Longford’s St Brigid’s Killashee hold out to reach the last four in Leinster

While St Brigid’s Killashee had to survive a couple of anxious moments in a very tense finish at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday, they managed to hold out for a narrow win over the Wicklow Junior ‘A’ champions Shillelagh Coolboy to reach the last four in the Leinster Club. 

St Brigid’s Killashee . . . 1-9    Shillelagh Coolboy (Wicklow) . . . 0-11

Just a solitary point separated the sides in the end as the Longford representatives St Brigid’s (minus the injured Ronan Kavanagh) advanced to earn another home game on November 29th against Carlow outfit Fighting Cocks who caused a considerable upset to beat a strongly fancied Clann na nGael side from Meath after extra-time (2-19 to 1-20). 

Dylan Farrell scored the crucial goal for Killashee in the 49th minute to leave his side leading by 1-9 to 0-8 and apparently in control but they failed to register another score during the remainder of the match.

Three points in a row from resilient Killelagh Coolboy closed the gap to the minimum of margins and wing back Finlay Nolan squandered a great chance of the equalising score but he shot across the face of the goalmouth deep into stoppage time. 

Another missed opportunity followed for the visitors and the St Brigid’s players were very relieved indeed to hear the sound of the final whistle in their quest to qualify for the Leinster Club Junior Final for the second time after losing out to Curraha (Meath) in the title decider back in 2015.

For most of the match played in difficult wet conditions in front of a small attendance, Killashee were the better side but a couple of clear-cut goal chances were squandered by Dylan Farrell and Paddy Mollaghan in the first half and that kept Shillelagh Coolboy in contention.

Having said that, the dangerman corner-forward Brendan Behan missed a sitter when looking poised to finish the ball to the St Brigid’s net with 10 minutes gone in the second half  so it was generally a lucky escape for Eamon Farrell’s side.   

ST BRIGID’S KILLASHEE: Barry Geraghty; Briain Farrell, David Buckley, Shane Cosgrove; James Willis (0-1), Paddy Clancy, Keelan Cox; Michael Farrell (0-1, free), Jack Magan; Niall McCormack, Dylan Farrell (1-3, 1 free), Johnny Casey (0-1); Colin Cousins, Paddy Mollaghan (0-2), Tommy Killian (0-1).

Subs:- Evan Farrell for C Cousins (40 mins); Darren Cosgrove for B Farrell (47 mins); John Lee for N McCormack (58 mins).

 SHILLELAGH COOLBOY (Wicklow): Cathal Fitzsimons; Daire Foley, Ruairi O’Brien, Lee Dagge; Jonathan Smyth, Aaron Kinsella, Finlay Nolan; Dan Nolan, Ciaran Lambert; Brandon Rossitter, PJ Mulhall, Eddie Cullen (0-5, 1 two-pointer play, 3 frees); Conor Byne (0-1), Wayne Kinsella (0-1), Brendan Behan (0-4). 

Subs:- Milo Quinn for PJ Mulhall (41 mins); Dan Behan for J Smyth (45 mins). 

Referee: Eamonn O’Connor (Offaly).