After a 23-year barren spell, St Vincent's have finally won the Dublin Senior Football title, with a dramatic 0-12 to 1-07 victory on Monday night.
Three minutes into injury time, Vins keeper Michael Savage was forced into making a dramatic save from inter-county star Kevin Bonner, a save that will never be forgotten in Marino.
It was a tense encounter, with poor quality football throughout. However, the lack of free-flowing football was compensated by two very resolute and hard working sides, who seemed to cancel each other out with a blanket defence strategy.
After Mossie Quinn pointed from an early free, Brigid’s responded in style with Paddy Andrews netting on three minutes.
The Blanchardstown side failed to build on their lead and it was Vinnies who began to play with fluency. Points from Diarmuid Connolly, Neal Billings and Quinn’s reliable right boot meant that Vincent’s led at the break 0-7 to 1-3.
Rory Gallagher drew Brigid's level only 25 seconds into the second half but a Quinn free after Connolly was fouled put Vinnies back in the ascendancy.
Declan Lally pointed from way out to bring the sides level yet again, but Connolly carved an opening for himself and calmly slotted over moments later following good work from the lively Brian Maloney.
Vincent’s midfield and half forward line began to completely dominate around the middle, with Tiernan Diamond winning numerous breaking ball, along with the excellent Kevin Golden who won valuable possession in a crowded midfield.
Maloney and Golden pointed to put Vincent’s 0-11 to 1-5 up in the final quarter.
A Rory Gallagher free bridged the gap but once again Vins responded with conviction. Diamond picked out his captain Quinn and the Dubs star made no mistake, curling over to put his side three clear with the match all but over.
Brigid’s sub Johnny Noonan hit a superb point in added time that led to a frantic final minute.
They threw everything at Vincent’s, and when the ball broke to Kevin Bonner from 12 yards, he unleashed a spectacular effort that was curling beautifully into the corner.
Michael Savage dived to his left and somehow managed to prevent the ball from crossing the line. The ball was booted clear and the referee brought the game and St. Vincent’s championship drought to an end.
Scorer's - St Vincent's: T Quinn 0-4 (0-3f), D Connolly 0-3 (0-1f), K Golden, B Maloney 0-2 each, N Billings 0-1. St Brigid's: Paddy Andrews 1-1, R Gallagher 0-2 (0-1f), Martin Cahill, D Lally, K Bonner, J Noonan 0-1 each.
St Vincent's - M Savage; P Conlon, E Brady, H Gill; T Doyle, G Brennan, P Kelly; H Coughlan, M O'Shea; K Golden, T Diamond, N Billings; B Maloney, D Connolly, T Quinn. Subs: P Gilroy for Coughlan (40); C Brady for Billings (43).
St Brigid's - P Keane; Peadar Andrews, D Cahill, A Daly; G Norton, M Galvin, Martin Cahill; B Cahill, K Darcy; Mark Cahill, D Lally, D Dineen; Paddy Andrews, K Bonner, R Gallagher. Subs: C Lynch for Dineen (23); L McCarthy for Mark Cahill (40); J Noonan for D Cahill (55). Wides: 10 (5 in 1st half).
Referee - G McCormack (Naomh Barrog).
