1. A Connacht final to remember
Back in 1980 Sligo’s St Mary’s and Galway’s St Grellan’s shared six goals between them in the Connacht final.
Castlebar and St Brigid’s were only one short of that record for a senior decider out west in Dr Hyde Park yesterday and that’s reflective of a game that was ablaze with drama all through.
Four red cards were also lobbed into the mix of a game that needed extra-time to produce an outcome. Both teams fortunes fluctuated wildly yet Castlebar’s ability to hang on – just like they did against Corofin – served them well.
Their incisive attacking after the break, during a time when they had 14 men, was outstanding as they went from 1-6 to 1-1 adrift to being ahead by 3-5 to 1-6. Then they fell behind by two but at a stage when St Brigid’s would have been expected to close out the game, Castlebar raised two white flags.
In extra-time they finished off the job and concluded a game to remember.
2. Castlebar delivering on underage promise
Winning the Mayo county final was particularly sweet for Castlebar Mitchels this year. The 20-year wait between their 27th and 28th Mayo county senior titles seemed interminable, with successive final losses in 2010 and 2011 particularly hard to bear.
But they persisted and prevailed eventually. They haven’t lost the momentum from that win and a Connacht final achieved by wins over the champions from Galway and Roscommon is one to be valued.
More pertinently Castlebar’s progression to an All-Ireland semi-final is a reflection that they are delivering on underage promise. Last November they completed a three-in-a-row of Mayo U21 titles and only saw their unbeaten run in that grade end at the final stage this year.
Richie Feeney, Barry Moran and Tom Cunniffe were their flagbearers in the Mayo senior ranks this year but Eoghan O’Reilly, Aidan Walsh, Neil Douglas, Ger McDonagh and Danny Kirby are others who have been exposed to the inter-county stage recently at minor and U21 level.
Castlebar Mitchels manager Pat Holmes with his sons Joey and Ben
Pic: INPHO/Mike Shaughnessy
3. St Brigid’s great run as champions ends
For the first time since November 2007, St Brigid’s yesterday were on the receiving end of defeat in a Connacht club tie. They were not far off maintaining their winning ways either.
They’ll be annoyed at referee Marty Duffy’s decision to award a late line ball against them and annoyed with themselves at giving away the free which Neil Douglas converted to send the game to extra-time. In the end they ran out of gas after a spate of dismissals.
But they have been fantastic champions. Their longevity is admirable, showing the resilience to defeat Killererin after extra-time in 2010, the strength to stave off Corofin in 2011 and the class to despatch Ballaghaderreen in 2012.
Last St Patrick’s Day came their crowning moment with Frankie Dolan’s priceless point sealing their status as the first Roscommon club to lift the Andy Merrigan Cup.
4. Tomas Quinn again points the way for Vincent’s
With Ger Brennan and Diarmuid Connolly both watching on after their recent indiscretions, the St Vincent’s spotlight again fell on Tomas Quinn in Parnell Park yesterday.
He delivered for them with a 0-5 haul and an assist for the goal in their Dublin final replay against Ballymun Kickhams before striking 0-7 against St Loman’s in their Leinster opener.
The pressure was on to maintain that form and Quinn didn’t disappoint. He took the Summerhill defence for 1-8, weighed in with big scores at big moments and six years after captaining St Vincent’s to Leinster glory, he is looking towards a final again. Brennan and Connolly will be back to help out as well in the decider.
Tomas Quinn of St Vincent’s scores the first goal of the game
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
5. Portlaoise’s goalscoring instincts kick in again
Portlaoise have stockpiled plenty experience in recent years of playing games at this stage of the season. They cope with the conditions and when it counts, pounce for the significant scores.
Completing the seven-in-a-row last month in Laois was enabled by Kevin Fitzpatrick fisting the ball to the net midway through the second-half and wrestling the initiative back for his side.
Last Sunday they were in trouble against Longford Slashers as they stared at an eight-point deficit early in the second-half but a Brian McCormack goal helped kickstart their revival and they won after extra-time.
Then yesterday it was McCormack again who hit the net, this time after the break to wipe out Moorefield’s lead and help propel Portlaoise over the line in first place. The challenge intensifies next time out against St Vincent’s but at least the Laois champions have a shot.
6. The regrets for Summerhill and Moorefield
Four point losses for Summerhill and Moorefied in Parnell Park and O’Moore Park respectively yesterday as they reached the end of the 2013 football road. County titles will still give them cause to celebrate this season but there will be regrets at not pushing on in Leinster.
Life was good for Summerhill as they lead by three points with seven minutes left in the first-half yet they were seriously damaged by shipping 1-4 without reply before the break. They battled in the second-half but could never draw level.
If a time frame in the game cost Summerhill, a primary statistic hurt Moorefield. They struck 0-8 against Portlaoise but substitute Keith Duane’s 53rd minute point was their only effort registered from play. At this level such a conversion rate comes back to haunt teams.
Conor Gillespie of Summerhill and Eamon Fennell of Vincent’s
Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
