Corofin (Galway) 2-05 St Brigid's (Roscommon) 1-13
St Brigid's stunned Corofin with a brilliant display to win their first AIB Connacht club senior football title since 2012, and fifth overall, at Dr Hyde Park.
Led by the superb Ben O’Carroll, who ended up with a haul of 1-07, the Roscommon champions outplayed their more fancied Galway counterparts and deservedly claimed the Shane McGettigan Cup.
After playing second fiddle in the opening half, Liam Silke’s goal on the stroke of half-time handed Corofin a lifeline, but they could never get ahead of a Brigid’s side that belied their young age profile with an extremely measured performance.
Jerome Stack’s side were the dominant force during the opening half, led by a superb defensive effort spearheaded by Brian Stack, Pearse Frost and Robbie Dolan.
Points from play and a free from O’Carroll got them up and running before a foul on Alan Daly resulted in a penalty, which was clinically dispatched to the net by O’Carroll after 14 minutes.
That score sparked Corofin into life, and a super team move ended with Conor Cunningham cracking an effort off the crossbar.
Darragh Silke pointed the resultant ’45, and when young Jack McCabe pointed from play moments later, Corofin appeared to have found their groove.
Brigid’s regained the initiative, and four points in succession from O’Carroll [one from play and one free] and Bobby Nugent [two frees] propelled them seven points clear.
But Silke’s goal on the cusp of half-time, after he was set up by Micheál Lundy, left Corofin 1-06 to 1-02 behind and still very much in the contest.
Brigid’s repelled Corofin’s onslaught at the beginning of the second half but the visitors’ pressure eventually told when captain Dylan McHugh found the net to leave just a point between the teams.
Brigid’s defensive structure refused to buckle however and two points from play by O’Carroll and All-Star nominee Brian Stack settled them once more.
Brigid’s continued to probe as Corofin ran out of ideas with Ruaidhrí Fallon and Ciarán Sugrue landing the insurance points from play, sealing a memorable victory for the Kiltoom/Cam-based parish club.
St Brigid’s: Cormac Sheehy; Robbie Dolan, Brian Stack (0-01), Pearse Frost; Ronan Stack, Alan Daly, Ruaidhri Fallon (0-01); Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnane; Bobby Nugent (0-03, 0-03f), Paul McGrath, Conor Hand; Ben O’Carroll (1-07, 0-04f, 1-00 pen), Brian Derwin, Ciarán Sugrue (0-01).
Subs: John Cunningham for Hand (51), Conor Gleeson for Derwin (57), Seán Trundle for McGrath (60).
Corofin: Bernard Power; Liam Silke (1-00), Conor Cunningham, Ross Mahon; Brian Cogger, Dylan McHugh (1-00), Gavin Burke; Patrick Egan, Ciarán Brady; Dylan Wall, Darragh Silke (0-01, 0-01 '45), Michael Farragher; Gary Sice (0-02, 0-01f), Micheál Lundy, Jack McCabe (0-02).
Subs: Kieran Molloy for Wall (h-t), Conor Newell for Darragh Silke (43), Daithí Burke for Farragher (47), Glen McHugh for Burke (53), Tony Gill for Egan (58).
Referee: Barry Judge (Sligo).
