Photo: Emmet Ryan, @action81 (via Twitter)
There was plenty of green and red in evidence after the final whistle at McHale Park this afternoon but the colours belonged to Roscommon champions St Brigid’s who’d just bagged their third Connacht club championship title on the trot. Ballaghaderreen stayed with them until half-time in this afternoon’s provincial decider – where they trailed the defending champions by just a single point – but they were completely blown away in the second half with Brigid’s outscoring the Mayo champs by 1-6 to a single point during that lopsided second thirty minutes. St Brigid’s had nine points to spare at the finish, recording a very comfortable 1-12 to 0-6 win. You can’t really argue with that.
A brief match report is available here and Emmet Ryan’s post-match video analysis from McHale Park is here.
St Brigids are slick outfit Ballagh couldn’t live with them in the 2nd half it’s going to take a good team to beat them and that good team could be in the next game (Crossmaglen)
Ballagh did really well to win the Mayo championship nobody including most of their own fans expected it. Castlebar after winning three in row U21 are they going to end the senior famine sooner than later?
In fairness, McStay and McHale are doing a very good job in Kiltoom. The intensity in the tackle and the amount of turnovers the oppostion give up is a credit to team and management. Regardless of who you are or who you might think you are, everybody puts in a hard working shift tracking back and positions don’t mean a huge pile. Only the second time a three in a row has been done (the other was Clan with 6) in Connacht. Brigids won 8 county under 21 titles in a row and thats standing to them now, competition for places is intense.
Ballagh had a limited game plan and could not penetrate a robust defence and had to shoot from long distances. Moran and the Hanleys were bound to be a big loss.
It will be interesting to see how St Brigid’s will fair against Crossmaglen. Some team has to end their dominance of club football at some stage, and seeing as it was my club, Knockmore they beat to win their first final, it would be fitting that a team from the West should do it. They have a chance !!!
Hi Willie Joe in Mayo for weekend and just heard that Gabriel Irwin passed away suddenly but not sure if it is THE Gabriel that played in goals for Mayo or not did u hear anything ?
I haven’t heard anything, livenhope – I can see there’s a death notice under that name alright but I don’t know any more than that, I’m afraid.
Thanks a mil don’t think it is … But can’t be too many Gabriel Irwins around
It’s now been confirmed to me that the deceased is a different person. May God be good to him.
Charlestown will play the Tyrone champions Cookstown in the All Ireland Intermediate semi final they won the Intermediate Ulster title in extra time yesterday and won the intermediate All Ireland two years ago
According to the WP, members of the Mayo squad met for fitness assessment with a few new faces in the group – Tom Cunniffe back again, along with Aghamore’s Cathal Freeman and Ballaghadereen’s Keith Rogers.
Donegal hit for €60,000 over ticket debacle, Mayo win their argument!
http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/donegal-ordered-to-return-60000-ticket-tax-3317362.html