AIB All-Ireland Club SFC Final: Daingean Uí Chúis win thriller
Daingean Uí Chúis' Paul Geaney celebrates at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
AIB All-Ireland Club SFC Final
Daingean Uí Chúis 0-23 St Brigid's 1-19
By Cian O'Connell at Croke Park
Daingean Uí Chúis' flair for the dramatic was perfectly illustrated in a game for the ages. Mikey Geaney's gorgeous point at the end of extra-time decided a match that raged from start to finish.
Ruaidhrí Fallon was immense for St Brigid's, but somehow Daingean Uí Chúis found a way to survive and thrive with Tom O'Sullivan, Dylan Geaney, and Paul Geaney contributing when it truly mattered.
Trailing by two points in the dying embers, O'Sullivan wriggled clear to clip two fantastic points. A penalty shootout appeared imminent, but Mikey Geaney, still going strong, supplied the decisive blow.
An Poc Ar Buile reverberated around the Jones' Road venue.
It was an opening period of bursts. Daingean Uí Chúis thundered into the contest accumulating a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage.
Then, though, Brigid's assumed control as Daingean Uí Chúis endured a baren spell of 17 scoreless minutes.
Brigid's were slick, edging 0-7 to 0-5 in front with Ruaidhrí Fallon and Shane Cunnane influential for the Roscommon and Connacht standard bearers.
Tadhg Browne terminated Daingean Uí Chúis' search for a score in the 27th minute before the excellent Tom O'Sullivan restored parity.
Bobby Nugent replied with a couple of points for Brigid's, who departed at the break armed with a 0-9 to 0-7 lead.
It was similarly interesting after the restart as a brilliant Mark O'Connor two pointer had the teams deadlocked at 0-10 each in the 36th minute.
Fallon pounced for a 39th minute major, reacting promptly and with bravery to punch a goal after Conor Hand's initial effort had caused panic.
Suddenly, Brigid's were 1-10 to 0-10 ahead, but Dainegan Uí Chúis summoned another response.
Ben O'Carroll, St Brigid's, and Conor Flannery, Daingean Uí Chúis, in action during the AIB All-Ireland Club SFC Final at Croke Park. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Dylan Geaney's two pointer trimmed the deficit to the minimum before Paul Geaney landed a free to equalise.
Then Dylan Geaney edged Daingean Uí Chúis in front following a Paul Geaney pass.
Hand levelled once more. Daingean Uí Chúis were admirably determined as the industrious Tadhg Browne rifled over two great points either side of a splendid Mark O'Connor block on Brian Stack.
A Shane Cunnane 45 was followed by a cute Paul Geaney point in additional time as Daingean Uí Chúis were on the verge of victory.
With one last gasp attack Brigid's forced extra-time as Fallon whipped over a gorgeous two pointer, 0-17 to 1-14.
Fallon remained on centre stage when the fare recommenced. A score from play was followed by a two pointer to guide Brigid's three in front.
Conor Geaney and Dylan Geaney (two) had Daingean Uí Chúis back on terms. Brigid's ploughed on defiantly as Shane Cunnane and sub Charlie O'Connor nudged them 1-19 to 0-20 to the good.
O'Sullivan demonstrated real leadership with a brace of points. Mikey Geaney subsequently sealed the deal. Éacht eile.
Scorers for Daingean Uí Chúis: Dylan Geaney 0-6 (1 2pt), Tom O'Sullivan 0-5, Tadhg Browne and Paul Geaney (1f) 0-3 each, Mark O'Connor (2pt) and Conor Flaherty (2pt) 0-2 each, Mikey Geaney and Conor Geaney (f) 0-1 each.
Scorers for St Brigid's: Ruaidhrí Fallon 1-6 (2 2pt), Shane Cunnane 0-5 (1 2pt, 1 45), Conor Hand 0-3, Bobby Nugent 0-2 (1f), Brian Stack, Ben O'Carroll and Charlie O'Carroll 0-1 each.
Daingean Uí Chúis: Gavin Curran; Brian O'Connor, Tom Leo O'Sullivan, Patrick O'Connor; Aidan O'Connor, Tom O'Sullivan, Conor Flannery; Mark O'Connor, Billy O'Connor; Matthew Flaherty, Dylan Geaney, Tadhg Browne; Conor Geaney, Paul Geaney, Niall Geaney.
Subs: Ned Ryan for B O'Connor (50), Mikey Geaney for Flaherty (58), Seán Óg Moran for Browne (71), Matthew Flaherty for A O'Connor (71).
St Brigid's: Conor Carroll; Seán Trundle, Pearse Frost, Robbie Dolan; Ruaidhdrí Fallon, Brian Stack, Paul McGrath; Shane Cunnane, Eddie Nolan; Ciarán Sugrue, Conor Hand, Bobby Nugent; Ben O'Carroll, Mark Daly, Brian Derwin.
Subs: Ronan Stack for Nugent (48), Charlie O'Carroll for Ben O'Carroll (55), Senan Kilbride for Daly (58), Eoghan Derwin for Sugrue (71), Ben O'Carroll for B Derwin (71), Eoin Sheehy for McGrath (76).
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).
