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St Brigid’s Darren Dolan and Frankie Dolan celebrate with Frankie Dolan Snr. after the game. INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Dolan proves the match-winner for St Brigid's in club final

After years of heartache, the Roscommon club finally achieved glory in today’s decider against Ballymun Kickhams.

St Brigid’s (Roscommon) 2-11
Ballymun Kickhams (Dublin) 2-10

FRANKIE DOLAN WAS the hero for St Brigid’s as he kicked the match-winning point in injury-time of today’s AIB All-Ireland club senior football final in Croke Park.

Dolan shot over off his left to cap a sensational comeback for the Roscommon club after they had trailed by 2-3 to 0-1 after ten minutes.

Their All-Ireland dreams looked in ruins at that stage after Dublin champions Ballymun Kickhams had exploded from the starting blocks with early goals from Dean Rock and Philly McMahon.

But St Brigid’s, who had suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final two years ago against Crossmaglen Rangers, along with semi-final losses in 2007 and 2012 refused to wilt.

Their chances were boosted when Senan Kilbride found the net in the 13th minute while midfielder Karol Mannion kicked some excellent points before the interval.

St Brigid’s Senan Kilbride scores their first goal of the game despite the efforts of James Burke of Ballymun Kickhams.
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Ballymun Kickhams were still in the ascendancy at the midway mark with Ted Furman, who sparkled in the opening-half, notching the final point of the opening period to see them ahead by 2-6 to 1-5 at half-time.

However St Brigid’s drew level early in the second-half with Kilbride firing some classy points and then in the 39th minute Mannion did superbly to fist the ball to the net and tie the teams at 2-7 apiece.

In a terrific contest, the action ebbed and flowed from there until the final whistle. James Burke and Frankie Dolan traded points before Darragh Donnelly and Dean Rock did likewise.

Dolan kicked over a superb point in the 46th minute but Jason Whelan tied the match when he raised a white flag in the 55th minute. A replay looked a possibility until Dolan popped up with the point that delivered St Brigid’s first ever All-Ireland senior club title and ensured they became the first Roscommon club to claim national honours.

St Brigid’s Shane Curran and Ian Kilbride celebrate after the game
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

St Brigid’s: Senan Kilbride 1-3, Karol Mannion 1-2, Frankie Dolan 0-4 (0-1 ’45), Darragh Donnelly, Richard Blaine 0-1 each.
Ballymun Kickhams: Dean Rock 1-3 (1-0f), Philly McMahon 1-0, Ted Furman, James Burke, Jason Whelan 0-2 each, Karl Connolly 0-1.

ST BRIGID’S: Shane Curran; Gearoid Cunniffe, Peter Domican, Johnny Murray; Niall Grehan, Darragh Donnelly, Ronan Stack; Karol Mannion, Ian Kilbride; Damien Kelleher, Richard Blaine, Darren Dolan; Cathal McHugh, Senan Kilbride, Frankie Dolan.

Subs: Conor McHugh for Blaine, Eoin Sheehy for Cathal McHugh.

BALLYMUN KICKHAMS: Sean Currie; Eoin Dolan, Sean George, Enda Dolan; Alan Hubbard, Karl Connolly, James Burke; James McCarthy, Philly McMahon; Davey Byrne, Kevin Leahy, Jason Whelan; Ted Furman, Dean Rock, Elliott Reilly.

Subs: Derek Byrne for Leahy, Conor Weir for George, John Small for Reilly.

Referee: Padraig Hughes (Armagh)

St Thomas claim first ever All-Ireland hurling crown

My club’s greatest day…

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28 Comments
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    Mute Mick O'Keeffe
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    Mar 17th 2013, 8:28 PM

    Great game.. One of the best Club Finals I’ve ever seen.. Huge pace, skill & intensity. Ballymun will be devastated but what a comeback by Brigids…Perhaps Mun deserved a second day out & it’s a long way back for them.. Nobody can deny a great football parish like Kiltoom their big day & Roscommon deserves it…

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    Mute Ronan O'Callaghan
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    Mar 17th 2013, 10:19 PM

    I Can’t agree after being there, Dean Rock missing easy frees put a damper on the result, where some mental changes of possession at the end made it look gormless. But still delighted for Brigit’s, I was shell shocked for an hour, having no recollection of a Roscommon senior team’s victory there.

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    Mute Pride Apparel
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    Mar 18th 2013, 3:32 PM

    It might have been scrappy but some of the defending was brilliant, great game of football for the neutral.

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    Mute pauli ingleso
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    Mar 17th 2013, 7:24 PM

    Frankie has been a top player over the years. Delighted he got the winner

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    Mute Chris Tobin
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    Mar 17th 2013, 7:36 PM

    Hurling .?? Ffs proof read

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    Mute gareth richardson
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    Mar 17th 2013, 7:26 PM

    Wonder why Frankie Dolan hasn’t played for Roscommon in many years ?That winning point was pure class….

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    Mute John Clarke
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    Mar 17th 2013, 7:02 PM

    Hard luck to Kickhams, it’s a killer to loose in that way by one point. They can be proud of their achievements throughout the season.

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    Mute Martin O'Callaghan
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    Mar 17th 2013, 7:57 PM

    Very hard on them. Was convinced they would win. Young team though… Even as a Dub, have to say I’m glad. They have several lads from the country, but far worse than that they have approached and poached a good few other players from other dublin clubs. Connolly (Fingallians), Leahy (Clontarf) and Byrne (Towers) at least. They also approached Paul Flynn (Fingallians) when they were poaching Connolly. Completely against the ethos of the GAA… That said, hard luck lads…

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    Mute John Clarke
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    Mar 17th 2013, 8:01 PM

    Ah look, you could say the same about plenty of other Dublin clubs. You’re only focussing on Ballymun as they are where they are. They haven’t done anything that’s not fair game within the rules.

