Glen produce stunning fightback to win All-Ireland senior club title

But there was nothing predictable about how it came about, and St Brigid’s of Roscommon will carry a multitude of regrets for months, even years, over how this one got away.

When midfielder Eddie Nolan clipped his second point of this absorbing Croke Park contest, there were 55 minutes on the clock and the underdogs from Kiltoom led by four points – 1-11 to 1-7.

Even though Glen had dominated much of the possession after leaking a goal to Brian Derwin two minutes after the resumption, their shot selection and execution had been so off-kilter that it was almost impossible to conceive a way back for the Derry champions. Moreover, as the game entered this pivotal period, they were still down to 14 men after a 48th minute black card for Cathal Mulholland.

But, in the face of ultimate adversity and staring a second consecutive year of All-Ireland heartbreak, they somehow found a way.

Michael Warnock, who had endured a torrid first half chasing Ben O’Carroll before the marking baton passed to Ryan Dougan, kickstarted the revival with an audacious point from the Hogan Stand wing.

Even then, there was no obvious hint of what was to come. But then Brigid’s conceded a free near the Cusack touchline and when the ball inside was caught by Conor Glass, he burst through a tackle before unleashing a shot from over 20 metres out. His 58th minute shot flew past a possibly unsighted Cormac Sheehy and, improbably, the sides were level.

Glass had been heroic in carrying the fight, even while many of his teammates struggled to locate the form that had got them back to Croker.

But now, suddenly, they had all the momentum and it was Brigid’s who were starting to panic in possession. Five minutes of stoppage time had been signalled, and one of those had elapsed when Emmett Bradley tapped over a free won by Conor Convery.

Sheehy went long from the next kickout, Glass punched it Glen’s way and Conleth McGuckian, who had struggled with all of his earlier shooting, gleefully fired over.

There was still time for one last stand from the Rossies but, after Shane Cunnane had punished a foul on O’Carroll with a free, he was given another opportunity from further out, this time the 45m line, after McGuckian was black-carded for pulling down Brian Stack.

Cunnane had the distance, but not quite the range, as his free trailed wide of the left upright. History for Glen, purgatory for Brigid’s.

The early portents were promising for St Brigid’s: their one previous All-Ireland triumph came in 2013, on the same day that St Thomas’ of Galway won their maiden hurling title.

Lo and behold, the same Galway outfit claimed their second All-Ireland in today’s opening decider, fuelling the prospect of a surreal double.

And once the action started, it was the men from Kiltoom who dominated the first half narrative, their movement up front and clever interplay causing all manner of discomfort for the favourites from south Derry.

Full-back Brian Stack ghosted into space to kick Brigid’s into a fifth minute lead but, after three nervy wides, Glen found their range through Emmett Bradley, who converted a tap-over free and followed up with another left-footed effort from play.

Ten minutes in, they led by 0-2 to 0-1 … but Brigid’s hit them for seven of the next nine minutes to lead by 0-8 to 0-4 approaching half-time, and deservedly so.

In truth, the situation might have been even more parlous for Glen, who were indebted to ‘keeper Connlan Bradley to deny Ben O’Carroll a breakaway goal on 13 minutes.

That pivotal opportunity stemmed from a crossfield pass by Glen’s Tiarnan Flanagan that was pounced on by Brigid’s wing-back Ruaidhrí Fallon around his own 45m line. Straight away, the chance of a turnover goal loomed large, with Fallon twice linking with O’Carroll.

However, the latter’s final shot, off his favourite left foot, lacked the conviction you’d expect from such a prolific finisher, giving Bradley a chance.

With referee Brendan Cawley calling back play for an earlier foul, O’Carroll enjoyed some compensation with a tap-over free, then added another placed ball soon after as his team edged in front.

When the excellent Fallon hit the first of his two points, their lead had grown to four. But then, almost straight away, a piece of possession pinball culminated in Danny Tallon feeding Jody McDermott for a 28th minute that breathed life into Glen’s previously faltering challenge.

Ethan Doherty quickly followed up with an equaliser, to leave the half-time score at 1-5 to 0-8.

Brigid’s must have wondered how they weren’t ahead … but then Robbie Dolan and O’Carroll combined to tee up Derwin for a 32nd minute goal, fisted home at the far post. Derwin’s follow-up point, an exquisite outside of the boot effort, cemented the impression that this was going to be their day.

How wrong could we be.

SCORERS

Glen: C Glass 1-2 (1 ‘45’), E Bradley 0-4 (3f), J McDermott 1-0, C McFaul, E Doherty, M Warnock, C McGuckian 0-1 each.

St Brigid’s: B Derwin 1-1, B O’Carroll 0-3 (2f, 1m), R Fallon, E Nolan 0-2 each, B Stack, B Nugent, C Sugrue, S Cunnane (f) 0-1 each.

TEAMS

GLEN – C Bradley; C Carville, R Dougan, M Warnock; E Mulholland, C McFaul, C Mulholland; C Glass, E Bradley; E Doherty, J Doherty, C Convery; A Doherty, D Tallon, C McGuckian.

Subs: C Convery for E Mulholland (26), S O’Hara for Carville (inj 44), C McCabe for Doherty (56).

ST BRIGID’S – C Sheehy; R Dolan, B Stack, P Frost; R Fallon, A Daly, R Stack; E Nolan, S Cunnane; B Nugent, P McGrath, C Hand; B O’Carroll, B Derwin, C Sugrue.

Subs: J Cunningham for Derwin (45), C Gleeson for Nugent (56).

REF – B Cawley (Kildare)