Tough final to call but Brigid’s have an edge in key areas
By Eamon A. Donoghue
D-Day has arrived and what was the predicted county final pairing all along has come to fruition, with reigning 2024 winners Padraig Pearses playing 2023 champions St Brigid's, who were All-Ireland finalists of 2023-2024. It's a final everyone is looking forward to and struggling to forecast a winner.
These two teams appear to be playing within themselves in the lead up to this final (Sunday, Dr Hyde Park, 2pm), with both failing to top their groups. St Brigid’s had a shock loss to Michael Glaveys. Although this was the norm in the days of Brigid’s dominance in both Roscommon and Connacht - losing to a team that would be seen as a minnow in the early stages - losing was still a shock. That loss put them second in the group and into a quarter-final against Roscommon Gaels but just like the past Brigid’s teams, they responded when it counted with a comfortable win over the town side.
Neighbours Clann na nGael were the opposition in the semi-final and although St Brigid’s always looked in control in the game, the performance wouldn’t be good enough in this final. Perhaps they are holding something back, but they are not firing on all cylinders given the undoubted ability they possess.
This St Brigid’s team had looked ready made for the new rules, a kick passing side with pace but they haven’t adjusted to the new rules as well as some other teams. Yet they are one of the favourites to win the All-Ireland title (the Andy Merrigan Cup). If they do let off the shackles, their opponents could be in for a torrid day.
On the other hand, Pearses seem to love the new rules, especially the two-point arc. They have kicked scores from outside the arc in this championship for fun. They have players like Paul Carey, Declan Kenny, Hubert Darcy, Ronan Daly and Conor Ryan (off the ground from frees) that can float scores from around the 45m line. It’s a very effective tool to have in a team and something that could be the key for them on Sunday.
Pearses finished third in their group on scoring difference, with the early loss to St Faithleach's both a shock and a disappointment for the team. It was a different story in the semi-final against the Ballyleague side as they won comfortably. They were lucky to beat both Oran and Boyle, both in extra-time. They’ve mixed the good, the bad and the excellent in games and they’ll need to produce more of the latter and accuracy from outside the arc to beat Brigid’s.
Hurling roots of both managers
St Brigid’s lost to Pearses at the quarter-final stage last year and it encouraged the club to add to manager Anthony Cunningham’s backroom. Former Westmeath player John Murray and former Limerick coach Evan Talty have joined Cunningham this year and they will be hoping to go one better this year and win the title. Of course, Cunningham has won a number of county titles in both Roscommon (St Brigid’s) and Westmeath (Garrycastle), and provincial titles with both clubs as well as having a successful CV with both Galway hurlers and Roscommon footballers. If Brigid's can play similar to how they performed in their 2023/24 campaign, they will be hard beaten.
For Pearses, they have the same management team as last year. Their manager is Frank Canning, a Portumna native, brother of Galway hurling greats Ollie and Joe Canning. Frank actually managed Portumna to an All-Ireland club title in 2014. Part of Canning’s backroom are former players Niall Finneran and Cathal O’Sullivan. Their coach is DCU and present Laois coach Ross Munnelly. A long serving former Laois player, Munnelly has a huge reputation as a successful coach. Again a very experienced and capable backroom team that will need to be on their game on Sunday.
Crucial match-ups
Match-ups could decide this final. Can the Pearses defence hold the St Brigid’s forwards? It's a forward line, if they are playing freely, that is as good as be seen in any club team. Their main danger man is Ben O’Carroll. Who will pick up O’Carroll? It would seem that Mark Richardson is best equipped for that job. Former Roscommon player Richardson is back this year after an injury and some travelling. He did an excellent job on Diarmuid Murtagh in the semi-final and against Oran's Darragh Walsh in extra-time and his role could be crucial come Sunday.
Brian Derwin is another Brigid’s forward that will need man marking and that could fall to Caelim Keogh, who is gradually becoming Pearses’ most dependable defender. Bobby Nugent could get picked up by a former underage opponent in Conor Lohan. These match-ups will have a huge say in deciding where the Fahey Cup will be on Sunday evening.
At the other end of the field, Paul Carey, Jack Tumulty, Eoin Colleran and Hubert Darcy will need careful watching. Can Brigid’s afford to leave their best player Brian Stack free at number six in the hope that he can dictate the game? Will they be forced to move the former All Star nominee to the full back line and man mark? Sean Trundle could be given the role to mark Colleran. Ruairi Smith could be assigned to Carey and Robbie Dolan to Tumulty. Brigid’s will be hoping one of Pearses’ marquee forwards, like Darcy, could be at number 11 and end up spending his time following Brian Stack from the centre-back position.
Could Brigid’s move Ruaidhrí Fallon to wing-forward to play on Declan Kenny? Kenny is key to the Pearses rhythm with his ability to flick on or catch kickouts and then get forward and join the attack. Fallon could be the player capable of stepping across Kenny’s line, halting his possession from kickouts and forcing Kenny to forage for breaking ball and possession around the midfield sector. That potential match-up could decide the result.
Could Brigid's start former Roscommon defender Niall McInerney, especially with Pearce Frost out injured? McInerney has had success marking Pearses forwards in the past such as Carey.
St Brigid’s will try and get Brian Stack free into open space as often as possible. Stack is the best all round footballer in the county and he can dictate the game. The Kiltoom based side will also play forwards like Ben O’Carroll and Brian Derwin as close to the Pearses goal as possible. They are at their best when they kick the ball first time down the flanks and play off the cuff in attack.
Pearses will depend on getting back in as many numbers into the goalmouth to shut out the lethal Brigid’s inside forwards. Something they are excellent at, led by centre-back David Murray. They will look to launch counter attacks as much as possible and indeed both sides are very effective on the counter. Pearses also have pace in abundance and they’ll look to use that pace on counter attacks.
They could use Niall Daly from the bench. Daly's introduction could slow down the Pearses' play, they will need to mix the more direct play that suits the younger players with more conservative play that suited Pearses teams for the last decade.
With the new rules, midfield has again become the most crucial area of the field. St Brigid’s have Eddie Nolan and Shane Cunnane, both of whom have played midfield for Roscommon. They will come up against Conor Ryan and maybe Ronan Daly. That's where Pearses could have the most issues in trying to give Ryan some help, particularly in the air. Pearses’ only other aerial strength is wing-back Declan Kenny. If Kenny is snuffed out on Pearses kickouts to the wing, the Woodmount side could struggle to gain parity in the key midfield area.
Prediction
St Brigid's seem to struggle to kic two-pointers; Conor Hand from frees could be their best option from distance. They don't seem to have many other weaknesses. Overall, it looks like it could be a very close affair. To pick a winner, because they have the better attack, better midfield and better goalkeeper, it would have to be St Brigid’s.