Connacht Final: Glory for Castlebar Mitchels

AIB GAA Connacht Senior Club Championship FinalCastlebar Mitchels (Mayo) 3-13 St. Brigid's (Roscommon) 2-12 (AET)

Castlebar Mitchels won their first Connacht club title in 20 years with a pulsating extra-time victory over All-Ireland champions St. Brigid's in Dr. Hyde Park on Sunday.

It was a remarkable game in so many respects. Four players were sent off, and the momentum swung at various stages to both sides, before Castlebar eventually emerged victorious in extra-time.

St. Brigid's got off to a flyer thanks to Senan Kilbride's early goal, and although Castlebar responded with a goal before the break from Danny Kirby, the Roscommon side lead 1-6 to 1-1 at the interval.

Given their vast experience at this level, it looked as though a five-point lead for the All-Ireland champions would be hard to overhaul, but a brilliant Castlebar scoring burst saw them yield 2-5 in the third quarter, and swung the game towards them,

Neil Douglas got the first goal after the break from the penalty spot and it was followed by a goal from Mayo intercounty player Richie Feeney. By the end of the scoring surge, Castlebar lead by five points but a straight red card for Castlebar midfielder Barry Moran following Douglas' goal was a major blow.

St. Brigid's took full advantage of the dismissal and went on to hit 1-4 without reply. Richie Blaine's goal boosted them greatly, and a couple of points from Frankie Dolan helped them into a two-point lead as time ticked away.

St. Brigid's forward Ian Kilbride was sent off in the dying moments of normal time, and two late points from Douglas, one from play and the equaliser from a free deep into injury time, ensured the extra period.

Both teams had 15 players on the field for the start of extra-time but by the end of it, St. Brigid's had been reduced to 13 men after the dismissals of Darragh Doherty and Blaine.

The game got away from them in the additional 20 minutes, and after sharing a point each in the first half of extra-time, Castlebar Mitchels hit four without reply in the second period to get the win.

Two points from James Durcan and scores from Cian Costello and Danny Kirby saw Castlebar Mitchels take the victory, and given the eminence of some of the teams they have beaten to get out of Mayo and Connacht, they will certainly believe now that there could be more glory to come in the All-Ireland series.

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Scorers for Castlebar Mitchels: Tom King 0-6 (0-3f), Neil Douglas 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f), Danny Kirby 1-1, Richie Feeney 1-0, James Durcan 0-2, Neil Lydon 0-1, Cian Costello 0-1

Scorers for St Brigid's: Senan Kilbride 1-3 (2f), Frankie Dolan 0-6 (3f), Richie Blaine 1-0, Cathal McHugh 0-1, Padraig Kelly 0-1, Adrian Gleeson 0-1.