Fallon fully focused on St Brigid’s All-Ireland mission

When St Brigid’s won the Andy Merrigan Cup in 2013, current star Ruaidhrí Fallon played in an underage exhibition match at half-time during the All-Ireland final against Ballymun Kickhams.

“There was a big scatter of us that are still on the panel now, under-11s and under-12s that day that would have played. Similarly, in 2011, there was another big scatter of lads that would have played at half-time against Crossmaglen that day as well,” Fallon recalled, as St Brigid's prepare to face Dingle in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park tomorrow (throw-in 3.40pm).

“Going back to that day in 2013, I’ll never forget it anyway. I remember coming down to the club here afterwards and the place was absolutely hopping altogether,” he continued.

Fallon believes the success enjoyed by St Brigid’s back then “probably subconsciously” helped to infuse the younger generation with a “winning mentality”.

Ruaidhrí admited that the hurt of the All-Ireland final defeat to Glen two years ago has acted as a motivating force for the team. “Everyone on the panel and everyone that played that day remembers the final whistle against Glen and what it felt like, and we obviously don’t want to ever have to deal with that situation again. So it’s definitely something that’s driving us,” he said.

Fallon was among the leading performers for Brigid’s in the 2024 final but he says he “would have preferred to watch it in the stand if it meant the lads got over the line”.

“It’s all about a common goal, which I think is something special we have down here in the club. We’re very lucky with the panel of players that we have. We’ve 30 to 35 great men that come down training twice a week and are very diligent in the way they carry themselves in training and prepare for games.”

Fallon said the 2024 Roscommon SFC quarter-final defeat to Pádraig Pearses “stung almost as hard” as the All-Ireland final loss to Glen. And he doesn’t need to be reminded how close Pearses came to winning the 2025 Roscommon decider.

“They probably could have got over the line, if I’m being honest the first day against us in the county final; they had chances to close that game out,” he said, describing Pearses as “a superb team”.

Ruaidhrí’s uncle John Murray (a brother of his mother Emily) is the St Brigid’s assistant manager and the former Moate All Whites and Westmeath footballer is someone he has reached out to for advice over the years.

“He’s been a massive role model growing up the whole time, someone that I’d be able to give a buzz for a chat,” said Ruaidhrí.

“He would always come and support me in any sports, whether it was hurling or rugby or Gaelic football or whatever it was at the time. He’s a very very cool operator and a level head, and I think he has a great relationship with the players.

“He’s probably a kind of link man between players and the management team and he’s very good for meeting fellas and talking things out because there’s a lot of stuff maybe that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t see. You’re going to have lads that are a small bit disappointed and maybe upset that they’re not making teams and stuff like that. But he’s really integral in keeping the whole thing going and keeping a good relationship between players and management,” continued the University of Galway arts graduate.

Fallon also showed considerable prowess as an rugby player with Buccaneers and he joined up with Connacht for a spell.

“The whole rugby avenue was just a small bit of an opportunity that I had at the time that I definitely thought about a lot. Gaelic football would have been my first love for sure and I would have come from a Gaelic background and all that and would have only maybe started rugby when I was maybe starting secondary school (in the Marist College),” he said.

The rugby impact made by fellow locals Jack Carty (who starred for Brigid’s at underage level) and the Murray brothers (Niall and Darragh) from was not lost on Fallon.

“Jack’s younger brother Luke is doing very well in rugby also, he’s representing USA at the moment. Obviously the two Murray brothers from Brideswell, they would have played the whole way up. I would have played a lot with Darragh and the two of them are doing superb at the moment as well.

“I had seen what they’d done, so I didn’t mind throwing the kitchen sink at it; if it didn’t work, I would still obviously be extremely happy to come back and play Gaelic.

“The opportunity to give it a shot in the sub-academy in Connacht came up and I gave it a crack and nothing materialised with that. I just maybe wasn’t good enough to cut it and I have no regrets from making that decision and I definitely learned some things from it, from being involved with a semi-professional set-up for a while; there’s definitely some things you can bring through.

“I was delighted to be able to come back and obviously represent my club and my county at different stages which, if I’m being honest, probably means more to me now and to my family as well. But at the time I had to give it a shot.”

At the moment, Fallon’s full focus is on tying to help St Brigid’s lift the Andy Merrigan Cup on Sunday. And if they do so, no doubt the folk around Kiltoom, Curraghboy and Brideswell and surrounding areas will party like it’s 2013 all over again.

AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship final

Sunday, January 18: Croke Park (3.40pm), St Brigid's (Roscommon) v Dingle (Kerry), Martin McNally, extra-time if necessary.