Brigid's prevail to set up All-Ireland final with Derry champs

AIB All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final: St Brigid's 1-11 Castlehaven 0-10

St Brigid's have secured their place in the All-Ireland club senior football final after withstanding a comeback from Castlehaven in their semi-final at Semple Stadium today (Sunday).

An impressive first-half display laid the platform for St Brigid's victory over the Cork and Munster champions. The Kiltoom side built a six-point lead in the first half and led by 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

About a third of the pitch was covered with a white blanket of frost as the action got underway in Thurles. Brian Derwin scored the St Brigid's goal in the 12th minute, squeezing the ball home from close range after Ben O'Carroll was involved in the build-up.

With Brigid's looking slick in attack, Bobby Nugent, Ciarán Sugure, O'Carroll and Derwin accounted for their first-half scores.

The scoring rate dropped off considerably in the second half as Castlehaven took a grip at midfield. And it was 17 minutes into the second period by the time roving Brigid's defender Robbie Dolan added to their tally. Earlier in the half, Rory Maguire crashed a shot off the Brigid's crossbar from a gilt-edged goal chance and it proved a vital moment.

Despite the best efforts of the outstanding Brian Hurley - who scored seven points, including three from play - Castlehaven just couldn't draw level in the second half.

The closest they came was a single point and it was then that Brigid's substitute John Cunningham scored a crucial point from long range (58th minute).

In added time, Brigid's defended with resilience and worked tirelessly to keep the Cork men at bay. And with a goal not needed, O'Carroll had the luxury of tapping a last-gasp penalty over the bar to complete the four-point winning margin.

St Brigid's will meet Watty Graham's Glen in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on Sunday, January 21, after the Derry outfit dethroned 2022 champions Kilmacud Crokes in the second semi-final.

In a repeat of the 2022 All-Ireland decider, Glen survived a thrilling and tense finish to claim a 1-14 to 2-10 victory amid dense fog at Páirc Esler, Newry.

Scorers - St Brigid's: B Derwin 1-1; B Nugent (1f) and B O’Carroll (1 pen) 0-3 each; C Sugrue, R Dolan, J Cunningham and P McGrath 0-1 each. Castlehaven: B Hurley 0-7 (3f, 1 45); C Maguire 0-2; M Hurley 0-1.

St Brigid’s: Cormac Sheehy; Robbie Dolan, Brian Stack, Pearse Frost; Ronan Stack, Alan Daly, Ruaidhrí Fallon; Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnane; Bobby Nugent, Paul McGrath, Conor Hand; Ben O'Carroll, Ciarán Sugrue, Brian Derwin. Subs: John Cunningham for Derwin (44 mins), Mark Daly for Cunnane (53), Conor Gleeson for Nugent (60+3).

Castlehaven: Darragh Cahalane; Ronan Walsh, Rory Maguire, Johnny O’Regan; Damien Cahalane, Thomas O’Mahony, Mark Collins; Conor Cahalane, Andrew Whelton; Seán Browne, Cathal Maguire, Ciarán O’Sullivan; Michael Hurley, Brian Hurley, Jack Cahalane. Subs: Conor O’Driscoll for Browne (half-time), Jamie O’Driscoll for O’Sullivan (57 mins), Michael Maguire for C Cahalane (60).

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath).