St. Brigids (Roscommon)
Encyclopedia
St. Brigids GAA Club is a Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...

 club located in the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...

es of Kiltoom and Cam in South County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...

, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

. They play in Green and Red colours and their home pitch is at Newpark, Kiltoom. The club was founded in 1944 and is the home club of one of the all-time GAA greats, Gerry O'Malley.

The club fields underage teams from U-10 to U-21 as well as Senior, Intermediate and Junior teams. There are Ladies football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...

 teams at all ages and the seniors have achieved a lot of success in recent years.

On the 30 September 2007 the club achieved their first ever three-in-a-row of Roscommon Senior Football Championship titles, defeating St. Faithleachs by 1-12 to 0-9. The same achievement was also notched up by the Senior ladies team in 2007. The club's U-21 team also achieved an unprecedented eight county titles in a row from 2002 to 2009.

In 2005, St. Brigids created history by being the first club in Roscommon to captured Senior, U21 and Minor titles in the Men's grade and the Ladies' grade, all in one year.

Recent history

St. Brigids have captured six county titles since 1997. Under the management of John O'Mahony, they won their first title in 28 years in 1997 after defeating Clan na Gael in the final by 1-8 to 0-8, the goal coming from John Tiernan. They had to wait until 2000 before they reached the final again, but this time lost out to underdogs Kilbride. More defeats came in 2002 to Strokestown and in 2003 to Castlerea St. Kevins. In 2005, under the stewardship of Ger Dowd, they reclaimed the Fahey Cup by beating Padraig Pearses 2-9 to 0-11, both goals coming from John Tiernan. In 2006, under Anthony Cunningham, they defended their title in a tough encounter with St. Faithleach's on a scoreline of 1-7 to 1-5, the goal courtesy of Garvan Dolan. In 2007, St. Brigids captures the three-in-a-row when they again defeated St. Faithleach's in the final by 1-12 to 0-9. A goal ten minutes from time by Brendan "Dixie" O'Brien sealed the win. In 2010, St. Brigids re-emerged after 2 barren years to secure their 10th Roscommon Senior Football Championship, defeating Elphin by 0-14 to 0-9. 2011 saw St. Brigids repeat the dose again by defeating Elphin in the final by 1-9 to 0-7, the goal being supplied by Damien Kelleher.

Their Connacht Club campaigns were mixed up until 2006 when they captured the provincial crown for the first time.

In 1997 they succumbed to a powerful Knockmore (Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...

) team in Kiltoom. In 2005 they reached the Connacht Senior Club Football Championship
Connacht Senior Club Football Championship
The Connacht Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the seventy-two senior football clubs in Connacht, with one qualifying from each of the five respective county championships...

 Final, after defeating Leitrim
Leitrim GAA
The Leitrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Leitrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Leitrim. The county board is also responsible for the Leitrim inter-county teams.-Gaelic football:In the 1924 Connacht...

 Champions Kiltubrid after a replay in Kiltoom. In the final in Pearse Stadium in Galway, they were defeated by the superior Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...

), the eventual All-Ireland winners.

However, in 2006 they went all the way and claimed the Shane McGettigan Cup in dramatic circumstances. In the preliminary round they defeated Curry (Sligo
Sligo GAA
The Sligo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Sligo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Sligo...

) by 1-8 to 1-7. A goal at the start of the game from David O'Connor spurred them on, and a point from Senan Kilbride 5 minutes from the end secured the one-point victory. In the semi-final they defeated favourites and previous All-Ireland winners, Crossmolina (Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...

) by 13pts to 1-6 in Dr. Hyde Park. And it was also in the Hyde that the final took place where they beat favourites Corofin (Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...

) with a dramatic injury-time goal from Karol Mannion. The final scoreline was 1-10 to 3-3, meaning Captain Mark O'Carroll received the Shane McGettigan Cup on behalf of St. Brigids.

