Brigid's goals break Glencar Manorhamilton hearts in dramatic finale

Three second half goals for Roscommon’s St Brigid’s were enough to end Glencar Manorhamilton’s dreams of reaching the AIB Connacht LGFA Senior Championship Final last Saturday in Boggaun, the visitors making the most of the wind in the second half to prevail by the narrowest margin.

Saturday’s game was originally a home fixture for the Roscommon side but with their men’s team in a replayed Roscommon SFC Final the same day, the game reverted to Manorhamilton but the unexpected bonus of home advantage wasn’t enough to see the Leitrim champions back to a Connacht Final.

Glencar Manorhamilton enjoyed a four point interval advantage but after the restart St. Brigid's upped their game and opened up the Manor defence by quickly moving the ball downfield to their mobile full-forward line of Marian Nolan, Aine O'Brien and Sarah O'Rourke.

Two goals from  O’Brien and another from O’Rourke changed the game in Brigid’s favour as Glencar Manor’s defence couldn’t cope with the St Brigid’s attack. In the closing minutes,  Manor staged a herculean effort to force extra time when they cut St. Brigid's lead from four points to a single score. 

St. Brigid's came fresher into Saturday's semi-final not having played a game since they won the Roscommon final on October 11. For Glencar Manor Saturday's Connacht semi-final was their second game in six days after defeating Sligo’s Eoghan Rua the previous Monday.

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Abby Curran and Kate Nolan were impressive performers for St. Brigid's while Muireann Devaney and Emma McLaughlin stood out for Glencar Manor. However it was the performance of Aine O'Brien in this game that clinched victory for St. Brigid's.

After both sides missed scoring chances, Muireann Devaney edged Glencar Manor in front when she put over a 4th minute free following a St. Brigid's foul on Leah Fox. St. Brigid's equalised three minutes later when Sarah O'Rourke split the uprights. 

Shortly afterwards Aine O'Brien fluffed a St. Brigid's goal chance from close range thanks to alert defending by the Glencar Manor rearguard and goalkeeper Niamh Loughlin. Leah Fox pointed on the eight minute mark to put Glencar Manor noses in front again. 

It was even Stephen once more within two minutes after a St. Brigid's Kate Nolan free following an Annette Foley foul on O'Brien. Glencar Manor grabbed the lead again at the end of the first quarter thanks to a Muireann Devaney free just outside the 40 metre arc after Vanessa Fox had been fouled. 

Four minutes later Aoife Gilmartin increased Manor's lead when she finished a good move that involved Muireann Devaney and Vanessa Fox in the build-up.

A super save by St. Brigid's keeper Caoimhe O'Reilly denied a 22nd minute Nessa Fox effort from close range but the home side increased their advantage to three points four minutes later when Muireann Devaney split the posts.

St. Brigid's put a good attacking move together on the 27 minute mark which Alison Nugent finished with a well taken point. Three minutes later Nugent won a free which Kate Nolan tapped over the crossbar to leave just a point between the sides.

As halftime approached, Muireann Devaney put Nessa Fox through to rifle home a goal that gave Glencar Manorhamilton 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.

After the restart, St. Brigid's Caoimhe O'Reilly pulled off a top drawer save to prevent a 32nd minute Roisin Rooney shot entering the net. Three minutes later unmarked St. Brigid's Sarah O'Rourke was on hand to finish to the net after a 'high' ball that was sent in by Kate Nolan came off the hands of Niamh Loughlin.

Rebecca Rooney sees a goal effort stopped by St Brigid's keeper C O'Reilly Picture: James Molloy

A 40th minute foul on St. Brigid's livewire Aine O'Brien was punished by Kate Nolan who tapped over the resultant free to level matters. Two minutes later, Muireann Devaney briefly restored Manor's lead after she converted a free for a foul on Nessa Fox.

Within a minute, St. Brigid’s took the lead for the first time when Aine O'Brien beat her marker Hannah Johnston and rifled her shot to the net from close range.

Glencar Manor responded well by levelling matters by the end of the third quarter thanks to Muireann Devaney who converted a free after Leah Fox was fouled and then shot over again after being put through by Leah Fox.

Muireann Devaney put Manor back in front when she split the uprights with her third point on the trot, a lead the home side would hold for another five minutes but that ended on 51 minutes when Aine O'Brien fired home St. Brigid's third goal to put her side on the road to victory. 

Over the next seven minutes St. Brigid's got a slight upper-hand and they increased their advantage to four points after Alison Nugent and Lucy Sheffield split the home side's posts with the Roscommon women's last scores in the game. 

Glencar Manor staged a spirited  rally in the dying minutes in a brave bid to force extra time. St. Brigid's were reduced to 14 players with the sin binning of Aoibhe Lennon and Muireann Devaney converted three frees.

Devaney had a  free in added time to force extra time but the free dropped short into the of St. Brigid's goalkeeper Caoimhe O'Reilly, leaving St Brigid’s very relieved to win by the skin of their teeth as they fought like tigresses to deny a late Glencar Manor goal chance.

GLENCAR MANORHAMILTON

Scorers: Muireann Devaney 0-10, 7f; Nessa Fox 1-0; Leah Fox & Aoife Gilmartin 0-1 each

Team: Niamh Loughlin; Annette Foley, Hannah Johnston, Denise Stenson; Melissa Hewitt, Emma McLoughlin, Lauren Devaney; Dearbhla Rooney, Anna Devaney; Rebecca Rooney, Leah Fox, Aoife Gilmartin; Roisin Rooney, Muireann Devaney, Nessa Fox. Subs: Sarah Mulvaney Kelly for Stenson (48); Chloe Rooney for R Rooney (52)

ST BRIGID'S

Scorers: A. O'Brien 2-0; S. O'Rourke 1-1; K. Nolan 0-3, 3f; A. Nugent 0-2; L. Sheffield 0-1

Team: C. O'Reilly; S. Francis, A. McGrath, A. Minnock; C. Walsh, R. Lennon, A. Lennon; A. Curran, K. Nolan, C. Grehan, A. Nugent, S. O'Hara; M. Nolan, A. O'Brien, S. O'Rourke. Subs: L. Sheffield for Minnock (48); K. Sammon for Walsh (59)

REFEREE: Gerard Canny (Mayo)