Updated at 18.59

St Brigid’s 3-13

Roscommon Gaels 3-7

John Fallon reports at Dr Hyde Park

ST BRIGID’S FINISHED strongly to claim their 16th Roscommon SFC title and their seventh in the last eight years in an exciting final at Dr Hyde Park.

The game looked to be heading for a draw when 14-man Roscommon Gaels drew level in the closing stages.

But the reigning champions pulled away and sealed victory with two late goals to hold on to their crown.

St Brigid’s led by 1-9 to 2-4 at the end of a cracking opening half where the champions found the net after just 15 seconds when Brian Stack scored after fielding a high ball from Senan Kilbride.

Kilbride followed up with a free two minutes later but Roscommon Gaels responded and Cian Connolly got them off the mark with a free.

He tied the match when he slotted home a ninth minute penalty after he himself was fouled.

Roscommon Gaels didn’t help their cause with six opening half wides — Brigid’s had none in that period — but they never let the champions pull away.

Brigid’s managed to open up a 1-5 to 1-1 lead after 20 minutes but Ronan Gleeson and Richard Hughes responded with points for the Gaels and they got a big break five minutes from the interval when James O’Gara finished off a great move to score their second goal.

Cathal McHugh brought his first-half tally to 0-3 with a second free but Roscommon Gaels were given hope when Connolly pointed a free in stoppage time to leave two between them at the break.

Brigid’s started the second-half well but were hauled back when Gaels skipper Mark Healy scored their third goal.

But then centre-back David O’Gara, who had been booked earlier, was sent off when he picked up a black card.

They never gave up and a pointed free from Connolly tied the sides going into the final ten minutes.

But sub Jack McDonnell edged Brigid’s back in front and victory was assured when another sub Conor Murray found the yet and then midfielder Eddie Nolan cracked home the insurance score.

Scorers for St Brigid’s: B Stack 1-1, S Kilbride 0-4 (0-3f), C McHugh 0-4 (0-3f), E Nolan 1-0, P Kelly 0-1, E Sheehy 0-1, D Dolan 0-1, J McDonnell 0-1.

Scorers for Roscommon Gaels: C Connolly 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-4f), J O’Gara 1-0, M Healy 1-0, R Hughes 0-2, R Gleeson,

St Brigid’s

1 Shane Mannion

2 Darragh Sheehy
3 Peter Domican
4 Niall McInerney

5 Ronan Stack
6 Ian Kilbride
7 Johnny Murray

8 Garvan Dolan
9 Eddie Nolan

10 Eoin Sheehy
11 Darren Dolan
12 Padraig Kelly

26 Cathal McHugh
14 Senan Kilbride
15 Brian Stack

Substitutes:
22 David Cunniffe for E Sheehy (31)
19 Darragh Donnelly for Murray (48)
13 Jack McDonnell for McHugh (50)
23 Conor Murray for D Dolan (55)
20 Niall Grehan for R Stack (58)

Roscommon Gaels

1 James Fetherstone

2 Liam McNeela
3 John McManus
4 Ronan Gleeson

5 Paul Gleeson
6 David O’Gara
7 Cathal Dineen

8 Mark Healy
9 James McDermott

10 James O’Gara
11 Scott Oates
12 Richard Hughes

13 Cian Connolly
14 Mark Nally
15 Kieran Kilcline

Substitutes:

18 Kevin O’Gara for Nally (38)
20 Brian O’Gara for James O’Gara (49)
28 Ryan Horan for R Gleeson (54)

Referee: Brendan Healy (St Faithleach’s)

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