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Mar 17th 2013, 8:05 PM

    Ask me a*** born bred ballymuner proud man today

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    Mute Martin O'Callaghan
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    Mar 17th 2013, 8:15 PM

    @John I’m pretty sure approaching players behind the backs of their clubs is against the rules, as well as the spirit of the GAA. Thankfully someone like Paul Flynn stayed loyal to his club… You’re right though, they’re by no means the worst. As far as I know they’re not paying any players. Can’t say that for the likes of Parnells, Sylvesters and even Brigids (Dublin) with the likes of Emlyn Mulligan and John o’Loughlin getting paid.

    @Leslie I’m sure you were proud. But you have chosen to ignore my point. Lot of good work going on underage though, so hopefully you will have no need for poaching players in the future.

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    Mute Mick O'Keeffe
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    Mar 17th 2013, 8:34 PM

    In saying that Martin.. Huge work went into Ballymun by Paddy Christie & others & it’s 90% home grown… Hubbard, McMahon, rock, McCarthy, Dolan..etc

    They deserve their big day.. Their Dublin & Leinster titles.. Teams outside Dublin also mop up neighboring talent.. Even Cross did it at times…Nemo had imports.. St Galls etc.. All big clubs have number of imports & fair play to them..

    Two great teams today…even with 3-4,imports its minimal.

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    Mute Martin O'Callaghan
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    Mar 17th 2013, 8:52 PM

    Fair point, Mick. Christie has put huge work in. Huge portion of the team is made up of the underage teams he has taken…

    Unfortunately, it is far too common these days. Dublin clubs get a lot of stick, but a lot of country clubs are at it as well. Is ignored by the media when the likes of Cross do it…

    Country lads playing for a dublin club when they’re living there is inevitable, but poaching players from rival clubs is too far. Never mind paying them. The likes of Parnells and Sylvesters are a joke in dublin GAA…

    Hasn’t worked in the majority of cases as well. It’s the clubs with good underage structures who have been successful…

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    Mute Scobee Gough
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    Mar 17th 2013, 9:56 PM

    As a neutral i am delighted for the Rossies, always nice to beat the Dubs especially in a close contest

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    Mute Laura Halligan
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    Mar 17th 2013, 8:23 PM

    Very exciting game considering the conditions and superb point at end to win it. . .at the end of the day Frankie Dolan just had the experience to pop the ball over the bar! Ballymun will be back. . .they are young and will learn from this experience!! Football was definitely the winner today! Great game for neutrals! :-)

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    Mute Matt Dobson
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    Mar 18th 2013, 2:02 AM

    well done brigids, hard luck mun , great game . Nice end to the week for Roscommon after that fool in the Dail embarrassed them

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    Mute JibberIrish
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    Mar 17th 2013, 11:31 PM

    With a 9 point lead we had it won, Bridget’s experience and cool heads under pressure was superb. They picked away at the score. Hopefully we can get back there again and learn from it.

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    Mute Ronan O'Callaghan
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    Mar 17th 2013, 10:28 PM

    Shane Curran only ran 20 yards out of goal today, he’s a minimalist now. 2nd biggest highlight for Roscommon after everyone remembering Ming as a jolly loveable scamp.

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    Mute Rachel Howe
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    Mar 17th 2013, 9:06 PM

    Gutted for the ‘muns maybe next year.

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    Mute Gerard Tiernan
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    Mar 18th 2013, 10:19 AM

    frankie doesnt play for roscommon cause he was not selected by management as he was “not” good enough and was treated badly…Winning the all ireland with brigids means so much more to him as he is playing in the snr team since 17 years old…..and if he retires now well you cant asked for a better way

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    Mute Shane McCarthy
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    Mar 18th 2013, 10:08 AM

    Well Done Brigid’s,It was some display from both sides. So proud to see the way they came back from such a deficit to win. Having seeing them beaten in the final two years ago and being beaten last year in the semifinal it took some character to regroup and come back.
    Frankie Dolan is a king ! Held his nerve and got the winning point. Why he does nt play for Roscommon anymore I don’t know but I’m sure he has good reason. One thing I do know is that he and the rest of the team done their club,parish and County proud.
    Ballymun were a class act , which made this match one of the best ever club finals, they are a young side that will be back I’m sure.

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    Mute jimmy bolton
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    Mar 18th 2013, 9:28 AM

    Best team won. Up Brigids!!!

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    Mute Bernie Sharkey Eustace
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    Mar 18th 2013, 9:56 AM

    Great to see a Roscommon flag flying high on the podium as the cup was hoisted!

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    Mute theonlypaulg
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    Mar 18th 2013, 8:53 AM

    Great game of football. Well done Bridget’s, well deserved.

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    Mute Andy
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    Mar 18th 2013, 1:53 AM

    Great Game intense stuff , well brigids hard luck kickers

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    Mute Shane Farrell
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    Mar 18th 2013, 9:40 AM

    Lads it might be useful to confine the discussion to the game and not the side show of ‘importing players’. A fab game for neutrals I wanted neither to lose and give us another day in Mullingar or Cavan or wherever. Brigids have been desolated after previous defeats so their time was yesterday. Ballymun are a fine side whose biggest problem will be winning Dublin this year as any one if about five could in a given day. Well done to both teams.

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    Mute Bernie Sharkey Eustace
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    Mar 18th 2013, 11:36 AM

    I heard MING was in the stands praying for points and maybe a penalty.!!’Come on Bridgits and the Rossies!

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    Mute Sean Browne
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    Mar 18th 2013, 3:39 AM

    Even money plus three at half time thank you John Boyle

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