Clann na nGael 4-15 

St Brigid’s 1-12

Donie Shine played a captain's part by scoring 1-7 as Clann na nGael powered to an emphatic Fahey Cup victory over holders St Brigid's at Dr Hyde Park.

Ciaran Lennon and substitutes Jonathan Dunning and Cathal Callinan also found the net as Clann dismantled their south Roscommon rivals to claim their 21st county title. St Brigid's had triumphed in all 10 of their county final appearances since 2003, but they were simply outclassed on this occasion and finished the game with just 13 men after Gearoid Cunniffe and Garvan Dolan were both sent off in the second half.

Lennon gave the winners a dream start with a goal after just 70 seconds, but the Kiltoom men replied immediately with a similar score from top-scorer Senan Kilbride after Niall McInerney had set him up.

It was nip-and-tuck from there until half-time, with Clann taking a 1-9 to 1-7 lead into the break thanks to late points from Callinan and Shine ('45).

Clann na nGael county senior champions once again with outstanding team performance pic.twitter.com/KPgh8iStnn

— Ross4life (@Rossie4life) October 14, 2018

Things started to unravel for Brigid's following Cunniffe's red card for a high tackle on Jack Connaughton in the 41st minute as goals from Dunning and Callinan in the space of a minute propelled Clann into a 3-10 to 1-10 lead.

The result was never in doubt after that as Jamie Fahy and Shine added frees before the latter completed the rout when he scored their fourth goal from an injury-time penalty.

Clann will return to the Hyde in a fortnight's time to face the London champions in the first round of Connacht club SFC.

Clann na nGael - R O’Reilly; D Pettit, S Flynn, R Gavin; J Connaughton, G Pettit, S Pettit; U Harney (0-1), C Shine (0-1); E Kenny, D Shine (1-7, 1-0pen, 0-4f, 0-2'45), D Connaughton; D McManus, C Lennon (1-3), J Fahy (0-2). Subs: F Lennon for D Pettit (BC), C Callinan (1-1) for D Connaughton, J Dunning (1-0) for D McManus, C McManus for E Kenny, R Naughton for J Fahy, S Henry for S Flynn.

St Brigid’s - S Mannion; R Stack, P Domican, D Sheehy; G Cunniffe, N McInerney, I Kilbride; M Daly (0-2), C Murray; E Cunnane, B Stack (0-1), G Dolan (0-2f); P Kelly (0-1), S Kilbride (1-6, 0-4f), E Sheehy. Subs: E Nolan for C Murray, D Cunniffe for E Cunnane, B Derwin for E Sheehy.

Referee - P Neilan.

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