AIB All-Ireland Club SFC final: St Brigid’s v Dingle on Sunday in Croke Park at 3.40 pm
Two years after the heartbreak of their one-point defeat to a last-gasp Conor Glass goal for Glen in the 2024 All-Ireland Club final, St Brigid’s will have the chance to erase the memories of that dark day and bring the Andy Merrigan Cup to Kiltoom for the second time in the club’s history when they face Kerry and Munster champions Dingle in Croke Park this Sunday.
To write that this final is on a knife-edge and could go either way is not to take an easy way out in terms of analysis – it’s just a fact. An excellent case can be made for both sides, and a tremendous battle lies ahead.
St Brigid’s have reached the final without ever playing the football that they are capable of for a full 60 minutes. The nearest they came to that was against Ballina in the Connacht Championship. Having said that, Anthony Cunningham’s team know how to win big games and they have shown they have what it takes to get out of any tight corner.
It’s a huge asset to have, especially in big championship games. Brigid’s used it to maximum effect against Pádraig Pearses in the county final, against Moycullen in the Connacht final, and against Scotstown in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In every game in this championship, different Brigid’s players have stood up to be to counted at one stage or other – and that’s a sign of a great team.
The full-back line were tremendous against Scotstown. Pearse Frost was super on his return from injury that day. Séan Trundle and Robbie Dolan have been so solid.
The half-back line have been good all year. Ruaidhrí Fallon and Paul McGrath have been magnificent. To have Brian Stack fit for the final is a huge boost to the team. He is the leader and heart and soul of this St Brigid’s side.
The midfield have been under pressure at times during the campaign but they have contributed handsomely to this superb run to the final. Eddie Nolan and Shane Cunnane know that they will have to perform again on Sunday.
Every member of the attack has been prominent at one stage or other. Ciarán Sugrue, Brian Derwin, Ben O’Carroll, Conor Hand, Bobby Nugent, Senan Kilbride, Mark Daly and Charlie O’Carroll have all done their bit.
St Brigid’s never panicked against Moycullen and against Scotstown in particular when they found a way to grind out the win. They will need such calmness under pressure again on Sunday.
Dingle have a number of really classy players in their ranks. Tom O’Sullivan might have number 4 on his back, but you can expect to see him everywhere. His ability to charge forward and score from range is a massive advantage to Dingle and St Brigid’s will have to formulate a plan to try to curb him. In my opinion he is Dingle’s biggest threat.
Of course Paul Geaney is the inspirational leader of this Dingle team. He is equally dangerous off either foot and will most likely play at full-forward. Dylan and Conor Geaney and Matthew Flaherty are also super attackers and the Brigid’s rearguard will have to be in top form to curb their threat.
A massive battle will unfold in the middle of the park. Eddie Nolan and Shane Cunnane have been inconsistent this year for Brigid’s and they will be facing Mark O’Connor and Billy O’Connor in that sector. Mark O’Connor is a marvellous player and since coming back from Australia he has been improving with every game. The winner in this sector will go a long way towards deciding the issue.
It could be argued that Dingle have also been able to find a way to win big championship games. They came back from the dead against both St Finbarrs and Ballyboden. To come from ten points down to defeat the Dublin champions was an incredible feat.
But St Brigid’s have the edge in experience. The defeat to Glen two years ago has meant that the players will be fired up to erase those memories of that last-minute goal from Conor Glass which denied them the title and broke their hearts.
The Brigid’s game plan will be based on being as tight as possible at the back while relying on their devastating pace up front. They will have to find a way of curbing the influence of Tom O’Sullivan, Paul Geaney and Mark O’Connor, who are the potential match-winners for the Kerry side.
Dingle will be also be motivated by the victories for Ballymacelligot and An Ghaeltacht in the junior and intermediate club finals last Sunday. To make it three All-Ireland club titles for Kerry in the same season would be unprecedented.
I have been so impressed by Brigid’s in this campaign. They have gone about their business without any fuss and although they have been under pressure in almost every game, they have kept calm, trusted in their game plan and come out on top.
They will be under pressure again on Sunday and it certainly will not be plain sailing. But the Brigid’s coaching and tactics have been top class so far and they can cope with the Dingle storm on Sunday.
I think that the Andy Merrigan Cup will be crossing the Shannon on Sunday night. I take St Brigid’s to win by two points.
Prediction: St Brigid’s.