Clan Na nGael's stranglehold on the Roscommon SF title was loosened at Hyde Park yesterday when their neighbours St Brigid's captured the Fahy Cup for the first time since 1969.
Winners of a staggering 13 senior titles in the last 16 years, Clan na nGael found it an uphill struggle to mark up their 20th title win. They trailed by five points at the break, despite having had the breeze behind them. The losers began brightly and demonstrated an economy of effort when establishing an early 0-3 to 0-1 advantage. However, from the end of the first quarter, it was their less-fancied rivals who dominated the play.
A Brendan O'Brien point levelled the scores after 17 minutes before man-of-the-match Tom Og O'Brien launched an attack which culminated in John Tiernan fisting the ball to the Clan net for the only goal of the match. Benny O'Brien and Fergal Shine exchanged points before Tom Lennon scored twice to give the winners a commanding 1-6 to 0-4 interval lead.
Left corner forward Frankie Dolan, who had an outstanding game for the winners, stretched their lead with a magnificent point six minutes after the re-start and the same player restored that margin after substitute Emmet Dorney had converted a free for Clan na Gael. Dorney was, in fact, to account for all of his side's second-half total from frees. Crucially, Clan na Gael failed to beat St Brigid's goalkeeper Aiden Cunniffe who made three splendid second-half saves.
