Brigid"s four-goal whammy turns dramatic league final on its head

After only six minutes of play in this O"Rourke Cup (Senior Football League) Final played at Kiltoom on Sunday afternoon last, county finalists Padraig Pearses were in a very comfortable position, leading by 2-2 to nil against a St Brigid"s outfit striving to end their season on a high note. Things were looking anything but rosy for the Green and Red at this early juncture, but fast-forward to the 19th minute for the start of a seven-minute blitz which brought a dazzling four goals to the homesters, helping them to turn an 8-point deficit into a 3-point advantage at referee Anthony Flaherty"s half-time whistle. With wind benefit to come, it was certainly advantage St Brigid"s, and while the second half would never produce the highwire fluctuations of the opening 30 minutes, the home supporters were the happier at full-time as their favourites edged the scoring issue over their South County opponents by 0-4 to 0-3. It was enough to take the title and give their manager of the past three years, Anthony Cunningham, a winning send-off. That, in brief, is a summary of proceedings at the Newpark venue on Sunday - with the main pitch being declared out of bounds, the action was moved to the club"s second playing area, which was in fine condition, but exposed to the elements which always threatened to vent their spleen on the hundred or so spectators present. A cocktail of driving rain, hail and sleet prevailed in the minutes before throw-in, but thankfully conditions remained reasonably good, albeit it was bitterly cold, for the match duration. Both sides were missing some of their first choice players for a variety of reasons. However, it was Eamon Mahon"s charges who hit the Newpark surface running, with a significant breeze in their backs. Inside the opening minute, a Pearses attack, from a long delivery by wing back and county minor star Cathal Dolphin, caused consternation in the Brigid"s defence, and there was more than a hint of an 'own goal' in the ensuing play, but the inrushing Seán Fahy gets the nod for the opening green flag. Seán had a further point and forced a '45' from which Pearses struck again in the 5th minute, Niall Carty"s floated effort being expertly punched to the net by an alert Gerry Kelly, lining out at full forward for the Reds. It was literally all Pearses at this remove, as centre-forward Aidan Fallon"s point made it 2-2 to nil after only six minutes. Enjoying a monopoly of play at midfield, where the two Nialls, - Carty and Finneran - were ruling the roost, it looked like an on-song Pearses would run riot against opponents who had yet to settle into anything resembling their usual form. St Brigid"s raised their first flag on the 7th minute when, with Peter Domican, and Senan Kilbride prominent in the build-up. David O"Connor pointed from play, but it was only the signal for another brace of scores from an on-form Pearses as Seán Fahy and Niall Finneran, the latter a superlative effort from midfield. Now 2-4 to 0-1 to the good, it looked Pearses" day, but events were about to undergo a seismic change in the wintry scenario that was Kiltoom on Sunday. Brigid"s have been down this road before. Full-forward Senan Kilbride would emerge as architect-in-chief of the St, Brigid"s renaissance. There was also a noticeable tightening-up in what had been hitherto a shaky rearguard, orchestrated principally by Robbie Kelly, Niall Grehan and Basil Mannion. Ian Kilbride and Mark O"Carroll were also beginning to restore a level of authority in the centre of the park. Senan Kilbride pointed from play soon after while Niall Grehan was just wide from a good Brigid"s build-up. At the other end of the field, Pearses full-back Johh Whyte stormed upfield to join an attack which produced a Gerry Kelly point. But then came the turning point, with the next seven minutes witnessing a Brigid"s blitzkrieg which would stunningly produce four goals in seven minutes. A Senan Kilbride - David O"Connor attack made the road for newcomer Kieran Kilkenny to goal from close range on the 19th minute, while another Kilbride/O"Connor onslaught gave attacking wing-back Basil Mannion a similar opportunity, and the No. 7 made no mistake for Goal No. 2! Seán Fahy had a 23rd minute Pearses" free - punched over by a defender, but the ball was again in the Pearses" net a minute later with Senan Kilbride, once again, instrumental in ripping open the Red"s rearguard for John Tiernan to finish in style. Cormac Sheehy"s (25th minute) point would, unbelievably, edge St, Brigid"s in front, having been nine points behind only 13 minutes earlier, and, in a 'blink and you would miss something' situation, Anthony Cunningham"s men were awarded a 26th minute penalty. David O"Connor"s spot-kick hit the butt of the right-hand post but the No. 13 calmly tapped home the rebound, but while Seán Fahy from a pointed free had the last score for Pearses of an amazing first half a minute into added-on time. At the interval it was St. Brigid"s who had made a full recovery from that disastrous start to lead 4-4 to 2-7 at half-time following an opening period which produced six goals. Following the fluctuations of a high-octane first half, it was tempting providence to imagine an equally dramatic second period. And so it turned out - there were to be no further goal exploits by the banks of Lough Ree, as defences now imposed a much stronger influence on proceedings than heretofore. Now wind-aided, the pendulum remained with St Brigid"s, and but for some erratic early marksmanship, they would have further consolidated their interval lead. As it was, they did edge six points in front via a trio of points, per David O"Connor (free), John Tiernan and Frankie Dolan, the latter meaning that all the St Brigid"s starting forward sextet had now scored. Pearses, who had not raised a flag in that third quarter, tried hard to get back in contention. Points from Niall Carty and Seán Fahy (free) reduced the deficit, but Brendan O"Brien, an earlier second half replacement for Kieran Kilkenny, got on the St Brigid"s scoresheet on 55 minutes to send over a smart point. Pearses threw everything forward to get something from a final that had turned sour on them after a brilliant start, but Seán Fahy"s 58th minute point was their only score, though wing forward Declan Duffy came near to scoring a third goal for his team when drilling a hard shot which was parried out for a fruitless '45'. St Brigid"s showed great courage in fighting back to victory, and had stars in Robbie Kelly, Basil Mannion, Mark O"Carroll, David O"Connor and the excellent Senan Kilbride, while Pearses, who didn"t build on that terrific start, were well served by Damien Donnellan, John Whyte, Paul Kelly, Niall Carty, Niall Finnegan and Seán Fahy. Scorers: St Brigid"s - David O"Connor (1-3, 0-2 frees), John Tiernan (1-1), Kieran Kilkenny (1-0), Basil Mannion (1-0), Senan Kilbride (0-1), Cormac Sheehy (0-1), Frankie Dolan (0-1), Brendan O"Brien (0-1). Padraig Pearses - Seán Fahy (1-6, 0-3 frees), Gerry Kelly (1-1), Aidan Fallon (0-1), Niall Finneran (0-1), Niall Carty (0-1). Teams: St Brigid"s - James Martin, Michael O"Brien, Robbie Kelly, Eoin Mannion, Niall Grehan, Peter Domican, Basil Mannion, Ian Kilbride, Mark O"Carroll, John Tiernan, Frankie Dolan, Cormac Sheehy, David O"Connor, Senan Kilbride, Kieran Kilkenny. Sub: Brendan O"Brien for Kilkenny (44). Pádraig Pearses - Brian Croffy, Damien Donnellan, John Whyte, Denis Whyte, Enda Barrett, Paul Kelly, Cathal Dolphin, Niall Finneran, Niall Carty, David Grehan, Aidan Fallon, Declan Duffy, Ja Egan, Gerry Kelly, Seán Fahy. Subs: Pádraig Kelly for Gerry Kelly (44), Seán Ryan for Grehan (49). Referee - Anthony Flaherty (Athleague).