Sunday
St Brigid’s (Roscommon) v Ballaghaderreen (Mayo)
Elverys McHale Park
Castlebar, 2pm
(Ref: Marty Duffy, Sligo)
Clues from the form guide…There were whispers during St Brigid’s county championship campaign that the Roscommon giants standards were slipping. But then after prevailing in the county final by five points against Padraig Pearses, they have exploded on the provincial stage to play with abandon.
Leitrim’s Melvin Gaels were despatched comfortably by 15 points and then came a semi-final against Salthill-Knocknacarra that manager Kevin McStay termed beforehand as a game that would shape and define their season. It proved they still have the capacity to dominate, returning from Pearse Stadium with a convincing seven-point success.
They are in a buoyant mood yet Ballaghaderreen should be in good spirits themselves. Firstly their county final win was one to cherish given it is only two years since they beat Kiltane to preserve their senior status in a relegation play-off and opponents Ballintubber was chasing a three-in-a-row.
And secondly they succeeded in their Connacht semi-final with a stylish recent win over Curry to atone for their loss to Eastern Harps at the same stage in 2008.
Checking the odds…St Brigid’s are the warm favourites to succeed at 4/11 with Ballaghaderreen on offer at 11/4. The draw is priced at 15/2 on this occasion. St Brigid’s have won their last three games by a margin of at least five points and thus the handicap bet placing them at (-3) may be an attractive option at 11/10.
A topic for the pub chat…The name of the county in the brackets after Ballaghaderreen is the source of some debate before this match. The club may ply its trade in Mayo and may supply players to the county team like injured star Andy Moran yet it in fact lies within the borders of the county of Roscommon.
Indeed it is the second biggest town in Roscommon, having been transferred to the county from Mayo in 1888 due to the influence of an English landlord who stood to make financial gains.
Football matches involving the two counties naturally create fevered debate and there is intrigue to Sunday’s game with Senan and Ian Kilbride, the sons of former Mayo and Ballaghaderreen player Sean, in action for St Brigid’s.
The game breakers are…St Brigid’s are vastly experienced as they chase their third successive Connacht title and can also call on survivors of the 2006 provincial winning team. The occasion should not faze them and they will look to enact the powerful, high work ethic style of play that has been maintained by their manager Kevin McStay from his predecessor Noel O’Brien.
There are plus points all over the field for them in defensive anchor Darragh Donnelly, midfield collosus Karol Mannion, the offensive instincts of Senan Kilbride and the cool free-taking of Frankie Dolan. This final is new territory for a Ballaghaderreen team who will need to settle better than they did in their last outing against Curry.
Ballaghadereen’s Barry Kelly scores a late goal in the Mayo county final. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Their sparkling play in the second-half against Curry will infuse Ballaghaderren with optimism. They were excellent in that phase proving that even without their injured talisman Andy Moran, they have quality players in Keith Rogers, James Kilcullen, Barry Kelly and full-forward Barry Regan, who posted 0-8 in their recent tie.
Gazing into the crystal ball…Ballaghaderreen look a club intent on making waves beyond their local territory this season and there is an ambition about their approach. Yet St Brigid’s erased lingering doubts with their controlled victory over Salthill-Knocknacarra and it is difficult to look past a team as well-drilled and focused as theirs.
Verdict: St Brigid’s
