Match Report - Clann 1-07 2-07 St. Brigid's

Ronan Stack's late goal stole victory for St. Brigid’s against Clann na nGael in round 8 of the O’Rourke Cup in Johnstown on Friday night. The sides were level at 1-7 each with a minute to go when the former Roscommon defender pounced on a long ball at the back post to lash home from close range.

The reigning Connacht club champions were 1-5 to 0-3 ahead at the interval and could have been further in front after kicking six first half wides. Bobby Nugent starred for the visitors in the opening half an hour with 1-3, and he was denied a goal early on when his effort was brilliantly blocked by Fergal Lennon. 

Clann keeper Ronan Reilly produced a fine save to deny Luke Griselain as Ian Harney was denied by Cormac Sheehy at the other end. But despite the Brigid’s pressure, Paul McManus kicked all three points for Clann to keep them alive - before they produced spirited fightback after the restart to turn the game. 

Clann fired 1-2 without reply at the start of the second half to draw level, as David McManus pointed twice before Fearghus Lennon’s brilliant goal made it 1-5 apiece. Brigid’s took 20 minutes to get their first point of the half when Paul McGrath split the posts from a free. 

David McManus and Josh Lennon steered Clann a point ahead either side of a Fearghus Lennon effort that looked a certain point, but was waved wide by Aaron Clogher’s umpires. Brian Derwin squared it for Brigid’s before Stack landed the killer blow with a minute to go for the table-toppers. 

The result keeps Clann in third spot of the Division 1 table with three games to go. The next outing for our Matrix Bathrooms sponsored Senior Men’s team is away to Elphin on June 7th. 

CLANN NA nGAEL: Ronan Reilly; Tom Lennon, Fergal Lennon, Damien Duff; Shane Gavin, Shane Pettit, Cathal Duignan; Oisin Lennon, Alan McManus; Paul McManus 0-3, Ian Harney, Emmet Kenny; Josh Lennon 0-1, David McManus 0-3, 1m, Fearghus Lennon 1-0. Subs: Dylan Sumner for Harney, Oisín O’Flaherty for A McManus, Kieran Connaughton for Kenny

ST. BRIGID’S: Cormac Sheehy; Ruairí Smith 0-1, Pearse Frost, Michéal Sugrue; Luke Griselain, Ronan Stack 1-0, Ciaran Quinn; Jimmy Curley, Mark Daly; David Cunniffe, Paul McGrath 0-2f, John Cunningham; Brian O’Hara-Duggan, Brian Derwin 0-1, Bobby Nugent 1-3. Subs: Billy McDonnell for Daly, Brian Nestor for Smith, Charlie O’Carroll for Cunningham, Eoghan Derwin for Curley, Ronan Doyle for Griselain

REFEREE: A Clogher (Pádraig Pearses)