Carr goal decisive as Brigid’s boys are crowned champions

St Brigid’s 2-7 Clann na nGael 2-4

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Eoin Carr's injury time goal saw St Brigid’s crowned Roscommon U14 Division 1 champions at Woodmount last Friday evening.

The better team in this local derby final from start to finish were St Brigid’s. They should have put the game to bed, long before they had to endure a tension packed final minutes. Brigid's were well coached and they used the full perimeter of the large Woodmount pitch. They did most things right, but their finishing let them down after some excellent build-up play.

Clann na nGael got off to the better start on the scoreboard. They had 1-1 on the board in the first seven minutes, Jacob Zalewski the goalscorer. The full-forward collected a long direct ball from Rhuon Sousa, before beating keeper Brian Rourke. Bobby Lenehan added a free after Sousa was fouled.

But Brigid’s were creating plenty of chances for themselves at the other end. Donnchadh O’Dwyer and Thomas Carberry kicked points to keep the Kiltoom side right in the contest. They could have added more scores, but they were struggling to find the target.

The scoring dried up midway through the second half as the contest became error ridden. Then both teams went on a scoring burst each. Scorers from Zalewski and Lenehan (free) extended Clann’s lead. But Brigid’s had the majority of possession and they were giving plenty of warning to their arch rivals; it was just a matter of when the accuracy would come for them.

The game was crying out for someone to be inventive and up stepped Dara O’Callaghan in the second quarter. The wing-forward manufactured and kicked three scores in succession.

O’Callaghan went on a run and was fouled, he tapped over the resultant free. Moments later, he was fouled for a penalty. Substitute Fionn Scally’s attempted effort for goal was blocked but the alert O’Callaghan was following up to get the rebound and the penalty. O’Callaghan dusted himself off before slotting the spot kick past Clann goalie Zac Mullally.

Then the nimble O’Callaghan was fouled again and he pointed to the free and Brigid’s were in front for the first time, 1-4 to 1-3 in the 31st minute. Carberry then added another for good measure and the Kiltoom team went in at half-time 1-5 to 1-3 in front.

After the turnover both sides seemed nervous and they both continually turned over possession. St Brigid’s did have two opportunities to score goals, with Carberry's shot skimming the side of the post and wide. Then O’Callaghan's goal bound attempt flew wide of the post.

Brigid’s then took over completely, possession wise. They attacked the Clann defence time and again but as passes went astray, the score stayed 1-5 to 1-3 going into the fourth quarter.

Carberry then extended Brigid’s lead with a point. Clann finally broke their scoring drought as Lenehan kicked a free. They were struggling but Brigid’s weren’t putting them away on the scoreboard.

The hard-working O’Dwyer added a score for Brigid’s and they had a three-point lead, 1-7 to 1-4 with the clock going red. Clann were kept in the game by Brigid’s wayward shooting and they tried to take advantage of it.

They dropped a few speculative balls on top of the Brigid's square, hoping one could lead to a goal. And Zalewski got his second goal when he finished to the net after a high ball around the square. The sides were all square with minutes of injury time left.

Extra-time was beckoning as Brigid’s looked like leaving the title behind them in normal time. But they were fearless and they went for the winning score. The excellent Eoin Carr, attacking from wing-back, cracked a shot to the back of the Clann net to secure a deserved win.

Clann relied almost totally on direct long balls from Sousa to Zalewski and although it did work a few times, and they scored two goals from that tactic, they lacked collective team play. Clann had just two scorers and just one player scored from play.

St Brigid’s looked a well coached side, they were the more skilful team and kept the game simple, passing to a teammate in space. Small things, but decisive in the outcome.

Player of the match: Dara O’Callaghan (St Brigid’s). O’Callaghan scored 1-2 when the game was in the melting pot and those scores set the platform for the win. Tadhg Fallon was also composed.

Scorers - St Brigid’s: D O’Callaghan 1-2 (1-0pen, 0-2f), E Carr 1-0, T Carberry 0-3, D O’Dwyer 0-2. Clann: J Zalewski 2-1, B Lenehan 0-3 (3f).

St Brigid’s: Brian Rourke; Daniel Higgins, Jamie Doyle, Jack Sammon; Peter Walsh, Tadhg Fallon, Eoin Carr; Ryan Hughes, Oisin Holohan; Donnchadh O’Dwyer, Cian Cahill, Dara O’Callaghan; Thomas Carberry, Joshua Coyne, James O’Brien. Subs: James Digan for Cahill (42), Hugh Loftus for Carberry (54), Jarlath Mulhern for Coyne (56).

Clann na nGael: Zac Mullally; Conor Kelly, Luke Dunning, Anthony Whyte; Murilo Oliveira, Eoin Lennon, Ryan Dunning; Aaron Martin, Bobby Lenehan; Gavin Costello, Rhuon Sousa, Jamie Brien; Luke Glennon, Jacob Zalewski, Thomas Jordan. Subs: Conor Naughton for Brien (43), Cillian Gavin for Glennon (44), Sebastian Cullen for Costello (53).

Referee: JJ Leonard.