St. Brigids advanced to a Roscommon senior final meeting with Padraig Pearses after a convincing victory writes Matthew Towey.
Eoghan Derwin got the opening score of the contest with a well taken two-point effort after three minutes. Roscommon star Ultan Harney was quick to respond for Clann before a 10-minute scoring draught ensued.
Both sides were showing resilience in defence with Brigids struggling with a number of two-point efforts in this period. Whereas, trying to utilize the breeze that was at their back.
Shane Cunnane brought the scoring drought to an end on 14 minutes, firing over a 45 after Paul McGrath had seen an effort saved.
Ciaran Lennon and Ciaran Sugrue traded scores inside a minute of each other.
Ben O’Carroll got his first score of the day on 20 minutes from play. Ciaran Lennon tapped over another free, keeping his side within touching distance while playing into the face of a strong breeze.
Brian Derwin was on the end of a well worked move to fist over for Brigids. Indeed, Conor Hand added a score in similar fashion with his side’s next attacking move.
St. Brigids in control at half-time
At the break St Brigids led by four points, seven points to three. Ciaran Lennon opened the scoring for Clann with a well taken two-pointer inside the opening two minutes of the second-half.
Brigid’s responded strongly with three unanswered points through Brian Stack, Brian Derwin and Ben O’Carroll. After 37 minutes, Brigids had moved into a 5-point lead.
Paul McManus fired over a well taken score from outside the two-point arc on 38 minutes; as Clann were beginning to look threatening with the breeze at their back.
It was Ciaran Lennon again eight minutes later who brought it back to a two-point game. Lennon, registering another two-pointer, now making full use of the breeze.
Whereas, Conor Hand and Ben O’Carroll restored Brigids four-point lead with just over eight minutes remaining. Indeed, Michael Harrington delightfully struck yet another two point effort for Clann.
With six minutes remaining, Brigids led by points, 0-13 – 0-11.
For Clann though that was as close as they got. Brigid’s showed their experience in closing out the remainder of this contest.
Ben O’Carroll and Paul McGrath added further points for the Kiltoom based outfit before Brian Derwin sealed his sides place in the county final with a point in additional time.
St Brigids running out five-point winners, 0-16 to 0-11. St. Brigids will face Padraig Pearses in the Roscommon SFC final on October 26.
