St Brigids have reached their first All-Ireland club final since 2013, defeating Cork's Castlehaven on a scoreline of 1-11 to 0-10 after a hard fought contest in Thurles this afternoon.
The Roscommon champions entered this semi-final as slight favourites, although it was expected that there would not be much between the sides. That turned out to be the case, with the match very much in the balance right up until the final moments.
The key moment in the game came in the first half, with Brian Derwin scoring the only goal of the afternoon in the 11th minute. It came on the back of a well worked St Brigids move.
#GAABEO#CASTVBRÍD 11 nóim@CastlehavenGAA 0-02@StBrigidsRos 1-04
An-chúl faighte ag Brian Derwin do Naomh Bríd!
GOAL for St Brigids 😱😀
BEO/LIVE AR @ TG4TV ⏰ @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/rFt3BKXq6Q— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 7, 2024
That put St Brigids in a strong position to go on and win the game, although Castlehaven certainly did not allow them to have things their own way.
They would produce a number of excellent scores of their own, including this effort at the start of the second half.
#GAABEO #CASTVBRÍD @CastlehavenGAA 0-07@StBrigidsRos 1-07
An chéad scór sa dara leath faighte tar éis 7 nóim.
A great point for @CastlehavenGAA to start the second half.
BEO/LIVE AR @ TG4TV ⏰ @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/vaUUoMyS2O— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 7, 2024
However, St Brigid's would ultimately have too much for their opponents.
They finished the game the stronger of the two sides and would seal the victory with a couple of points (including one from the penalty spot) in added time.
#GAABEO#CASTVBRÍD 62 Nóim@CastlehavenGAA 0-10@StBrigidsRos 1-10
Tá an sprioc imsithe ag Naomh Bríd!
Naomh Bríd go 3 points up!
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/nQI8Ko57Bl— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 7, 2024
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St Brigids star hoping emulate 2013 hero in All-Ireland final
St Brigid's have been one of the most successful GAA clubs in the country since the turn of the century, although their trip to Croke Park for the All-Ireland club final will be the first time they have reached that stage in 11 years.
On the most recent occasion, Frankie Dolan would score a late point to lead them to victory over a brilliant Ballymun Kickhams team. It is the only All-Ireland title in the club's history.
Speaking to TG4 after the game, man-of-the-match Conor Hand admitted that he is hoping to emulate Dolan and the other heroes from that side when they take part in the final next month.
#GAABEO#CASTVBRÍD Lán Ama
"When you have a chance to get to an All Ireland, you would train anytime of the year to get there"
Is é Conor Hand Laoch na himeartha inniu! Comhghairdeas leat Conor! 😱😀@StBrigidsRos
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/zJRkEaswQw— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 7, 2024
It's class. I suppose we grew up watching the team of 2013, we went to all of the games like these.
To play it yourself and be in the moment, it is a dream come true I suppose. It's class...
I suppose it's different (training over Christmas), growing up that is the offseason. But I don't think anyone cared what time of year it was, when you have the chance to get to an All-Ireland final in Croke Park you train any day of the year to get there.
We did the training and it paid off thankfully...
We were all there (in 2013), I was only ten at the time. To think you're in that situation now and there is young lads looking up to you like I looked up to Frankie [Dolan], it's class.
That's what the club is, it's family.
St Brigids are likely to enter the All-Ireland final as underdogs, although they will no doubt fancy their chances of coming out on top.
They need only look at that team from 2013 to see how it can be done.
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