As it happened: Dingle win extra-time thriller against St Brigid's to claim All-Ireland title
Dingle captain Paul Geaney lifts the Andy Merrigan Cup. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie
"We had three back and we had an extra man," Mikey Geaney told RTÉ Radio 1 about his winning score.
"So I said, we might as well go and have a crack at it. And I gave the ball to Tom Sullivan. I knew that if he had the ball, there'd be two or three that would go towards him.
"And I chanced it, slipping in the back door. He gave me the ball and I gave it a kick. Another four or five minutes on the clock, and I don't think it would have reached it. I don't know did I have enough in my legs. It got there. And that's all that matters. It's just incredible."
"It was a full circle moment for me, looking up and seeing the lads," Mark O'Connor says about seeing his Geelong teammates in the stand at Croke Park. "I wouldn't still be in Australia if it wasn't for Geelong. I love them and I appreciate them massively."
Paul Geaney lifts the Andy Merrigan Cup! That's the All-Ireland senior and intermediate titles which will reside in West Kerry for 2026.
82 nóim@DingleGAA 0-23 @StBrigidsRos 1-19
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
Mikey Geaney leis an iarracht agus Geaney leis an scór chun an chluiche a bhuacaint!😱🤯🤝
After a titanic battle, Dingle are All Ireland Club Champions after extra time!!
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/peKTbeAHTg
MIKEY GEANEY! Dingle win! The 2014 All-Ireland medallist, who lives in Dublin but still plays for the club, steps forward and finds a winner for Dingle! Wow. You have permission to lie down after all that.
Dingle will have one last chance to win it here.
81 nóim@DingleGAA 0-22@StBrigidsRos 1-19
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
Cad é mar críoch arís! Tom O'Sullivan le scór ollmhór!😲
When his team needed him most, the county star steps up and levels the game!
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/JU4WKhtDAB
Two minutes of injury time to be played. Dingle have the ball. Tom O'Sullivan gets Dingle level!
Tom O'Sullivan lands a badly needed point for Dingle. They trail by one.
Substitute Charlie O'Carroll puts Brigid's up two. Dingle need to get their hands on the ball.
Brigid's lead. Shane Cunnane with the score.
The second half of extra-time in underway. Dingle get level immediately through Dylan Geaney.
It's half-time of extra-time with Brigid's leading by one. Players look exhausted.
Dingle are within one. Dylan Geaney kicks an incredible score from wide on the right. It was just inside the arc but deserves two points for the audacity.
Conor Geaney's two-point free attempt goes wide.
Conor Geaney is fouled by Paul McGrath. Geaney's free gets inside the right-hand post and Dingle cut the Brigid's lead to two points.
63 nóim (AB) @DingleGAA 0-17 @StBrigidsRos 1-17
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
Sin speisialta amach is amach, Fallon arís!👏
It's the Ruaidhrí Fallon show in Croke Park, another 2 pointer!
BEO/LIVETG4 AR @TG4TV 📺 #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/pa5rkJVYkq
Another two-pointer by Fallon has Brigid's up by three. That was casual compared to the mania of his equaliser at the end of normal time.
Conor Hand finds Ruaidhrí Fallon right in front of goal and he blazes over. That was a goal chance. Brigid's lead by one.
Here we go in extra-time.
It looked like Brigid's had blown their chance when that Conor Carroll free dropped short but Conor Hand showed great vision to find Fallon in space. Sensational kick off his right boot wide on the right to level it.
WHAT A CLUTCH KICK pic.twitter.com/995E0AEDrk
— Maurice Brosnan (@m_brosnan) January 18, 2026
Brigid's are level! Magnificent two-pointer from Ruaihrí Fallon gets the Roscommon champions level. We'll have extra-time. Wow.
With just over a minute of injury time to play. It looks like Brigid's will have a two-point free chance to level the game. Keeper Conor Carroll steps forward. It falls well short.
Dingle have owned the ball for the last few minutes. Paul Geaney gets the ball in space and puts his side up by two.
Five minutes of injury time to be played.
58 nóim @DingleGAA 0-16@StBrigidsRos 1-11
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
A leithéid de bhlocáil ó Mark O'Connor! 😱
The AFL star denies Brian Stack a certain goal!
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Massive block by Mark O'Connor. He dives to stop Brian Stack's goalbound shot just metres from Gavin Curran's net. Shane Cunnane kicks the resulting 45 for Brigid's and they trail by one.
