ST BRENDAN'S: SENIOR CHAMPIONS 2002

Brendan's Clinch second championship.

By Sean Flynn (Irish World)

                                              St Brendan's 2-11  St Clarets 0-10

Back Row Left to Right: Eric O'Reilly, John Cafferkey , Ciaran McCarthy, Dermot O'Halloran, Ed O'Reilly, Ciaran Byrne, Billy Molloy, James Carmody, Jonathan McCaffrey, Martin Gill, Gary Cullen, Sean McAlinden, Barry Solan

Front Row Left to Right: Paddy Corscadden (Selector), Pat McNabb (Manager), Colin McCarthy, Brendan Bolger, Sean Murphy, Kevin Duffy, Niall Barry (Captain), Fergal Greenan, Liam O'Connell, Declan McKeever, John Joe McNabb, Shane Manley, Fintan O'Malley

                                               St Brendan's 2-11  St Clarets 0-10

St Brendan's came away victors in the Allied Irish Bank London Senior Football Championship final in Ruislip on Sunday, in a closely contested game that saw both sides trading tit-for-tat points throughout the first half. However, Brendan's eventually found the extra gear after the interval that allowed them to navigate a course to victory.

The winner’s first goal, which came early in the second half, turned the tide against a Clarets side who were three points ahead at the time. Once Brendan's had the initiative it was always going to be an up hill battle for their off-spring club, as they struggled to find scoring opportunities against a wind that was firmly in the Brendan's sails.

Clarets started the game with more promise and more industry than the Brendan's. The Hoops opened their account with a point practically from the throw-in and it wasn’t long before Tyrone man Mickey McConomy sent over the first of his four points.

This was closely followed by a point from Londoner and team captain Steven Sherry. St  Brendan's were slow to start and seemed to have difficulty finding their range but once they settled, Martin Gill, Brendan's Mayo man in the right back slot steadied their nerves.

Liam O Connell, the Cork left half forward was the second man to point for the Brendan's and once they settled, the quickly put themselves back in touch. 

The two teams went in at the interval with nothing between them at six points each.

St Clarets, doubtless aware that they had failed to fully capitalise on the breeze, came out with a fire in their bellies and their first score, taken by Galway man Martin Hession, seemed to be a statement of intent and it wasn’t long before they had stretched their lead to three points.

Then disaster struck. For some time Brendan's seemed to have the key to unlocking the Clarets’ defence, with a combination of short passing and playing the ball in from the wings.  Clarets goalkeeper Brian Tansey, had kept his team in the game with a couple of magnificent close range reflex saves, but unfortunately for the Roscommon man, his form was not destined to hold out.  After committing himself to a high ball outside the box, he could only look on helplessly as man of the match Martin Gill robbed him and goaled with relative ease, having judged his chance well. To be fair to Tansey, he is normally more at home on the half back line and had played out of his skin with a real take-charge attitude up to that point.

Clarets - bloodied but unbowed - showed an indomitable spirit, despite the fact that the tide of the game had obviously turned against them.  The scrapped hard for every score and the Brendan's were forced to pull something special from the top drawer to consolidate their lead.  That said, James Carmody forced the Clarets into an error that resulted in a penalty and Martin Gill bombed it into the top right hand  corner for his and his side’s second goal.

Brendan's' scores came from all over the forward line and demonstrated an ability to mix their game up, an ability that saw them through admirably in the end.

St Brendan's:

Billy Molloy Wexford; Martin Gill Mayo (2-1), Gary Cullen Wicklow, Sean Murphy Dublin; Kevin Duffy Fermanagh, Kieran Byrne Carlow, Fergal Greenan Monaghan (0-1); James Carmody Limerick (0-1), Kieran McCarthy Cork (0-1); Liam O’Connell Cork (0-1), Shane Manley Offaly (0-1), Barry Solen Mayo (0-2), Brendan Bolger Kilkenny (0-1), Eric Reilly Meath (0-2), Niall Barry Louth.