In the All-Ireland Semi-Final on 18 February 2007, they met the Armagh
Armagh GAA
The Armagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Armagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Armagh...

 and Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
Ulster Senior Club Football Championship
The Ulster Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football club competition played between the top clubs in Ulster. The trophy awarded to the winners is the Seamus McFerran Cup...

 winners, Crossmaglen Rangers
Crossmaglen Rangers
Crossmaglen Rangers G.A.C is a Gaelic Athletic Association club from Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. They cater for Gaelic football and camogie. Their home football ground is St. Oliver Plunkett Park which was opened in 1959...

, in Cusack Park, Mullingar. Despite facing the most successful club team in recent history, St. Brigids narrowly lost out by 1-11 to 0-11. This was the second year in a row that they were beaten by the eventual All-Ireland winners.

The defence of their Connacht title in 2007 proved unsuccessful however. A comprehensive semi-final win in Tuam over the Padraig Joyce-inspired Killererin, portrayed St. Brigid's in their best light as they ran out 4-10 to 1-11 winners against the Galway champions. The final saw St. Brigid's travel to the home territory of Ballina Stephenites in North Mayo. Two early goals from Ballina provided the cushion that they never relinquished, despite unrelenting effort by St. Brigids. The final score was Ballina 2-8, St. Brigid's 0-12.

In 2010, St. Brigid's opened their Connacht campaign with a 0-21 to 0-4 point win in Kiltoom over Sligo champions, Eastern Harps. They followed that up in the Connacht semi-final with a 1-13 to 3-5 win over Leitrim champions, Glencar Manorhamilton, in Pairc Sean MacDiarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon. In the final, St. Brigids once again had to face down Killererin in Tuam Stadium, a re-match of the 2007 Connacht semi-final. A last gasp Cathal McHugh goal saw St. Brigids force extra-time. In the additional twenty minutes, St. Brigids pulled clear to record a brilliant come from behind victory on a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-10, which resulted in Niall Grehan again lifting the Shane McGettigan Cup for the green and red.

On 26 February 2011 St. Brigids travelled to the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick and beat the Cork and Munster Champions Nemo Rangers on a scoreline of 0-13 to 1-8, to qualify for the All Ireland Club Final for the first time. In the All-Ireland Final on St. Patrick's Day 2011, St. Brigids faced their semi-final conquerors of 2007, Armagh and Ulster Champions, Crossmaglen Rangers. Despite a huge following in Croke Park, St. Brigids failed to overturn the result of 2007 and Crossmaglen prevailed by 2-11 to 1-11.

The Connacht campaign in the last months of 2011 again proved a succesful one for St. Brigids and resulted in a Connacht two-in-a-row for the first time. After defeating Sligo champions Tourlestrane by 0-16 to 0-10 in Marckiewicz Park in the semi-final, they then faced Corofin in the final in Kiltoom, a repeat of the 2006 final. After a tense affair, St. Brigids prevailed by 0-11 to 0-10.

Roll of honour

  • Roscommon Senior Football Championship: 11
    • 1953, 1958, 1959, 1963, 1969, 1997, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011
  • Connacht Senior Club Football Championship
    Connacht Senior Club Football Championship
    The Connacht Senior Club Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football tournament played between the seventy-two senior football clubs in Connacht, with one qualifying from each of the five respective county championships...

    : 3
    • 2006, 2010, 2011

Championship Winning Teams

Roscommon

1997: Aidan Cunniffe, Jimmy Gacquin, Seamus Og McDonnell, Michael O'Brien, Basil Mannion, Padraig Sugrue, Eddie Nestor, Tony Kilcommins, Padraig Kilcommins, John Tiernan, Brendan "Dixie" O'Brien, Benny O'Brien, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

, Tom Og O'Brien(c), Tom Lennon.

2005: Shane Curran
Shane Curran
Shane Curran is a former Soccer and Gaelic football goalkeeper from Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland. He played Gaelic football with Roscommon, winning a Connacht Minor Football Championship medal in 1989, Junior in 2000 and Senior in 2001, he also won an All-Ireland Junior Football...