Veterans on for both sides now. Mikey Geaney for Dingle and Senan Kilbride for Brigid's.
Dingle lead by two. Tadhg Browne bursts forward onto Mark O'Connor's handpass and kicks a point from just inside the arc.
Dingle lead again through Tadhg Browne. Then Gavin Curran pulls off a crucial save from a St Brigid's goal chance.
Conor Hand gets Brigid's level.
Huge spell here. St Brigid's are one down after the black card for Frost. A big six minutes still to come, a lesson of the new rules in inter-county football was that it is a huge disadvantage to be down to 14.
Dingle lead. Dylan Geaney fists over a point. Super few minutes for the Kerry champions.
Tadhg Browne finds Paul Geaney with a super pass. He gets away from his man but is tripped. Martin McNally consults with his umpires and it's a black card for Pearse Frost. Paul Geaney converts the free. Dingle are level, and a man up.
Two-pointer for Dingle. A super score from Dylan Geaney off his right. That was just what they needed.
38 nóim@DingleGAA 0-10 @StBrigidsRos 1-10
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
Cúl faighte ag Naomh Bríd! Ruaidhrí Fallon leis an gríoch!💥
Huge score in this final, the wing back palms into the net!
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Goal for Brigid's! Conor Hand's two-point attempt falls short, bounces off the crossbar into the air and then Ruaidhi Fallon fists it to the net. Big moment.
Dingle hit the post again. This time through Billy O'Connor.
Dingle are level. Mark O'Connor with the two-pointer. Brigid's game him the space and he did not hesitate to shoot.
Conor Hand, despite being fouled, puts Brigid's up two. That should have been a three-point lead for Brigid's after Niall Geaney fouled Ben O'Carroll but the forward then missed the free.
They are underway at Croke Park with Brigid's leading by two points. Super start for Dingle. Paul Geaney kicks his first score of the game less than 30 seconds after the throw-in.
Some big questions for both teams at half-time. Paul Geaney was extremely unlucky not to be awarded an offensive mark. Will Dingle kick direct more? Both kickouts are under pressure (45% retention each). How will they fix it? In a game this tight, a goal would be massive. Can they work more opportunities? Niall Geaney had a big chance early on.
Huge play just before the break. St Brigid's had the ball with one added minute on, they work the clock and win a tap over free for Bobby Nugent. After a start that saw them score just one point in the first ten minutes, the Roscommon side now lead by two.
This is as tight as expected. Some of the last-gasp interventions by the defence at both ends have been incredible. Mark O'Connor just had an amazing interception after a terrific Peare Frost block at the other end.
Some messy defence from Dingle and Brigid's lead again through Bobby Nugent.
Dingle get their first score in around 14 minutes through Tadhg Browne and cut the deficit to one. That's quickly followed by another from Tom O'Sullivan - his third of the game - and they are level.
Ben O'Carroll puts @StBrigidsRos 2⃣ Up against @DingleGAA in the All Ireland Final 🏆 #gaa pic.twitter.com/CE8gpgGigN
— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 18, 2026
Conor Hand bursts forward out of defence for Brigid's and finds Ben O'Carroll with a low pass. He puts his side ahead by two. Nice score.
Dylan Geaney is fouled by Robbie Dolan but Conor Geaney's free goes wide.
Tom O'Sullivan hits a high ball towards the Brigid's goal, Paul Geaney does so well to claim it but is then suffocated by defenders. Closing on nine minutes without a score for Dingle now.
St Brigid's lead by one. Conor Hand with the point.
14 nóim@DingleGAA 0-05 @StBrigidsRos 0-05
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
Scór inspioráideach faighte ag an imreoir lár páirce arís!2⃣
Cunnane on form today for St. Brigid's!
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The sides are level. Shane Cunnane takes his total to three points with a superb two-pointer.
Ruaidhrí Fallon ventures forward for Brigid's, works himself through the Dingle defence and kicks over off his left. That followed quickly by a point from Brian Stack. Two between them now
Super work from Paul Geaney puts Billy O'Connor in space. The umpire waves the white flag but he's now unsure. It's going to HawkEye and it's judged to be wide.
Dylan Geaney fires over a point for Dingle and they lead by four again. That came off a super catch in midfield by Mark O'Connor, and a lay-off by Paul Geaney.
St Brigid's are on the board through midfielder Shane Cunnane.
Dingle follow that two-pointer quickly with another point from Tom O'Sullivan.
