Super sub Geraghty points the way as St Brigid’s triumph

St Brigid’s showed remarkable resolve to dominate extra-time and emerge with the All County Hurling League Div 3 title, following an unspectacular encounter with Lough Lene Gaels at TEG Cusack Park on Saturday.

St Brigid’s led by 0-9 to 0-6 at the break and did most of the hurling in the opening half. The Rochfortbridge-based side looked set to take control when Lough Lene Gaels were reduced to 14 men in the 42nd minute following the dismissal of Jason Malone on a second yellow card, but they shot 16 wides in a profligate performance.

Lough Lene Gaels had the only clear-cut goal chance of the match following a contentious penalty decision in the 50th minute, but Jordan Williams shot wide with the opportunity. St Brigid’s managed just two points in the second half of normal time and it looked like Aaron O’Brien’s 57th minute minor would win them the title, but Lough Lene Gaels substitute Peter Collins set up an extra 20 minutes with an injury-time strike.

Lough Lene Gaels were back to 15 men for extra-time and Alex Little returned to the action, but they managed just a solitary point from a Jordan Williams free after eight minutes. In deteriorating weather conditions, with a thunderstorm raging, St Brigid’s found something extra: a terrific run by Christopher Daly led to a fine point for Conal Dunne and super sub Michael Geraghty scored two points (the second a free) in the opening period as they led by 0-14 to 0-12 at the break.

A quick turnaround followed and Geraghty was on target three times in the second period – the first from play, the second from a placed ball and the third a neat finish from play. Evan Connell shot another and the impressive Niall Cully added the coup de grace when he pointed from 65 metres at the death.

Afterwards, St Brigid’s captain Kieran Geraghty accepted the trophy from Frank Mescall, County Committee chairman.

The standard seldom rose above the mediocre level and shooting was poor, but the wet conditions were a factor and the players gave their all. Lough Lene Gaels were fielding their second string outfit and looked likely winners when they had all the momentum in the second half, but once the game went to extra-time, St Brigid’s took over.

St Brigid’s were four points clear when Brian Brophy scored a quality point and the impressive Brian Slevin shot over after 13 minutes, but a fine run by Cian Reilly, followed by a point, ensured just three points separated the teams at half-time in normal time. The Collinstown men could have won it in the second half despite playing with 14 men for 23 minutes, but that missed penalty proved very costly.

St Brigid’s will be aiming to add the intermediate title to this success when the championship begins in the coming weeks, while Lough Lene Gaels will be competing for senior ‘A’ honours.

Scorers: St Brigid’s: C Slevin 0-6 (2f), M Geraghty 0-5 (3f), A O’Brien 0-3, N Cully, S Quinn, E Connell, C Dunne, S Deegan and B Brophy 0-1 each. Lough Lene Gaels: J Malone 0-4 (3f), J Williams 0-2 (2f), C Reilly 0-2, C Lynch, T Kennedy, C McLaverty and P Collins 0-1 each.

St Brigid’s: Paddy Carroll; Kieran Geraghty, Seamus Faulkner, Rory Cleary; Christopher Daly, Joe Hyland, Niall Cully; Stephen Quinn, Evan Connell; Conal Dunne, Aaron O’Brien, Sean Deegan; Conor Slevin, Eoin Cleary, Brian Brophy. Subs: Michael Geraghty for Cleary (38), Eoin Gallagher for Quinn (inj., 42), Evan Quinn for Brophy (52), Danny Hyland for E Quinn (20, e-t), Conor Collison for Dunne (20, e-t).

Lough Lene Gaels: Paul Murtagh; Eamonn Potter, Dan Reilly, Eric Fitzpatrick; Johnny Dermody, Oisín Dolan, Ciaran Lynch; Jason Malone, Philip Reilly; Conor Lynch, Thomas Kennedy, Alex Little; Padraig Fitzsimons, Jordan Williams, Cian Reilly. Subs: Caolán McLaverty for Fitzsimons (35), Fergal Tiernan for Little (44), Peter Collins for C Reilly (51), (A little returned for extra-time), Aidan Isdell for Lynch (4, e-time), Daniel Buckley for Little (12, e-t), C Lynch for Reilly (18, e-t).

Ref: Jimmy Greville (Castlepollard).