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St Brigid’s Darren Dolan and Frankie Dolan celebrate with Frankie Dolan Snr. after the game. INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Dolan proves the match-winner for St Brigid's in club final

After years of heartache, the Roscommon club finally achieved glory in today’s decider against Ballymun Kickhams.

St Brigid’s (Roscommon) 2-11
Ballymun Kickhams (Dublin) 2-10

FRANKIE DOLAN WAS the hero for St Brigid’s as he kicked the match-winning point in injury-time of today’s AIB All-Ireland club senior football final in Croke Park.

Dolan shot over off his left to cap a sensational comeback for the Roscommon club after they had trailed by 2-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes.

Their All-Ireland dreams looked in ruins at that stage after Dublin champions Ballymun Kickhams had exploded from the starting blocks with early goals from Dean Rock and Philly McMahon.

But St Brigid’s, who had suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final two years ago against Crossmaglen Rangers, along with semi-final losses in 2007 and 2012 refused to wilt.

Their chances were boosted when Senan Kilbride found the net in the 13th minute while midfielder Karol Mannion kicked some excellent points before the interval.

St Brigid’s Senan Kilbride scores their first goal of the game despite the efforts of James Burke of Ballymun Kickhams.
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Ballymun Kickhams were still in the ascendancy at the midway mark with Ted Furman, who sparkled in the opening-half, notching the final point of the opening period to see them ahead by 2-6 to 1-5 at half-time.

However St Brigid’s drew level early in the second-half with Kilbride firing some classy points and then in the 39th minute Mannion did superbly to fist the ball to the net and tie the teams at 2-7 apiece.

In a terrific contest, the action ebbed and flowed from there until the final whistle. James Burke and Frankie Dolan traded points before Darragh Donnelly and Dean Rock did likewise.

Dolan kicked over a superb point in the 46th minute but Jason Whelan tied the match when he raised a white flag in the 55th minute. A replay looked a possibility until Dolan popped up with the point that delivered St Brigid’s first ever All-Ireland senior club title and ensured they became the first Roscommon club to claim national honours.

St Brigid’s Shane Curran and Ian Kilbride celebrate after the game
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

St Brigid’s: Senan Kilbride 1-3, Karol Mannion 1-2, Frankie Dolan 0-4 (0-1 ’45), Darragh Donnelly, Richard Blaine 0-1 each.
Ballymun Kickhams: Dean Rock 1-3 (1-0f), Philly McMahon 1-0, Ted Furman, James Burke, Jason Whelan 0-2 each, Karl Connolly 0-1.

ST BRIGID’S: Shane Curran; Gearoid Cunniffe, Peter Domican, Johnny Murray; Niall Grehan, Darragh Donnelly, Ronan Stack; Karol Mannion, Ian Kilbride; Damien Kelleher, Richard Blaine, Darren Dolan; Cathal McHugh, Senan Kilbride, Frankie Dolan.

Subs: Conor McHugh for Blaine, Eoin Sheehy for Cathal McHugh.

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: Sean Currie; Eoin Dolan, Sean George, Enda Dolan; Alan Hubbard, Karl Connolly, James Burke; James McCarthy, Philly McMahon; Davey Byrne, Kevin Leahy, Jason Whelan; Ted Furman, Dean Rock, Elliott Reilly.

Subs: Derek Byrne for Leahy, Conor Weir for George, John Small for Reilly.

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)

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