7 nóim @DingleGAA 0-03@StBrigidsRos 0-00
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
Árd-scór dhá phointe faighte ag Conor Flannery🟧
Monster effort from the Dingle centre-half back.
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Two pointer for Dingle. Conor Flannery launches it high towards the Canal End. The umpire waves the orange flag.
Period of possession for St Brigid's ends with a disappointing shot on goal.
Long period of possession for Dingle here as they probe for an opening. It eventually ends up in the hands of Tom O'Sullivan who kicks the opening score for Dingle off his left. Patience really paid off for the Kerry side there.
Martin McNally, the referee from Monaghan, throws in the ball and the game is underway.
Here's how the teams will line out as per the match programme.
Gavin Curran; Brian O’Connor, Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Tom O’Sullivan; Aidan O’Connor, Conor Flannery, Patrick O’Connor; Mark O’Connor, Billy O’Connor; Tadhg Browne, Paul Geaney (Captain), Dylan Geaney; Conor Geaney, Matthew Flaherty, Niall Geaney.
Oisín O’Dowd, Seán Óg Moran, Cathal Bambury, Ned Ryan, Mikey Geaney, Christopher Kane, Paddy Ryan, Mikey Boland, Mícheál Flannery, Darragh O’Sullivan, Ruadhán McCarthy, Mark Ashe, Brian Devane, Jack O’Sullivan, Conor O’Sullivan.
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Conor Carroll; Pearse Frost, Seán Trundle, Robbie Dolan; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Brian Stack (Joint Captain), Paul McGrath (Joint Captain); Shane Cunnane, Eddie Nolan; Ciarán Sugrue, Conor Hand, Bobby Nugent; Ben O’Carroll, Mark Daly, Brian Derwin.
Cormac Sheehy, Eoghan Derwin, Senan Kilbride, Ronan Stack, Charlie O’Carroll, Ruairí Smith, John Cunningham, Billy McDonnell, Brian O’Hara Duggan, Eoin Sheehy, Michael Sugrue, Daniel Meeley, David Cunniffe, Cathal Dolan, Ciarán Quinn.
There's also Kieran Shannon's profile of Paul Geaney with some insight from Micheál Quirke on the Dingle captain.
“When I played club football against Paul he would have been young and narrow-shouldered," Quirke said. "But he’d develop into a guy who’d come to love and thrive in the physical exchanges as much as any inside forward. While he’s spoken about how it took him a while to buy into the value of strength and conditioning, he then really went after it. The gym, stretching, massages, the lot.
“And he’s like that in everything he does. In my time in with Kerry he jumped out as a future coach. Just the way he thinks and talks about the game, always being inquisitive. Why are we doing this? Could it be better if we tried this? Have you looked at this? Should we maybe press their kickout this way?
“He’d do it in a respectful way but he’d challenge your way of thinking. In that way he was the leader of that Kerry forward unit. Of course you’d have David Clifford and Paudie and Seánie who are equally vocal but Paul being somewhat the elder statesman and deep thinker that he is would come at it from another angle that people could later chime with. He was constantly sending you and asking for clips. Anyone who has heard him speak in a team meeting and give a tactical breakdown of the game will know that after he hangs up the boots he’ll be coaching.”
Before the game throws in, read Maurice Brosnan on how close the club and inter-county game is right now.
"On Sunday, the top two club teams in the country will meet in one of the most anticipated deciders in years, a contest with all the raw components of a classic," he writes.
"On one side, a raft of Kerry All-Ireland winners, a professional athlete, a team that have featured in two of the greatest club games ever played. On the other, as many as ten inter-county players."
Up next with a 3.40pm throw-in is the All-Ireland Club SFC final between Dingle and St Brigid's
Full-time thoughts of Maurice Brosnan:
Very disappointing second half. Ballygunner were very comfortable in the finish. 12 consecutive county titles, five Munsters in seven years for these players and now a second All-Ireland. What a side.
Ballygunner are All-Ireland champions!
Neil Keary points for Loughrea, but it's going to be Ballygunner's day.
Goal chance for Dessie Hutchinson, after racing clear of the Loughrea cover, is saved superbly by Loughnane. Pauric Mahony knocks over the resulting 65.
Three minutes added on. Tiernan Killeen slots over a free.
Kevin Mahony departs, he's been superb for Ballygunner. Conor Tobin.
Brilliant play from Pauric to manage to win a free when it looked like he was running out of room and time. He converts the free, too. Seven the difference, heading for added time.
