Combination side wins battle of the Saints to lift Div 2 title

St Vincent's 2-12, St Brigid's 2-9

In unseasonably mild and sunny conditions at Robinstown on Saturday morning, the young men of St Vincent’s, a combination of Crookedwood and Ringtown, held just about enough firepower to overcome a gallant St Brigid’s in this highly entertaining and well-attended game.

It was Vincent’s variety of scorers and scoring chances that ultimately helped them sway this match. In contrast, St Brigid’s were slightly too dependent on a handful of players, and it was that cohesion and team play that proved decisive in the end. That being said, this was a match that went right down to the wire and could easily have swung either way as it approached the last quarter. However, Vincent’s held their nerve and composure to do just enough to get over the line and claim a first title in many a long day.

Brigid’s held sway in the opening exchanges and had a goal inside a minute when Larry Gavin, a surname synonymous with the club, netted a beauty after a fine team move. Shortly afterward, Dean Kelly pointed a free to give the Saffrons the perfect start. Vincent’s began to find their feet, though, with Cian O’Mara opening their account, followed by Zac Bates netting an opportunist goal to equalise by the 7th minute. O’Mara, Rhys Brady, and a ‘65’ from James Ryan added to Vincent’s tally. However, Kelly responded with a point from a narrow angle, followed by another from long range, while Gavin capitalised on a goalmouth melee that could have gone anywhere, levelling the sides by the 23rd minute. O’Mara’s free and another superb ‘65’ from Ryan nudged Vincent’s ahead again, but just before the break, Kelly pointed from a tight free, leaving just a single point between the sides. At the interval, Vincent’s led 1-6 to 1-5.

Rhys Brady and O’Mara added to Vincent’s tally as they began to take over early in the second half. However, a speculative free from Dean Kelly somehow evaded everyone and landed in the net, and once again, the sides were level, setting the stage for a thrilling finale. Brady and Kelly exchanged fine scores, followed by pointed frees from O’Mara and Kelly, leaving us no closer to determining the title’s destination. The match turned decisively when Cathal Flanagan finished a fabulous move with a superb point, and O’Mara clinically fired to the net to give Vincent’s the edge. Kelly responded with two pointed frees for Brigid’s, but Josh Mullaniff kept them at arm’s length with a marvellous score from almost on the touchline. Try as they might, Brigid’s simply could not penetrate a resolute Vincent’s rearguard, who held out with admirable determination to claim the title.

Afterwards, Westmeath Coiste na nÓg Chairman Barry Kelly presented the trophy to the victorious joint captains, James Ryan and Cian O’Mara.

Scorers: St Vincent’s: Cian O’Mara 1-5 (2 frees), Rhys Brady 0-3, Zac Bates 1-0, James Ryan 0-2 (both ‘65s), Cathal Flanagan and Josh Mullaniff 0-1 each.

St Brigid’s: Dean Kelly 1-8 (5 frees), Larry Gavin 1-1.

St Vincent’s: Austin O’Grady, Tony Brennan, Shane O’Mara, Jack Moran, Cathal Flanagan, James Ryan, Dara Kiernan, Rhys Brady, Ciaran Casserly, Cian Kennedy, Cian O’Mara, Ben Thornton, Josh Mullaniff, Eoghan Goldrick, Zac Bates. Subs: Donnacha Flood for Thornton (46).

St Brigid’s: Evan Dunbar, Jack Arthur, Mikey Henry, Liam Brogan, Ciaran Browne, Cian Fox, Cathal Tone, Aidan Keogh, Ben Loran, Larry Gavin, Liam Weblin, Darragh Hanley, Padraig Keogh, Dean Kelly, Ruairi Keogh. Subs: Niall O’Byrne Cleary for Loran (40), Sean Gavin for Ruairi Keogh (49).

Referee: Jimmy Greville.