin Colleran, Declan Kenny, Ronan Daly, Hubert Darcy, Tom Butler and Paul Carey.

Brigid's like to get the ball inside quicker than Pearses and into very high percentage areas to kick scores. They'll hope to control the game heading into the last quarter and play on their terms. Brigid's will look to get a good start, be more physical, especially around the midfield area, and kick the ball inside, instead of slowly building attacks. They will hope to get at least 30 minutes out of the returning Eddie Nolan, and will look to Paul McGrath, so often a key player for breaks.

The kickout battle

St Brigid's will need to push up and force Pearses to go long with kickouts. Niall Murray’s charges have two main outlets from kickouts: Dave Murray short and Declan Kenny or Tom Butler long down the right flank. If Brigid's can cut off Murray short, they then force Pearses into going long and a contest they won’t want.

Pearses are without Roscommon midfielder Conor Ryan and given the Kiltoom team’s size and strength in that middle sector, in the form of players like Mark Daly, Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnane and Brian Stack, Pearses could struggle for possession. No matter how efficient or good a team are in with the ball, they need possession to do damage.

Conor Carroll's long kickouts are a weapon in themselves; if Pearses press high, Brigid's can go over the top and they have the forwards to punish any team in Ireland on the break.

Pearses will want to do the opposite to Brigid's. They will want to get off short kickouts, especially to Dave Murray, or fast counter-attack kicks from Paul Whelan to Declan Kenny and attack Brigid's with pace and directness. That's when they're at their best. They will not want contests in the midfield area. A battle around the middle could suit Brigid's, but Pearses will want to bypass it entirely.

Pace will be huge in this game, this is where Pearses will look to turn the tables. Pearses have at least one speed merchant in every line of the field. They will still want to be patient, it's what they know, but once they can create the space, they will look to take advantage. They will want the game to be chaotic as they just won't get enough primary possession to control a game against Brigid's.

And then there is the shootout scenario. Pearses will probably hope the game goes down to the wire, with both teams needing a two-pointer to see it out. Although the Woodmount side missed their two-point opportunity to win the drawn final last year, Pearses have an abundance of two-point shooters who are capable of raising orange flags under pressure. That is Pearses' path to victory. Keep it tight, keep their wides low like they have done thus far and back their two-point shooters in the last five minutes. St Brigid's are more controlled, more one-point focused, more about building and retaining. If it becomes a straight shootout from outside the arc, Pearses have the edge.

The key match-ups

Mark Richardson will pick up Ben O'Carroll, that should be a given. But who they designate to pick up Conor Hand could be the deciding factor; they will probably assign Caelim Keogh for that job. That would leave Ronan Daly to play on the right flank where he can be like an extra attacker. He could keep one of St Brigid's marquee forwards, Bobby Nugent, on the back foot. If Daly can get forward, Pearses have an extra dimension in attack.

At the other end, will St Brigid's management assign their best man-marker Brian Stack onto one of Pearses' marquee forwards? Or leave their talisman at the core of their defence to drive his team forward? That's a big call for their management team.

They are likely to assign Pearse Frost onto Jack Tumulty, while Paul Carey will probably find himself tagged by Ruairi Smith with Michael Sugrue on Eoin Colleran, who he knows well from underage battles. Stack's positioning and who is chosen for the various individual battles will tell us how Brigid's plan to stop Pearses' shooters.

Pearses have conceded seven goals in this championship and are conceding much bigger scores than Brigid’s. The Kiltoom side seem to be more consistent, both for and against but we have to remember, Pearses played in a much tougher group than St Brigid’s.

In a tight call, St Brigid’s are just about tipped to get it done and start another journey towards Croke Park. But don’t be surprised if it takes a replay like last year.