Kevin Mahony wins a free for the Gunners in midfield, or rather Ian Hanrahan gives away a free. A lazy arm left in. Pauric Mahony slots over from range. Six in it now.
Gunners lead by five, Long ball downfield results in a free in. Simple task for Pauric Mahony. No mistake.
Subs coming in for both sides.
Big Jamie Ryan score for the Galway representatives. A much-needed one. Gap is now four.
Ryan then wins a contentious free off Ian Kenny. Tiernan Killeen effort sails wide, however.
Loughrea need to dig in here. Championship minutes, they are five down but still creating chances. Stephen O'Keeffe has been immense in goal for Ballygunner. If they see this out, he and Kevin Mahony will be strong contenders for man of the match. .
Loughrea sub: Sean Sweeney is in for Paul Hoban.
Loughrea do indeed get a sniff at goal, but that's all it is, thanks to Ballygunner's Stephen O'Keeffe, of course. Brave goalkeeping.
Superb Kevin Mahony score - his fourth. He had to negotiate the company of three Loughrea defenders before firing that one over.
Mark Hartley follows Mahony to put real daylight between the teams. Ballygunner up five now. Loughrea need a score.
Referee Chris Mooney spots Gavin Maher pulling fellow sub Mark Hartley's jersey upfield. Pauric Mahony punishes Maher and Loughrea. Gunners' lead stretched to three.
Another Loughrea sub: Gavin Maher is in for Joe Mooney. All to play for with 15 plus added time remaining at Croker.
Vince Morgan - starved of ball in the Loughrea inside line of late - grabs a point to cut the gap to two.
Mark Hartley fires wide for Ballygunner. Their sixth overall, and their third after only 12 minutes of the second-half.
Good play from Dessie sets up a marauding Tadhg Foley, but his effort is unsuccessful.
Important score from Tiernan Killeen from a placed-ball. Needed.
Loughrea sub: Alan Kelly is in for Brian Keary.
Here's that Mikey Mahony goal:
35 nóim @LoughreaHurling 1-09@ballygunnerHc 1-12
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
A leithéid de cúl faighte ag Michael Mahony! An-chríoch ar fad!🔥
Ballygunner find the net, four minutes into the second half!
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Conor Sheahan extends the Ballygunner lead, and Patrick Fitzgerald - who did not seem 100 percent fit - departs with Mark Hartley in off the bench.
Goal Ballygunner. And for the two that went abegging in the last few minutes, Mikey Mahony makes no mistakes as he rifles home past Loughnane after good Peter Hogan play. Quality finish. Three points the difference now.
Goal chance for Loughrea a minute later. Cullen Killen - after a gorgeous pick-out from Johnny Coen - isn't able to beat Stephen O'Keeffe, who fouls him. Tiernan Killeen taps over the resulting free.
We're underway for the second-half and an early goal chance for Ballygunner and Patrick Fitzgerald goes astray. Created by Pauric Mahony long ball in, he broke free from the cover and pulled on the sliotar, only to watch it go across the face of Gearoid Loughnane's goal.
Here's a look at that superb Shaughnessy goal:
26 nóim @LoughreaHurling 1-07@ballygunnerHc 0-09
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 18, 2026
Cúl! Neadaithe isteach san eangach ag Darren Shaughnessy!🤩
Shaughnessy flicks past O'Keefe for Loughrea's first goal!
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Half-time thoughts of Maurice Brosnan at Croke Park:
Loughrea have made it a war zone in middle. It was typified by Ian Hanrahan's outstanding stripe tackle before Darren Shaughnessy's goal. They will be frustrated by some inaccuracy during that period. Some big questions for the second half.
Can Loughrea maintain this level of work-rate?
Will Dessie Hutchinson click? He has one point from four shots so far.
What do Loughrea do about Cullen Killeen? The exciting young prospect has struggled to get into the game so far.
On the other side, can Ballygunner get Pauric Mahony into the game?
Ballygunner lead by the minimum. 1-8 to 0-12.
Pauric Mahony does likewise for the Gunners. It'll be the last score of the half as Chris Mooney blows his whistle.
Tiernan Killeen slots over a routine free. We're now level for the fifth time. 1-8 to 0-11.
Shane Morgan's long-range placed-ball goes to the right and wide.
Three minutes added on.
Bad miss by Caimin Killeen at one end - Loughrea's seventh, and remarkably, Dessie Hutchinson fires wide again. His third, Ballygunner's third.
