McGurk key as Brigid’s seal double

ST BRIGID’S       1-9

CLARINBRIDGE  1-7

Daire Walsh

History was made at Croke Park on Saturday as St Brigid’s made it an All-Ireland Feile double after a pulsating contest with a dogged Clarinbridge, becoming the first ever club to record such a feat.

They didn’t have it all their own way, though, as a goal from the Galway side’s centre-back Ian O’Brien at the death brought the game into extra-time.

But Jonathan McGurk then dug deep to help Brigid’s secure the title that supplements the achievements of their footballers in Portlaoise a fortnight ago.

Brigid’s started brightly and with just four minutes gone, McGurk produced a moment of magic to finish past Clarinbridge goalkeeper Paul Donoghue.

David Hawkshaw increased their cushion to four on seven minutes before Clarinbridge opened their account from centre-forward Enan Niland.

Niland and Andrew Monaghan tagged on further points for the ‘Bridge, but points from corner-forwards Sean Mansfield and Brian Moran meant that Brigid’s led by 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time.

This three-point lead looked like being crucial for much of the second half as three Niland scores were then cancelled out by points from Tiernan McGlynn, O’Sullivan and McGurk.

But just when it looked like the Dubliners had it won, O’Brien embarked forward to flick a long-range free past the Michael Courtney.

But Brigid’s showed great spirit in extra-time with points from McGurk and Kevin Callaghan. Niland brought the margin back to the minimum, but McGurk was able to convert from close range three minutes from the end.

Scorers — St Brigid’s: J McGurk 1-3 (2f), C O’Sullivan (f), D Hawkshaw, K Callaghan, T McGlynn, B Moran, S Mansfield 0-1 each. Clarinbridge: E Niland 0-6 (4f), I O’Brien 1-0, A Monaghan 0-1.

ST BRIGID’S — M Courtney; J Barr, D McKenna, A Gleeson; D Ryan, C O’Sullivan, D Hawkshaw; J O’Neill, K Callaghan; J McGurk, T O’Shea, T McGlynn; B Moran, M Donnelly, S Mansfield. Subs: D Cullinan for Hawkshaw (40), J Connelly for Mansfield (40).

CLARINBRIDGE — P Donoghue; C Murray, R Walsh, A Martyn; TJ Brennan, I O’Brien, J Tuohy; P Foley, W Corcoran; M Kennedy, E Niland, S McArdle; H Lane, C Salmon, A Monaghan. Subs: L Horan for Tuohy (30), J Moran for Foley (38).

REF — E Walker (O’Tooles/Dublin).