AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-Final
Salthill/Knocknacarra (Galway) 0-08 St. Brigid’s (Roscommon) 0-15
St Brigids eased past the challenge of the Galway champions Salthill/Knocknacarra to qualify for another Connacht club senior football final after this competitive semi-final played at Pearse Stadium last Sunday.
Apart from the first ten minutes, and a short period in the third quarter, Brigids controlled the game and they are improving as they get further in this competition. They displayed superb intensity throughout on Sunday and their tackling and back-up play was top class throughout.
Senan Kilbride, Karol Mannion and Frankie Dolan were again very
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AIB Connacht Club SFC Semi-Final
Salthill/Knocknacarra (Galway) 0-08 St. Brigid’s (Roscommon) 0-15
St Brigids eased past the challenge of the Galway champions Salthill/Knocknacarra to qualify for another Connacht club senior football final after this competitive semi-final played at Pearse Stadium last Sunday.
Apart from the first ten minutes, and a short period in the third quarter, Brigids controlled the game and they are improving as they get further in this competition. They displayed superb intensity throughout on Sunday and their tackling and back-up play was top class throughout.
Senan Kilbride, Karol Mannion and Frankie Dolan were again very prominent for Brigids but players like Darragh Donnelly, Ronan Stack, Damien Kelleher and Niall Grehan – among others – are lads who don’t get nearly enough recognition and they are the foot-soldiers that are driving Brigids on as they aim for a third Connacht senior title in a row.
This excellent win sets up a mouth-watering clash against Mayo champions Ballaghaderreen on Sunday week and that unique final will be much anticipated. However in this game Brigids comfortably dealt with any threat that was offered by what was a very disappointing Galway team.
Salthill lined out without former Roscommon player Gary Cox, who suffered a back injury last week, and they lost one of their most prominent attackers, Seamie Crowe, after only seven minutes with an ankle injury, however it is doubtful if that would have had any effect on the final result as Brigids were in control for much of the proceedings.
It’s very interesting to report that the game was played in almost calm conditions, which is very unusual for games in Pearse Stadium at any time of the year.
The first ten minutes were well contested and the sides shared six points in that period. Senan Kilbride opened the scoring with a 40 metre free in the 1st minute but Thomas Burke levelled the scores with a fine 30 metre point from play two minutes later.
Sean Armstrong put the home side into the lead with a point from play in the 6th minute but the impressive Darragh Donnelly levelled again inside a minute with a lovely point on the run. Then Garvan Dolan fired over another Brigids point from play in the 8th minute, and in the 10th minute Eoin O’Mahony’s pointed free saw the sides tied at 0-3 each.
Brigids took over after that. Karol Mannion and Ian Kilbride were getting a grip at midfield and the Kiltoom men were tackling hard all over the field and allowing the Salthill players no space at all.
Senan Kilbride kicked a 30 metre free in the 11th minute and five minutes later Frankie Dolan was on target with a 25 metre free, and then when Frankie kicked another 25 metre free over less than a minute later it was double scores, 0-6 to 0-3.
In the 20th minute Senan Kilbride kicked another free for Brigids from 20 metres and when the same player kicked a brilliant 40 metre free in the 22nd minute, Brigids were pulling away. The only reply that Salthill had came in the 28th minute when Sean Armstrong pointed a 40 metre free. It wasn’t spectacular football, but Brigids were well in control at half-time: St Brigids 0-8 Salthill 0-4.
Brigids blitzed Salthill on the re-start and effectively won the game in the opening nine minutes of the second half. Salthill were lucky to escape in the 33rd minute when Eoin Sheehy’s goal-bound shot was well saved by a combination of Finian Hanley and Cormac Connolly. But Brigids were soon on the attack again and were forcing the Salthill defence into the concession of frees.
Senan Kilbride emerged from a ruck of players to kick a mighty point from play in the 37th minute and less than a minute later Frankie Dolan was on target with another free. Then the very lively Damien Kelleher raced forward to drive over another fine score and Brigids were now leading by 0-11 to 0-4 with 39 minutes gone.
