Brigid's and Pearses must meet again as replay details are confirmed
Pádraig Pearses 1-15 St Brigid's 1-15
The battle of the last two Roscommon senior football champions ended level yesterday (Sunday), as Brian Stack kicked a late equaliser for St Brigid's to prevent Pádraig Pearses from retaining the Fahey Cup.
The two sides will return to King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park next Saturday, November 1 for an eagerly awaited Roscommon SFC final replay (throw-in 2.30pm).
Pádraig Pearses will surely harbour more regrets about the outcome yesterday as they missed a couple of great chances to go two points ahead near the end. They also had another chance after Stack's equaliser but Paul Carey was off target with a last-gasp free.
Aided by the strong wind, St Brigid's made a sensational start and built a 0-8 to 0-1 lead in the opening quarter. Pearses responded and though they were still six points adrift at half-time (0-12 to 0-6), they would have the elements in their favour for the second half.
A black card for St Brigid’s captain Paul McGrath, arising from an incident after the half-time whistle, gave Pearses numerical advantage for the first ten minutes of the second period. The 2024 champions made hay during this spell, cutting the deficit to the minimum.
But superb play from the always threatening Ben O'Carroll set up Robbie Dolan for a goal which put the Kiltoom outfit four ahead, meaning Pearses had to dig deep again.
The Woodmount based men responded and were boosted by Adam McGreal's goal, with Declan Kenny putting them ahead as the game entered stoppage time. But the characteristically influential Stack earned Brigid's another bite at the cherry after the 2023 champions showed composure under pressure to create the chance.
Scorers - Pádraig Pearses: C Ryan 0-4 (1tp, 1tpf); A McGreal 1-0; D Kenny 0-3 (1tp); E Colleran and R Daly (tp) 0-2 each; S Canning, C Keogh, J Tumulty and P Carey (f) 0-1 each. St Brigid’s: B O’Carroll 0-4 (4f); R Dolan 1-0; B Nugent, B Derwin, R Fallon (tp), E Nolan (tp) 0-2 each; E Derwin, S Cunnane and B Stack 0-1 each.
St Brigid’s - Conor Carroll; Ruairí Smith, Seán Trundle, Robbie Dolan; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Brian Stack, Eoghan Derwin; Shane Cunnane, Eddie Nolan; Paul McGrath, Ciarán Sugrue, Conor Hand; Ben O’Carroll, Bobby Nugent, Brian Derwin. Subs: Mark Daly for Nolan (52 mins), Niall McInerney for E Derwin (58), Senan Kilbride for Nugent (60), Charlie O’Carroll for B Derwin (60).
Pádraig Pearses - Paul Whelan; David Murray, Conor Lohan, Mark Richardson; Declan Kenny, Caelim Keogh, Adam McGreal; Conor Ryan, Ronan Daly; Lorcán Daly, Seán Canning, Jack Tumulty; Hubert Darcy, Paul Carey, Eoin Colleran. Subs: Conor Harley for L Daly (28 mins), Niall Daly for Richardson (39-44, temp), Niall Daly for McGreal (58), Jack Nevin for Tumulty (60).
Referee - Jimmy Donoghue (Tulsk Lord Edwards).