Brogan's double delight
In the process of a near perfect display, they created history by becoming the only school at colleges and vocational level to win the two premier titles in the one year.
The opening 20 minutes was as good as you'd get in any grade. The commitment of both teams and the ferocity of their hurling was a joy to watch, and the only pity was that the standard was not maintained over the 60 minutes.
St Brogan's official Jerry Walsh declared at the final whistle: "To come back here and produce a display like that three weeks after winning the football title is just incredible.
"It's a fantastic achievement for the school and everybody associated with the team. It's the proper way to win an All-Ireland, playing to your potential.
"We were never beaten in any line on the field. There was an eagerness and sense of togetherness among the players to create history both for themselves and their school, and this particular group of players will be remembered long after they have left St. Brogan's.
"I would like to dedicate the victory to all those players who never won an All-Ireland with the school, and one in particular, the late Ger O'Donovan.
While this was essentially a team effort, the displays of Ger O'Driscoll, Ross Cashman, Chris Daly, Brian Canty, his brother Kevin and Danny O'Callaghan deserve special mention.
Tall St. Brigid's full forward James Skehill clearly had Brogan's in trouble from the throw-in, but the switch of Ross Cashman on him had the desired effect and the Galway side looked very ordinary thereafter.
The magnificent free-taking of captain Brian Canty, the power of his younger brother, Kevin, at full-forward and the brilliance of corner-forward Danny O'Callaghan combined to make it a day to remember for the west Cork school.
At 16 years old, O'Callaghan is an exceptional talent and his contribution of 2-3, all from play, had the hallmarks of a forward destined for greater things.
St. Brigid's, looking for their fifth title in-a-row, were completely outhurled and, but for a couple of superb saves by goalkeeper Mark Herlihy, the 11 point defeat would have been far greater.
After a shaky start, Brogans settled down to produce an awesome display of hurling that had them 0-12 to 0-3 in front at half time.
In that opening half Herlihy denied Donal O'Driscoll and Mark Kelleher goals with two great saves.
St. Brigid's needed an early goal if they were to have any chance of retaining their title, but Brogan's were clearly not going to let this one slip, and five minutes into the second-half they effectively killed off the Loughrea challenge.
Brian Canty pointed a free before Donal O'Driscoll slipped home a goal. Two minutes later Danny O'Callaghan added a second major and it was plain sailing from there to the finish as Brigid's simply had no answer to this magnificent Bandon side.
Two late goals by James Skehill put a more respectable look on the scoreboard for Loughrea, while Danny O'Callaghan's second had the hallmarks a forward with a keen eye for the half chance.
: St. Brogan's: D. O'Callaghan 2-3; B. Canty 0-6 (0-4 frees, 0-2 65s); K. Kanty 0-4; D. O'Driscoll 1-0; C. Keane 0-2. St. Brigid's: J. Skehill 2-1; M. Callanan, A. Callanan 0-2 each; F. Coone, R. Wall (free) 0-1 each.
E. Duggan; G. O'Driscoll, J. Murphy, J. O'Donovan; D. Lynch, C. Daly, R. Cashman; E. Manning, C. Keane; B. Canty, J. Kelleher, C. O'Leary; D. O'Callaghan, K. Canty, D. O'Driscoll. Subs. S. Murray for Duggan; P. O'Mahony for Keane; T. Crowley for O'Driscoll; E. O'Flynn for K. Canty; M. Hayes for O'Callaghan.
: M. Herlihy; E. Monaghan, D. Clarke, D. Griffin; R. Gleese, S. Burke, R. Wall; F. Nevin, D. White; K. Cunningham, T. Ryan, F. Coone; A. Callanan, J. Skehill, M. Callanan. Subs. N. Healy for Gleese; E., Mahony for Monaghan; B. Sheil for Clarke; G. Murray for White; E. Ward for M. Callanan.
: J. Guinan (Kilkenny).
