Brigid’s ladies hold on for victory as Connacht final awaits

St Brigid's 3-7 Glencar Manor 1-12

A wind-aided second-half surge by St Brigid's saw them emerge with a minimum margin win over a battling Glencar Manorhamilton outfit in last Saturday's exciting Connacht LGFA senior football semi-final at Boggaun.

St Brigid's will now face All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway in the Connacht final on Sunday at O'Rourke Park, Castlerea (1pm).

Glencar Manor enjoyed an interval advantage after slightly edging the first-half proceedings. Following the restart, St Brigid's upped their game and opened up the Glencar Manor defence by quickly moving the ball downfield to their highly mobile full-forward line of Marian Nolan, Aine O'Brien and Sarah O'Rourke.

The decisive factors that changed the game in St Brigid's favour in the second half were the goals scored by Áine O'Brien (two) and Sarah O'Rourke during a 16-minute spell when the Roscommon champions unhinged the Glencar Manor's defence.

In the closing minutes, the Leitrim outfit produced a herculean bid to force extra-time when they cut Brigid's lead from four points to a single score. Perhaps Glencar Manor were slightly leg weary for this game since they had just four days to recover after defeating Sligo's Eoghan Rua in the Connacht quarter-final the previous Monday.

After both sides missed scoring chances in the opening minutes, former Athlone Town player Muireann Devaney edged Glencar Manor in front with a fourth-minute free following a foul on Leah Fox who was bearing down on goal.

St Brigid's equalised three minutes later when Sarah O'Rourke split the Glencar Manor uprights. Shortly afterwards, Aine O'Brien was denied a goal from close range by alert defending from the Glencar Manor rearguard and goalkeeper, Niamh Loughlin.

Leah Fox split the posts on eight minutes to put Glencar Manor noses in front again. But it was level once more within the space of a couple of minutes after Kate Nolan tapped over a free, punishing a foul on Aine O'Brien.

Glencar Manor grabbed the lead again at the end of the first quarter thanks to Muireann Devaney converting a free. Four minutes later, Aoife Gilmartin increased Glencar Manor's lead when she finished off a good move.

A super save by St Brigid's goalkeeper Caoimhe O'Reilly denied a Vanessa Fox goal-bound effort from close range (22nd minute). But Glencar Manor increased their advantage to three points courtesy of Devaney.

The Kiltoom side put a good move together which Alison Nugent finished off with a well taken point (27th minute). Three minutes later, Nugent won a free which Kate Nolan tapped over to leave just a point between the sides.

As half-time approached, Devaney put Vanessa Fox through to rifle home a goal that gave Glencar Manor 1-5 to 0-5 half-time lead.

Shortly after the restart, St Brigid's goalkeeper Caoimhe O'Reilly pulled off a top drawer save to prevent a Roisin Rooney shot from entering the Roscommon side's net. Three minutes later, unmarked Brigid's corner forward Sarah O'Rourke was on hand to finish to the net after a high ball sent in by Kate Nolan came off the hands of the home side's goalkeeper.

A foul on livewire full-forward Aine O'Brien was punished by Kate Nolan who duly tapped over the resultant free to level matters. Two minutes later, Devaney briefly restored Glencar Manor's lead after she converted a free.

Within the space of another minute, Brigid's took the lead for the first time when Aine O'Brien beat her marker Hannah Johnston and rifled her shot to the Glencar Manor net from close range.

The Leitrim side responded well, levelling matters by the end of the third quarter thanks to a brace of points from Devaney (one free). The same player put Glencar Manor back in front with her third point on the trot.

Yet Glencar’s lead was wiped out when Aine O'Brien fired home Brigid's third goal (51st minute) to put her side on the road to victory. They increased their advantage to four points after scores from Nugent and Lucy Sheffield.

Glencar Manor staged a spirited final rally in the dying minutes of the contest in a brave bid to force extra-time. During this spell Brigid's were reduced to 14 players with the 'sin-binning' of Aoibhe Lennon. Devaney converted three Glencar Manor frees in succession and a fourth Devaney free dropped short into the of Brigid's goalkeeper O'Reilly.

When the final whistle sounded, the Roscommon side was relieved to win by the skin of their teeth in what was a backs-to-the-wall situation at the end as they fought like tigresses to deny a late Glencar Manor goal chance.

Player of the match: Abby Curran and Kate Nolan were impressive performers for St Brigid's, while Muireann Devaney and Emma McLaughlin stood out for Glencar Manor. However, it was the performance of Aine O'Brien that clinched victory for Brigid's.

Turning point: Aine O'Brien's 51st-minute goal proved to be the score that finally turned the tide in St Brigid's favour.

Scorers - St Brigid's: A O'Brien 2-0; S O'Rourke 1-1; K Nolan 0-3 (3f); A Nugent 0-2; L Sheffield 0-1. Glencar Manor: M Devaney 0-10 (7f); V Fox 1-0; L Fox & Aoife Gilmartin 0-1 each.

St Brigid's - Caoimhe O'Reilly; Shauna Francis, Aine McGrath, Aoife Minnock; Ciara Walsh, Ria Lennon, Aoibhe Lennon; Abby Curran, Kate Nolan; Claire Grehan, Alison Nugent, Sally O'Hara; Marian Nolan, Aine O'Brien, Sarah O'Rourke. Subs: Lucy Sheffield for Minnock (48); Keeley Sammon for Walsh (59).

Glencar Manorhamilton - Niamh Loughlin; Annette Foley, Hannah Johnston, Denise Stenson; Mellissa Hewitt, Emma McLoughlin, Lauren Devaney; Dearbhla Rooney, Anna Devaney; Rebecca Rooney, Leah Fox, Aoife Gilmartin; Roisin Rooney, Muireann Devaney, Nessa Fox. Subs: Sarah Mulvaney Kelly for Stenson (48); Chloe Rooney for R Rooney (52).

Referee - Gerard Canny (Mayo).