The reply isn't long coming, and it could have been a green flag, but Peter Hogan's effort flies over. Kevin Mahony adds to it with a decent effort.
Goal Loughrea. The hard work done by Ian Hanrahan to rob possession in midfield. Darren Shaughnessy finishes expertly from a long-ball in. Game on.
Just like that. Long ball pucked down into the Gunners full-forward line. Hutchinson involved before Patrick Fitzgerald adds another. Simple stuff.
Conor Sheahan points - after a HawkEye check - to put the Gunners up two. Tiernan Killeen makes no error from a placed-ball to cut the gap to one soon after.
Loughrea have now hit four wides to Ballygunner's one. The latest Loughrea miss coming from Cullen Killeen. Fitzgerald points at the other end.
Little stoppage here as Conor Sheahan recovers after a collision in midfield.
16 mins: Ballygunner back in front. Pauric Mahony again from a placed
ball.
Not for long though, Loughrea leader Johnny Coen puts his name on the scoresheet from deep.
Vince Morgan has a go at O'Keeffe's goal, but the stopper is equal to it once more. Darren Shaughnessy swings over from the recycled ball.
Tiernan Killeen taps over a free to get up and running for the day. Burns' deliveryinto Vince Morgan was decent and Morgan did enough to win a free.
Big goal chance for Anthony Burns goes astray. Big Stephen O'Keeffe save. Vince Morgan was an option for a pass but Burns decided to take the shot on himself. He does grab a point thereafter, before Mikey Mahony replies for Ballygunner - his first.
Couple of wides in last few minutes from Jamie Ryan and Dessie Hutchinson, respectively.
The sides swap swap scores, Pauric Mahony for the Gunners, Ian Hanrahan for Loughrea, before Kevin Mahony restores the Gunners' two-point lead.
Jamie Ryan finds the Loughrea reply, but up the other end, Ballygunner leave a goal chance behind them. Peter Hogan did his best to set up Patrick Fitzgerald but Gearoid Loughnane was able to bat it away for a 65, which centre-forward Pauric Fitzgerland converts.
: Dessie Hitchinson grabs his first of the day to open the Ballygunner account. Some neat footwork to set it up.
Referee Chris Mooney throw the ball in and we're underway at Croke Park.
Here are the starting 15s.
G Loughnane; P Hoban; J Coen, K Hanrahan; B Keary, S Morgan, J Mooney; I Hanrahan, Cu Killeen; Ca Killeen, T Killeen, J Ryan; A Burns, D Shaughnessy, V Morgan.
S O'Keeffe; A O'Neill, I Kenny, T Foley; H Ruddle, P Mahony, R Power; C Sheahan, P Leavey; D Hutchison, P Mahony, P Hogan; P Fitzgerald, K Mahony, M Mahony.
G Loughnane; P Hoban; J Coen, K Hanrahan; B Keary, S Morgan, J Mooney; I Hanrahan, Cu Killeen; Ca Killeen, T Killeen, J Ryan; A Burns, D Shaughnessy, V Morgan.
Here's John Fogarty's pre-match verdict:
Loughrea need so much going for them if they are to surprise Ballygunner.
Certainly, with the forwards they boast, they can beat the Waterford and Munster champions and the now-cleared Cullen Killeen gives them that dynamism around the middle where Ballygunner are so reliant on treading together those short passes.
Against St Martin’s, it took Jason Ryan’s side some time to get going as the Wexford men matched them for intensity and there could be another similar slow start here as Loughrea won’t lack in fervour.
Can they manage to dislodge or upset Philip Mahony who as anchor of the ‘Gunners defence is so pivotal?
As much as Paddy Leavey comes back so often to fill gaps, Tiernan Killeen has a massive role in shaking that half-back line. Neither team shirk in the physical stakes and keeping one’s head will be vital.
Dessie Hutchinson is playing his best club hurling and is unlikely to be subdued. Even if he curtailed, Patrick Fitzgerald could make this game his own.
The range of ball that Stephen O’Keeffe supplies is outstanding too. It’s a first Croke Park appearance for Ballygunner since they lost the 2022 semi-final to Ballyhale Shamrocks. They were favourites then and the tag burdened them. They have it again but they can wear it well. Verdict: Ballygunner.
Welcome back to another live blog - we'll provide minute-by-minute updates as Ballygunner take on Loughrea in the All-Ireland Club SHC final.
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