, Donal O'Connor, Darragh Donnelly, Robbie Kelly, Ger Ahearne, Kenny Noonan, Padraig Kilcommins, Mark O'Carroll, John Tiernan, Ian Kilbride, Darragh Blaine, Brendan "Dixie" O'Brien (c), Senan Kilbride, Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

.

2006: James Martin, Robbie Kelly, Padraig Kilcommins, Enda Ruane, Eoin Mannion, Ger Ahearne, Niall Grehan, Mark O'Carroll (c), Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, Darragh Blaine, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

, John Tiernan, Brendan "Dixie" O'Brien, David "Jimmy Nail" O'Connor, Garvan Dolan.

2007: Shane Curran
Shane Curran
Shane Curran is a former Soccer and Gaelic football goalkeeper from Castlerea, County Roscommon, Ireland. He played Gaelic football with Roscommon, winning a Connacht Minor Football Championship medal in 1989, Junior in 2000 and Senior in 2001, he also won an All-Ireland Junior Football...

, Enda Ruane, Ger Ahearne, Robbie Kelly, Donal O'Connor, Ian Kilbride, Peter Domican, Mark O'Carroll, Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, John Tiernan, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

 (c), Darragh Blaine, Brendan "Dixie" O'Brien, Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club football with St. Brigids with whom he has had much success winning Roscommon Senior Football Championship medals in...

, Cathal McHugh.

2010: Philip Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly, Niall Grehan (c), Gearoid Cunniffe, Peter Domican, Ian Kilbride, Garvan Dolan, Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, John Tiernan, Cathal McHugh, Darren Dolan, Conor McHugh, Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club football with St. Brigids with whom he has had much success winning Roscommon Senior Football Championship medals in...

, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

.

2011: James Martin, Darragh Sheehy, Darragh Donnelly (c), Niall Grehan, Eoin Sheehy, Peter Domican, Gearoid Cunniffe, Garvan Dolan, Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, Darren Dolan, Cathal McHugh, Damien Kelleher, Padraig Kelly, Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club football with St. Brigids with whom he has had much success winning Roscommon Senior Football Championship medals in...

, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

.

Connacht

2006: James Martin, Robbie Kelly, Padraig Kilcommins, Enda Ruane, Donal O'Connor, Ger Ahearne, Niall Grehan, Mark O'Carroll (c), Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, John Tiernan, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

, Brendan "Dixie" O'Brien, Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club football with St. Brigids with whom he has had much success winning Roscommon Senior Football Championship medals in...

, David "Jimmy Nail" O'Connor, Conor McHugh.

2010: Philip Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly, Niall Grehan (c), Gearoid Cunniffe, Peter Domican, Ian Kilbride, Garvan Dolan, Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, Darren Dolan, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

, Cathal McHugh, David "Jimmy Nail" O'Connor, Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club football with St. Brigids with whom he has had much success winning Roscommon Senior Football Championship medals in...

, Conor McHugh.

2011: James Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly (c), Darragh Sheehy, Gearoid Cunniffe, Peter Domican, Niall Grehan, Garvan Dolan, Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

, Eoin Sheehy, Darren Dolan, Damien Kelleher, Cathal McHugh, Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride
Senan Kilbride is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club football with St. Brigids with whom he has had much success winning Roscommon Senior Football Championship medals in...

, Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan
Frankie Dolan is a Gaelic Footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He was part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2001, he also won a Connacht Junior Football Championship in 2008.He plays his club football with St...

.

All-Ireland Medal Winners

Minor 2006

Peter Domican, Cathal McHugh, Robbie Gilligan.

Junior 2000

Shane Curran, Michael O'Brien, Basil Mannion, Brendan "Dixie" O'Brien, Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion
Karol Mannion is a Gaelic footballer from County Roscommon, Ireland. He first came to prominence with the Roscommon junior team that won Connacht and All Ireland titles in 2000. He was also part of the Roscommon team that won the Connacht Senior Football Championship in 2010. He plays his club...

.

U-21 1966

Gerry Mannion, Jim Keane

Minor 1951

John O'Brien, Frank McKevitt

Minor 1939

Paddy Donnelly, Larry Cummins
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