St Brigid’s (Roscommon) 1-16; Scotstown (Monaghan) 1-12
St Brigid’s were hardly mentioned as worthy semi-finalists in the lead up to the two penultimate games and in truth, it will probably be the same again for Anthony Cunningham’s outfit over the coming days as they head to Croke Park to face Dingle in the All-Ireland SF club final.
Don’t expect them to complain too much for they seem to thrive on the underdog’s role and they certainly left Breffni Park leaving many, including the huge Scotstown contingent, scratching their heads and wondering just where that level of performance came from.
The 2013 champions will now play in their second final in three seasons and will hope to make up for their late loss to Derry champions Glen in 2023.
They had heroes all over the pitch from man of the match and joint captain Paul McGrath, who snatched two points from his wing half back berth, to Bobby Nugent who hit seven points, including two two-pointers, one at the end of the first half to five his side a commanding five point lead at the interval.
Scotstown looked very assured in the early minutes but once Brian Derwin got in for a well-worked team goal, it was the Connacht side that looked the better and more assured for the rest of the game.
They also learnt from the Ulster final where Rory Beggan had been a key factor in delivering 0-11, including three two-pointers from frees. The Brigid’s boys kept fouling to a minimum in this area - so much so that the losing keeper only had one point from a 45 to show for all his efforts up the other end of his own goal.
In front of almost 5,000 fans, there was plenty of action and the Farneymen will bemoan the fact that they created three clear-cut second-half goal chances, all of which were thwarted by heroic last-gasp defending. However, the point wasn't lost on Cunningham who said they would not be able to allow Dingle similar chances and hope to survive on Sunday week.
David McCague's side seemed little of the level they needed to be on to beat Kilcoo of Down in the Ulster final and while Jack McCarron fired 1-3, he will bemoan the chance that his gilt-edged chance to get a second goal, which would have brought Scotstown back into the game, was not placed correctly and allowed defender Sean Trundle to clear it.
Veteran Darren Hughes was denied in like fashion by desperate Brigid's defending while midfielder Micheal McCarville did all the hard work but then blasted over when all he had to do was sidefoot the ball home very late in the game.
St Brigid's also had first-half goal chances with Ryan O'Toole twice blocking goal-bound shots. A good day’s work for the corner back who held Roscommon player Ben O’Carroll to a single point before the attacker was replaced late in the game.
St Brigid’s: C Carroll; P Frost, S Trundle, R Dolan; R Fallon (0-1), B Stack, P McGrath (0-2); S Cunnane, E Nolan (0-1); C Sugrue (0-1), C Hand (0-2, tp), B Nugent (0-7, 0-3f, 1 tp, 1 tpf); B O’Carroll (0-1), M Daly, B Derwin (1-0) Subs: R Stack for M Daly 33, C O'Carroll (0-1) for B O'Carroll 49, S Kilbride for Nugent 56.
Scotstown: R Beggan (0-1 45); R O’Toole, K Hughes, D Murray; D Connolly, D McArdle, D Hughes; M McCarville (0-2), G McPhillips; M Maguire (0-1), S Carey (0-1f), F Maguire (0-3; 1 tp); M Maguire, NSherlock (0-1), J McCarron (1-3, 0-1f) Subs: Conor McCarthy for Sherlock h/t, Tommy Mallen for Mattie Maguire 46.
Ref: B Cawley (Kildare).
