Inside Track with John McIntyre

THIS will hurt the Maigh Cuilinn footballers for a long time. The Galway champions had enough chances, possession and territory to have won nearly two matches at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday. Instead, Cathal Clancy’s charges must deal with the sickening feeling that this was one title which was left behind.

The 2025 Connacht Club Final against a battle-hardened St Brigid’s outfit was always going to represent a formidable challenge for Maigh Cuilinn, but if they were told beforehand that within three minutes they would be four points ahead against the wind, David Wynne and company might have been forgiven for thinking that this was going to be their day.

It didn’t matter that Fiachra McDonagh’s goal from an under-hit Seán O’Connor point attempt should never have stood due to a blatant square ball, the fact was that Maigh Cuilinn had got off to the perfect start. With Seán Kelly and Niall Walsh pulling the strings early on and Fionn McDonagh proving a handful up front, St Brigid’s were rarely getting out of their own half.

Eventually, the Roscommon champions got off the mark with a Bobby Nugent free in the ninth minute, but Maigh Cuilinn were largely dictating the exchanges with points from Fionn McDonagh, Walsh and Paul Kelly keeping them in control on the scoreboard, despite a two-pointer from Conor Hand and Ben O’Carroll also splitting the posts for St Brigid’s.

Having amassed 1-4 after 20 minutes, Maigh Cuilinn were in a decent position, but they would only score once more in the half – a Fiachra McDonagh effort – as St Brigid’s began to compete on more equal terms, even if they got nothing from three 45’s by midfielder Shane Cunnane.

O’Carroll and Hand, who was to emerge as the final’s pivotal figure, did raise white flags to narrow the deficit to two and Maigh Cuilinn were grateful to Johnny Moloney – who had earlier been inexplicably denied a free when clearly fouled – for popping up to thwart Robbie Dolan’s goal chance towards the end of the half.

It looked like Maigh Cuilinn would take a two-point lead into the interval, but another attack broke down, allowing Hand to tear up the field before superbly raising a second orange flag. Without playing that well, St Brigid’s were now level but would have the elements to face on the resumption.

Pictured: Maigh Cuilinn’s Niall Walsh is chased by Bobby Nugent of St Brigid’s during the Connacht Club Senior Football Final at Dr Hyde Park on Sunday. Photo: David Cunniffe