Pádraig Pearses 1-15 St Brigid's 1-15
St Brigid’s and Pádraig Pearses played out a thrilling draw in one of the best Roscommon senior county football finals in years at the Hyde.
Pearses, who were looking to stitch successive championships together for the first time in the club’s history, looked to have done enough when Declan Kenny edged them in front in the second minute of injury time.
Brigid’s manufactured a brilliant equaliser through Brian Stack, but when a Brigid’s player was penalised for not releasing possession after conceding a free, the ball was moved forward by referee Jimmy Donoghue to leave Paul Carey with the chance, with the wind behind him, to win the game for Pearses.
But he pulled his two-point effort wide, and Roscommon had its first draw in a county senior football final since 2008.
St Brigid’s wasted little time making use of the strong breeze at their backs in the opening half.
O’Carroll got his side up and running with a free before midfielder Eddie Nolan found the space to land the game’s first two-pointer.
Eoin Colleran grabbed Pádraig Pearses’ first score from an acute angle but another booming two-pointer, this time from Ruaidhrí Fallon, left Brigid’s 0-05 to 0-01 to the good after eight minutes.
With Brian Stack showing immense leadership in the middle third, the Brigid’s juggernaut kept coming forward, and O’Carroll (free), Brian Nugent and Eoghan Derwin added further points to stretch their side’s advantage to seven points after only 11 minutes.
But Pearses kept in touch after that, helped by a terrific two-point free into the teeth of the wind by midfielder Conor Ryan.
Caelim Keogh and Brian Derwin swapped scores before St Brigid’s midfielder, Shane Cunnane, found the space out on the right wing to execute an excellent score.
Jack Tumulty worked his way in along the left wing to fist a point to underline that Pearses weren’t out of the contest, but Brian Derwin responded by clipping over a good score to leave Anthony Cunningham’s men 0-11 to 0-05 ahead.
In injury-time, both teams swapped frees courtesy of Paul Carey and O’Carroll to maintain Brigid’s six-point lead at the break.
A schemozzle involving players from both teams on the half time whistle led to St Brigid’s joint captain Paul McGrath being shown a black card at the start of the second half.
Pearses had the Brigid’s lead back to a point within four minutes of the restart, a couple of two-point efforts from Ryan and Kenny setting the tone.
But a brilliant goal from Robbie Dolan, who lashed the ball to the net after taking possession at full tilt off Ben O’Carroll, in the 36th minute seemed to give Brigid’s some breathing space, although they were seeing far less possession around the middle third.
Seán Canning’s strong running was doing serious damage and when Adam McGreal fisted the ball to the net with nine minutes remaining, Pearses had all the momentum.
A superb two-pointer from Ronan Daly put Pearses in front for the first time but Brigid’s refused to buckle, although Pearses had the better chances to win it.
The replay will take place at the same venue next Saturday.
Pádraig Pearses: Paul Whelan; David Murray, Mark Richardson, Conor Lohan; Lorcán Daly, Caelim Keogh (0-01), Adam McGreal (1-00); Conor Ryan (0-04, 1 tp, 1 tpf), Declan Kenny (0-03, 1 tp); Seán Canning (0-01), Ronan Daly (0-02, 1 tp), Jack Tumulty (0-01); Hubert Darcy, Paul Carey (0-01f), Eoin Colleran (0-02).
Subs: Conor Harley for Lorcán Daly (28), Niall Daly for McGreal (58), Jack Nevin for Tumulty (60)
St Brigid’s: Conor Carroll; Ruairí Smith, Seán Trundle, Robbie Dolan (1-00); Ruaidhrí Fallon (0-02, 1 tp), Brian Stack (0-01), Eoghan Derwin (0-01); Shane Cunnane (0-01), Eddie Nolan (0-02, 1 tp); Paul McGrath, Ciarán Sugrue, Conor Hand; Ben O’Carroll (0-04f), Bobby Nugent (0-02), Brian Derwin (0-02).
Subs: Mark Daly for Nolan (52), Niall McInerney for Eoghan Derwin (58), Senan Kilbride for Nugent (60), Charlie O’Carroll for Brian Derwin (60)
Referee: Jimmy Donoghue (Tulsk Lord Edwards).
