Gritty St Brigid's shut down Scotstown to book All-Ireland final with Dingle

Roscommon champions St Brigid's will face Kerry's Dingle in the All-Ireland club football final in a fortnight

St Brigid's goalscorer Brian Derwin celebrates with supporters after his side's victory over Scotstown. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final: St Brigid’s (Roscommon) 1-16 (1-3-10) Scotstown (Monaghan) 1-12 (1-1-10)

DEFENCE wins championships. In front of a 4,837 crowd in Kingspan Breffni, St Brigid’s shut down Scotstown to set up an All-Ireland decider against Dingle.

This wasn’t as entertaining as the thrilling spectacle in Cork on Saturday but it was a defensive clinic. Bobby Nugent landed seven points yet the standout performers for the Connacht champions were at the other end.

Sean Trundle produced two huge defensive interventions. After a four-month injury layoff, Pearse Frost was immense in the full-back line and produced a heroic block at the death. Brian Stack took serious punishment and kept coming back for more. Paul McGrath torched a path up the left wing.

It was a bitterly cold afternoon with the fixture seemingly in jeopardy right until the throw-in. There were several pitch inspections and concerned glances towards a particularly frozen goal mouth. For the travelling support from Monaghan, that unease would never dissolve. They never quite clicked.

The Anthony Cunningham-managed side made life miserable for their stacked opponents all afternoon. After kicking 11 points in the Ulster final, Rory Beggan came in for particular attention. Any time he came out of his goal, he was pressed. The call of “red” could be heard repeatedly as Scotstown probed the arc, a reminder to avoid fouling in that danger zone. They had Beggan scrambling back to his goal on several occasions, Ben O’Carroll blasting one goal chance at Ryan O’Toole and falling just short with a lob attempt.

Scotstown finished with four more shots than Brigid’s but several of them were rushed. Even their final point, a Michéal McCarville rasper to end a stretch of five successive misses, was a promising goal chance. That lack of composure proved costly.

St Brigid’s started with a terrific goal as Ruaidhrí Fallon linked up with Brian Derwin. The corner-back took no play and aimed high, clipping the woodwork on the way to the net. They were four up soon after as Fallon created a score for O’Carroll and landed on of his own.

Scotstown showed in flashes what they are capable of in response. A stolen Conor Carroll kickout ended in the net as Max Maguire found Jack McCarron who coolly slotted low. Francis Maguire raised an impressive orange flag. Too often, however, they met a Brigid’s set defence and lacked the ability to dissect it. McGrath rampaged forward for two consecutive points and by the turnaround, St Brigid’s led 1-10 to 1-6. It was a cushion built on discipline rather than dominance.

David McCague knew something had to give. Conor McCarthy was introduced at the break. They needed a run that Brigids were never likely to offer them. With his first shot of the game, Conor Hand converted a two-pointer. They would only score four points in the next 28 minutes, one of which was a two-point free, and still held Scotstown at arm’s length for the remainder.

That is not to say they were comfortable. Carroll’s kickout creaked in the second half. McCarron looked destined for goal at one stage only for Trundle to dive dramatically and concede a 45. That miss was made more costly when Beggan dropped the 45 short.

Their attack was far from fluid too. Ben O’Carroll was replaced by his brother Charlie, Bobby Nugent made way for the experienced Senan Kilbride. That guile was what they needed down the stretch. He won a sideline from a long ball inside and took his time with the resulting kick to work the clock. McGrath’s willingness to keep presenting, to showing when legs were screaming, was the unseen thread holding it all together. You only notice those things when they disappear.

Charlie O’Carroll swung over to make it a four-point game and force Scotstown to panic. They threw Beggan onto the edge of the square in a furious search for another goal. Gaelic football is the purest meritocracy. In the end, they got what they deserved.

Warm solace will come from the fact they finally clinched the Ulster crown for the first time since 1989. It has been a brilliant campaign. The brutal truth of the club season is that even for the county champions, the usual end is defeat. Except for one.

Which leads nicely to January 18. St Brigid’s have the pain of a heartbreaking defeat to Glen two years ago at the forefront of their minds. In their dressing room, they reference it repeatedly. Dingle have persevered through their own heartbreak to make it to this stage. They know they have a golden crop who are capable of going all the way. They know how important it is to make the most of it when the opportunity arises.

They are both acutely aware of the stakes. They are both capable of sublime football. Strap in.

Scorers for Scotstown: J. McCarron 1-3 (1 free); F. Maguire 0-3 (tp); M. McCarville 0-2; M. McPhillips, R. Beggan (45), M. Maguire, S. Carey (free) 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Brigid’s: B. Nugent 0-7 (1 tpf, 3f, 1tp); B. Derwin 1-0; P. McGrath 0-2; C. Hand 0-2 (tp); C. Sugrue, C. O’Carroll, B. O’Carroll, R. Fallon, E. Nolan 0-1 each.

SCOTSTOWN: R. Beggan; R. O’Toole, D. Connolly, D. Murray; N. Sherlock, D. McArdle, K. Hughes; D. Hughes, G. McPhillips; Max. Maguire, S. Carey, M. McCarville; Mattie Maguire, J.McCarron, F. Maguire.

Subs: C. McCarthy for Sherlock (half-time); T. Mallen for Mattie Maguire (46).

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

Subs: R. Stack for Daly (32 – Inj); C. O’Carroll for O’Carroll (49); S. Kilbride for Nugent (56).

Referee: B. Cawley (Kildare).