McCarthy steals final thunder

IT was billed as the crowning moment of a sensational season for the Brogan brothers but, in the end, a little known substitute for St Brigid’s stole the show.

Level on 0-4 apiece at half-time in an error ridden Dublin SFC final, we suspected the cream would eventually rise to the top in the form of a Brogan breakthrough. Bernard or Alan, take your pick. Yet the magic we associate with the two most lethal forwards in Dublin — perhaps Ireland — simply never materialised.

Instead, we were left to ponder the game-breaking impact of St Brigid’s substitute Lorcan McCarthy. In a low scoring game, his three second-half points were crucial, the third of which put the 2003 champions into a 58th minute lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Throw in the fact that the lively number 17 also helped set up Paddy Andrews for a point and you can appreciate his huge impact.

Any side with the forward quality of the Brogans, Gareth Smith and Jason Sherlock still couldn’t be written off with just a point between them. But when Brigid’s replicated their semi-final heroics by finishing strongest with points from Ken Darcy and another sub, Odhran McCann, they belatedly secured victory.

It was just their second county title success and their first since 2003.

Joint manager Gerry McEntee was also involved eight years ago and can take much of the credit for this unlikely success.

The reward for the Blanchardstown/Castleknock based club is aLeinster club championship clash with Meath champions Summerhill next week.

They dominated possession thanks to a strong foothold at midfield where county ace Barry Cahill, fresh from his Man of the Match display against Ballymun a week earlier, was again impressive.

But seven wides badly undermined their challenge and meant there was never more than two points between the sides until late on in the second-half.

The sides were level at 0-1, 0-2 and 0-4 in the first-half though quality was surprisingly lacking despite a game played in perfect conditions between a host of inter-county stars.

Alan Brogan did show flashes of inspiration, twice losing his marker Conor Moran with an impressive burst of pace for eye catching points.

But his younger brother, Bernard, was a shadow of the player who hit 1-7 and 0-6 in his previous two games.

He was well held by county man Sean Murray and looked surprisingly nervy with his kicking at times.

Bernard did convert two first-half frees and, privately, the big crowd at the Donneycarney Venue presumed fireworks from the full-forward were imminent. Save for a 37th minute point to restart the second-half, when he slipped Murray for a rare occasion, there was however more effort than efficiency from the 2010 Footballer of the Year.

Rather it was McCarthy who emerged as the game’s unlikely hero as the game reached its crescendo.

McCarthy’s first act and indeed first touch of the ball was to blast it over from 38 metres to level the game at 0-5 apiece after 45 minutes.

Cavan forward Smith and Alan Brogan hit timely points for Plunkett’s but two more from McCarthy, the second of which was another long range free, helped put Brigid’s ahead at 0-8 to 0-7.

The game hung in the balance now though Plunkett’s perhaps realised a first title wasn’t to be secured when Alan Brogan was denied what appeared a certain goal.

Plunkett’s wove a beautiful passing movement to play Alan in one on one with Brigid’s ‘keeper and captain Shane Supple but, from nowhere, wing-back Gavin Kane emerged to somehow smother Brogan’s low shot. Brigid’s cleared their lines to thunderous applause.

When full-forward Darcy and McCann then split the posts with well worked points Brigid’s were three clear for the first time and counting down time.

Plunkett’s did squeeze in an injury-time score from Ross McConnell, a 45 conversion, but it was too little and much too late.

Scorers for St Brigid’s: K Darcy (1f) & L McCarthy (2f) 0-3 each; M Cahill (1f), G McIntyre, P Andrews & O McCann 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Oliver Plukett’s Eoghan Ruadh: A Brogan & B Brogan (2f) 0-3 each; G Smith (1f) & R McConnell (1 45) 0-1 each.

ST BRIGID’S: S Supple; G Norton, S Murray, C Moran; A Daly, Martin Cahill, G Kane; B Cahill, J O'Loughlin; G McIntyre, Mark Cahill, K Kilmurray; P Andrews, K Darcy, P Ryan.

Subs: C Freeman for Martin Cahill 43, L McCarthy for Ryan 45, C Mullins for McIntyre 46, O McCann for Kilmurray 56, C Doyle for Mark Cahill 60.

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT'S EOGHAN RUADH: Philip Brogan; R O'Connor, S Lyons, M Brides; C Evans, Paul Brogan, S Dunne; R McConnell, A Moyles; C Walsh, G Smith, D Matthews; A Brogan, B Brogan, J Sherlock.

Subs: C Dunleavy for Dunne h/t, A Darcy for Matthews 49, C Daly for Smith 59.

Referee: G McCormack (Naomh Barrog).