St Brigid’s players Cormac Sheedy (left) and Ruaidhri Fallon celebrate their team’s victory in the All-Ireland semi-final against Castlehaven in Thurles.Photo: Piaras Ó Midreach/Sports File
AIB All Ireland Club SFC Semi-Final: St Brigid’s 1-11 Castlehaven 0-10
St Brigid’s survived a comeback from Castlehaven in the semi-final at Semple Stadium today (Sunday) to book a place in the All-Ireland club senior football final.
An impressive first half performance laid the foundation for St Bridget’s victory over the Cork and Munster champions. The Kiltoum side built a six-point lead in the first half and led 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time.
When the match started in Thurles, about a third of the pitch was covered in a blanket of white frost. Brian Darwin scored St Bridget’s goal in the 12th minute, pushing the ball home from close range, after Ben O’Carroll joined in the build-up.
Brigid’s attack looked sophisticated with Bobby Nugent, Ciaran Sgret, O’Carroll and Darwin accounting for the first half goals.
The scoring rate dropped significantly in the second half as Castlehaven dominated the midfield. Then, 17 minutes into the second period, wandering Brigid defender Robbie Doran added the score. It was a decisive moment early in the first half when Rory Maguire had a clear scoring chance and hit Brigid’s crossbar with a shot.
Despite the efforts of standout Brian Hurley, who scored seven points, including three from the play, Castlehaven were unable to equalize in the second half.
The lead was close to one point, but Brigid substitute John Cunningham scored the decisive goal from long range (58th minute).
In additional time Brigid defended with resilience and worked tirelessly to keep the Cork men at bay. And although a goal wasn’t needed, O’Carroll had the luxury of slamming a last-gasp penalty over the bar to complete the four-point lead.
St Brigid’s will face Wattie Graham Glen in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park on Sunday 21 January after the Derry side dethroned 2022 champions Kilmacud Crokes in the second semi-final do.
In a reenactment of the 2022 All-Ireland decider, Glen survived a thrilling and tense finish in heavy fog at Pairc Esler in Newry to emerge victorious 1-14 to 2-10.
Scorers – St Bridgets: B Darwin 1-1. B Nugent (1f) and B O’Carroll (1 pen) 0-3 each. C. Sugrue, R. Dolan, J. Cunningham and P. McGrath each had 0 wins and 1 loss. Castle Heaven: B. Hurley 0-7 (3f, 1 45) C. Maguire 0-2; M. Hurley 0-1.
St. Brigid’s: Cormac Sheehy. Robbie Dolan, Brian Stack, Pierce Frost. Ronan Stack, Alan Daly, Ruaidri Fallon. Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnan. Bobby Nugent, Paul McGrath, Connor Hand. Ben O’Carroll, Ciaran Shugrue, Brian Darwin. Subs: Darwin’s John Cunningham (44 minutes), Canaan’s Mark Daly (53 minutes), Nugent’s Conor Gleeson (60+3 minutes).
Castle Heaven: Darragh Cahalan. Ronan Walsh, Rory Maguire, Johnny O’Regan. Damian Cahalan, Thomas O’Mahony, Mark Collins. Conor Cahalan, Andrew Welton. Sean Brown, Cathal Maguire, Ciaran O’Sullivan. Michael Hurley, Brian Hurley, Jack Cahalan. Subs: Conor O’Driscoll for Brown (half-time), Jamie O’Driscoll for O’Sullivan (57 minutes), Michael Maguire for C. Cahalan (60 minutes).
referee: David Coldrick (Meath).
I loved you better than you would ever be able to express here. The picture is beautiful, and your wording is elegant; nonetheless, you read it in a short amount of time. I believe that you ought to give it another shot in the near future. If you make sure that this trek is safe, I will most likely try to do that again and again.