Sport’s Desk – 5/12/25

Hand played like a boy in his back garden, daydreaming of days like this

 

Paul Healy

 

At least there’s something worse than conceding an early goal – conceding a late one. More of that later.

It was Moycullen who struck early on Sunday, with a McDonagh one-two an early warning that this was never going to be a routine Connacht coronation for St Brigid’s.

Fionn McDonagh ghosted in from the right, dispensing with tacklers before fisting the ball over. In the third minute, Fiachra McDonagh got his hand to a high ball and palmed it away from Conor Carroll – and into the net. Moycullen were 1-1 to no score ahead, and St Brigid’s had barely touched the ball.

Slowly, the Roscommon champions played their way into the game. It took them a while to yield a dividend, this final into its 9th minute before Brigid’s got their first score, a well-struck Bobby Nugent free.

Ben O’Carroll was getting on the ball, but such is his jinking prowess, the Brigid’s attacker now attracts as much attention as the average royal does security. More often than not there were two men on O’Carroll – occasionally three – and on a few occasions he got bottled up and lost possession. But as the half wore on, his class told. In full flow, O’Carroll has moves reminiscent of a ballet dancer, not that any ballet dancer has ever had to contend with a couple of strong markers bearing down on them.

Once Brigid’s had played their way into the contest, it was game on… against a very well prepared Moycullen side. Although the Galway team were staying ahead, the momentum of the game was slowly changing, St Brigid’s slicing their way through the Moycullen lead with the precision of a surgeon. Well, Brigid’s had a couple of wides and also hit the upright twice, probably not a strike rate return one would wish for from a surgeon. But I digress.

The Roscommon champions scored six points in 13 minutes, evidence of their class. This, despite midfield superiority for Moycullen, and St Brigid’s being far from comfortable on their own kickouts.

Key to their comeback was Conor Hand. What a performance we saw from this marvellous player last Sunday. An early (superb) two-pointer was a welcome settler. O’Carroll began to profit from his huge endeavour, chipping in with two timely points. Then, with Moycullen 1-5 to 0-8 in front in first-half injury-time, the inspirational Hand produced another great two-pointer to give his team a big psychological boost as the walk to the dressing rooms beckoned.

Moycullen had done so much so well, but were only level at half-time. It felt ominous for the Galway champions, even if the wind advantage was to come for them.

And yet, when St Brigid’s moved a point ahead for the first time on the restart (a Brian Derwin score), Moycullen responded resolutely. By the 37th minute, they were three ahead (1-10 to 0-10), helped by Dessie Conneely’s two-pointer. Nobody was panicking in the St Brigid’s corner, but this contest undeniably had the feel now of one that would be neck and neck going down the home stretch.

With almost everything Conor Hand touched continuing to transform into gold, St Brigid’s kept in touch. The teams were level going into the last ten minutes. Tension hung in the air. Paul McGrath gave Brigid’s the lead with eight minutes to go. Moycullen saw his score and raised it, two points putting them one clear. With less than four minutes left, Ruaidhrí Fallon’s moment of destiny came.

Guaranteed a big prize (an equalising point), he gambled for a jackpot (a goal). It was a brave decision, laced with risk. Fallon shot for goal, despite all the bodies breathing down on him. When he treaded the ball to its target, it put St Brigid’s 1-15 to 1-13 ahead, and you could almost hear a collective sigh of relief amongst ‘home’ supporters in the Hyde. But there was seven more tension-filled minutes to bear (three of them additional time). Conneely and O’Carroll were both on the mark with frees. Moycullen had a late chance for a two-pointer, but it soared wide. St Brigid’s held on, winning 1-16 to 1-14.

It was a great, honest contest, a fitting tribute to the late and lamented Don Connellan, the former Kilmore and Roscommon football artisan who was also so closely associated with Moycullen.

Fallon’s super goal was the defining score of the game. Conceding a late goal is indeed worse than conceding an early one.

Fallon was a hero for St Brigid’s, who prevailed after a tremendous show of resistance by Moycullen. But the star of the hour was Conor Hand, who played in the spirit of Don Connellan, with the nonchalance of a boy in his back garden, daydreaming of days like this.