St Brigids 2-16
Drumconrath 0-20 aet

This Tailteann Cup semi-final threw up a cracking game of football between two committed teams in Kilmainhamwood on what technically was the last day of Summer.

Brigids started really well and had a goal and a point from Michael Flood within the 1st minute. Drumconrath with Brendan Lyons and Graham Tighe causing all kinds of trouble soon narrowed the gap as Lyons and an Alan Byrne free got them going and indeed should have been level but for 2 ward ward frees.


Drumconrath with Peter McEvoy and Stephan Crosby in fine form at midfield played really well for the rest of the half and out scored the North West boys by 7 points to 3 to lead 0-9 to 1-4 at the break. Flood and Killian Kiernan where looking threatening for them as Drums had points from 7 different scorers Crosby, Chris Tighe, Lyons, Jamie Myles, Byrne, McEvoy and Graham Tighe.

Scores where harder to come by in the early part of the second half but still Flood and Kiernan at one end and Lyons and Tighe at the other where causing all sorts of bother for defenders. Lyons pointed early in the half and while St Brigids replied Byrne pointed twice (1 free) to give Drums a 4 point lead by the three quarter stage. Brigids were reduced to 14 when Karl Kiernan received a 2nd yellow for a foul on Lyons.

This seemed to give St Brigids a lift and three quick points narrowed the gap and then Flood got his 2nd goal to see them take the lead 2-8 to 0-12. Both sides shared 4 points (Derek Duff and Alan Byrne frees for Drums) and so with time almost up Brigids still led by 2. Byrne hit a mighty free to leave a single score between the sides and a late late Duff free moved up for dissent leveled the game as the crowd settled in for another 20 minutes play with the score 2-10 to 0-16 at the end of 60 minutes.

Brigids back to 15 players tore into the extra time and in those 1st 10 minutes pointed 5 times to lead 2-15 to 0-17 with Stephan Brown and Ryan Tighe taking over around midfield. Byrne did reply for Drumconrath but a few poor wides in that half had a big effect on the final scoreline.

Brigids seemed to have the upper hand and appeared a bit fitter but Drumconrath battled on as Brigids pointed again to lead by 5 points with substitute AJ Gilsenan doing well. Drumconrath did get the last 3 points of the game all Byrne and Duff frees as time ran out.

Brigids over all may have deserved their win but will know they where in a game, a typical Junior match with some strong hits fine scores throughout with Sean Kane in fine form making some excellent saves to keep Drumconrathin the game. Aiden Tighe who had his hands full with the lively Killian Kiernan also played well while McEvoy and Crosby had some great passages of play at mid field.

Brendan Lyons and Graham Tighe where a constant threat up front while Alan Byrne fired over some great points.

Drumconrath; Sean Kane; John Lynch, Aiden Tighe, Patrick Dunne; Colm McEvoy, Peter Tighe, Jamie Myles (0-1); Stephan Crosby (0-1), Peter McEvoy (0-1); Derek Duff (0-3), Chris Tighe (0-1), Eoin Martin; Graham Tighe (0-1), Alan Byrne (0-9), Brendan Lyons (0-3). Subs; Damien Glass for G Tighe, Gavin Finnegan for C Tighe, John McDermott for C McEvoy and Graham Tighe for Finnegan Tweet

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