St Brigid's 1-16 Pádraig Pearses 1-12
Bobby Nugent and Ben O'Carroll hit 0-10 between them as St Brigid’s economy in front of goal was rewarded with a 19th Roscommon senior football title at King and Moffatt Dr Hyde Park.
Goalkeeper and player of the match, Conor Carroll, also made a number of outstanding saves to thwart Pádraig Pearses as Brigid’s got their hands on the Fahey Cup for the first time since 2023.
The opening half was all about Brigid’s making their push for home by kicking seven unanswered points in the second quarter to lead by two points at the break.
And yet that didn’t tell the whole story as Carroll made two brilliant saves and tipped a two-point attempt over the bar, which raised a white flag instead of an orange one.
Pádraig Pearses enjoyed wind in the opening 30 minutes but the teams were evenly matched for the opening quarter.
Ben O’Carroll (free) and Senan Kilbride swapped points with Paul Carey — a shot he blazed over the bar after being picked out by a brilliant pass by Declan Kenny — and the impressive Jack Tumulty responding for Pearses.
In the 12th minute, Pearses struck what looked like a decisive blow. More brilliant approach work by Tumulty engineered space for Seán Canning and the dual player, who won a Nickey Rackard Cup medal with Roscommon earlier this year, blasted the ball to the net.
Pearses could have added a second goal moments later, but Carroll made a brilliant save to deny Eoin Colleran. However, there was some consolation for Pearses when Conor Ryan nailed the resultant ’45.
Frank Canning’s side were motoring along nicely and extended their lead to four points when Colleran made inroads from the right flank and fisted a score.
But Bobby Nugent took the game by the scruff of the neck to get Brigid’s back to within two points, 1-4 to 0-05 after 18 minutes.
Then, another huge turning point as Carroll denied Hubert Darcy, and Brigid’s worked the ball upfield to procure the opening score of the afternoon for Ciarán Sugrue.
Brigid’s began to dominate after that as Conor Hand, Nugent (2) and O’Carroll added to their side’s tally.
Daly’s two-pointer attempt was thwarted by Carroll and both sides headed to the dressing room with St. Brigid’s 0-10 to 1-05 in front.
Brigid’s extended their lead on the resumption with early points from O’Carroll and Brian Derwin but a black card for Conor Hand gave Pearses some fleeting hope.
However, despite their numerical superiority for ten minutes, Pearses were outscored by 0-02 to 0-01, while Carroll made a third outstanding save to deny Colleran.
Jack Tumulty also saw a piledriver cannon back off the post as Pearses’ hunt for goals continued to go unrewarded.
O’Carroll, Hand and Paul McGrath found the space to extend Brigid’s lead, and although a brace of Conor Ryan two-pointers from frees kept Pearses just about in touch, Brian Derwin’s scrappy goal, which was over the line before O’Carroll made sure of the finish, with six minutes remaining confirmed Brigid’s as champions.
St. Brigid’s will now play the winners of the Connacht club quarter-final meeting between Ballina and North London Shamrocks in the provincial semi-final in two weeks’ time.
St Brigid’s: Conor Carroll; Ruairí Smith, Seán Trundle, Robbie Dolan; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Brian Stack, Paul McGrath (0-01); Shane Cunnane, Eddie Nolan; Bobby Nugent (0-05, 0-03f), Ciarán Sugrue (0-01), Conor Hand (0-02); Brian Derwin (1-01), Ben O’Carroll (0-05, 0-03f), Senan Kilbride (0-01).
Subs: Ronan Stack for Dolan (48), Eoghan Derwin for Kilbride (51), Mark Daly for Smith (55), Charlie O’Carroll for Nugent (59).
Pádraig Pearses: Paul Whelan; David Murray, Mark Richardson, Conor Lohan; Conor Harley, Caelim Keogh, Adam McGreal; Conor Ryan (0-05, 2 tpf, 1’45), Declan Kenny; Seán Canning (1-00), Ronan Daly (0-01), Jack Tumulty (0-01); Hubert Darcy (0-01), Paul Carey (0-02), Eoin Colleran (0-02).
Sub: Jack Nevin for Harley (47).
Referee: Paddy Neilan (St Faithleach’s).