There was a brief resurgence from Salthill, which lasted about six minutes. It was inspired by their best performer by some distance, Sean Armstrong, who tried his best to revive their chances.
In the 42nd minute he kicked a super free from 40 metres and less than a minute later he kicked a lovely point from 25 metres out, close to the sideline, and when he kicked another superb free over from 30 metres in the 44th minute, the gap was down to four.
But Brigids steadied the ship and closed out the victory after that brief rocky spell. In the 48th minute Frankie Dolan nailed a super free from the 45 metre line and two minutes later Niall Grehan powered forward to score a classy point to re-establish a six-point lead.
The game petered out after that, with Brigids in control. Frankie Dolan kicked another free on run in the 57th minute to extend the Brigids lead even further and the sides traded points in injury-time with David Tierney pointing for Salthill and Frankie Dolan scoring another free for Brigids.
There is simply no substitute for experience at this level and Brigids are showing their worth in that department more and more as this championship is going on. I am sure that there are plenty of things that Kevin McStay and his back-room team will be working on before the final against Ballaghaderreen but it will take a very good side to stop Brigids winning their third Connacht senior club title in a row on Sunday week.
St Brigids: Shane Curran; Ronan Stack, Peter Domican, Johnny Murray; Damien Kelleher (0-1), Darragh Donnelly (0-1), Niall Grehan (0-1); Karol Mannion, Ian Kilbride; Gearoid Cunniffe, Garvan Dolan (0-1), Eoin Sheehy; Senan Kilbride (0-5, 3 frees), Frankie Dolan (0-6, 5 frees,1 ’45), Richie Blaine. Subs: Darragh Sheehy for G Dolan, Darren Dolan for Blaine, Cathal McHugh for E Sheehy, Conor McHugh for Cunniffe.
Salthill/Knocknacarra: Cormac Connolly; Cian Begley, Finian Hanley, Kevin Conlon; Conor Halloran, Gearoid Canavan, Derek O’Flaherty; David Tierney (0-1), John Boylan; Brian Conlon, Sean Armstrong (0-5, 3 frees), Alan Kerin; Seamie Crowe, Conor Healy, Thomas Burke (0-1). Subs: Eoin O’Mahony (0-1) for Crowe, Sean Gavin for O’Mahony, Ronan Conlon for Kerins, Brian Malone for O’Flaherty, Gearoid O’Ledhinn for Conlon.
Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo).
Match People
Man of the Match:
Damien Kelleher (St Brigids)
Brigids showed marvellous intensity and a hard work ethic all through in what was a real team effort. Senan Kilbride and Frankie Dolan took the scoring honours again but there were excellent displays all over the field. Ronan Stack, Darragh Donnelly and Niall Grehan were very effective in defence and Donnelly is probably Brigids’ most consistent player this year. Karol Mannion and Ian Kilbride were on top at midfield after the first ten minutes and up front Senan and Frankie did the business when required. Salthill were a disappointment on the day. By far their best player was Sean Armstrong but he had little real assistance. Kelleher worked ever so hard from the very first whistle and he broke forward for an excellent point in the second half.
Outside The Wire
There was a crowd of about 1,500 people and the St Brigids supporters outnumbered the home contingent by at least two to one. The game was played on an overcast, dry and calm day and the Pearse Stadium pitch was in good condition. The atmosphere was muted for most of the match though as Brigids were well in control. Brigids received a super reception from their supporters after the final whistle.
The Man in The Middle
It was an easy game to referee and Michael Duffy did a good job overall. There were a number of needless yellow cards handed out but that is the norm now in almost every major game. Overall though a competent refereeing display and there was no controversy.
The Way We See It
It was a very workmanlike and impressive display from Brigids, who are a battle-hardened outfit at this stage and a very hard side to beat. They have now set up a novel Connacht final against Ballaghaderreen on Sunday week and with a Roscommon man manager of Ballagh’ and a Mayo man in charge of Brigids it will add even more spice to the build-up!
Roscommon People
Issue: 16th November 2012
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