By 12.30pm on Sunday July 6th, we will know if St Brendan’s GAA Clubs flagship team, The Football 1st XV, sponsored by Dymanic Safety Solutions, will have a ninth consecutive season on Go Ahead AFL5, for drop to AFL6 for the first time since 2017.
Standing in the way was Thomas Davis, who for them was just a dead rubber.
The half time score was 0-10 to 0-3 in favour of the Tallaghfornians, with the first and final score being two pointers in an otherwise forgettable first half. A free from Diarmuid ‘Dempsey’ Cooney, points from play from Tom ‘Heatmap’ Gallagher’ and Brendan ‘The Shoeman’ Brogan where the Dark Force’s scorers.
After the away side scored the first six points in ten second half minutes, one would suggest that St Brendan’s would end the match, and our eight year stay in AFL5 on a whimper.
But we didn’t!
Tom ‘Heatmap’ Gallagher gave his side a glimmer of hope by kicking a marvellous two pointer into The Garda Boat Club end, then The Golden Mullet Conall Morgan hit back with a single. Despite another free in from Thomas Davis, Brendan ‘The Shoeman’ Brogan livened up the contest with a brilliant individual goal. Then Cooney hit a single from a free in and with 10 minutes to go, the gap was now seven points.
But soon as St Brendan’s was getting a foothold and trying to rescue something out of nothing, Cooney had a great chance of a goal but shot inches wide. However, Brogan hit a free in to put six points between the sides.
Sadly, that was as good as it got, as Ger Bannon was given a second yellow card, and a red, for putting his marker into a UFC Esque choke hold for 10 seconds after the marker won the kick out with a Mark. Then Davis fisted the ball over for their 18th point of the morning.
Gallagher then give his side a little bit more hope with a two pointer to make it 0-18 to 1-10 with three minutes to go.
Another point for Davis followed and the game was well and truly up when the referee awarded a penalty for Davis, which was promptly converted and St Brendan’s were condemned to AFL6 football for 2026, as the game fizzled out to its inevitable conclusion.
Focus now turned to the Junior 1 Club Championship, starting on August 10th and a rematch with St Finians Swords, whom Cillian Morrison scored a last gasp smash and grab goal in the Quarter Finals last year, so a bit of a grudge match to look forward to.
Final score from Longmeadows St Brendan’s 1-10 Thomas Davis 1-19.
St Brendan’s fate was always going to be sealed after 12th place St Mark’s also on 8 points, superior scoring difference and a game in hand, received a walkover from Fingallians and thus avoid relegation. And speaking of walkovers, Templeogue Synge Street, rather oddly, also gave a walkover to St Patricks Donabate, which means they will play off with Craobh Chairáin, who defeated Plunketts 1-15 to 0-16 for the AFL5 Title.
On Monday evening in Balbriggan, O’Dwyers GAA Club were going to have a big party, barbeque, fireworks, big bonfire, beer, wine, champagne, the whole shebang, to celebrate the clubs 3rd Football XV winning the Go Ahead AFL10 title, and celebrate the massive achievement in style with a comprehensive victory to kick off the party.
However, one who didn’t read the script was the St Brendan’s Football 2nd XV, in partnership with Stoneybatter Pride of Place, who, in essence, pooped O’Dwyers big bash by winning this AFL10A Season Finale in a final score of 1-16 to 2-4.
It was 0-7 to 2-0 at half time and Cathal ‘Patrick Mahomes’ O’Donnell made sure that the O’Dwyers title winning party turned out to be a damp squib with The Darkest Forces second half goal.
As well as O’Donnell, The Banner Raiser Brian Hobbins, The Landlord Andy Moran, Eoin ‘Quinn Roux’ Fallon and Luke ‘The Alternative Nuke’ Reilly got some of the 16 points. While Shane ‘The Merc’ Feeney snook out a bottle of champagne (a bottle of 2013 Taste of Diamonds, no less, Shane has extremely expensive tastes!!!) out of the O’Dwyers clubhouse.
The 2nd's next outing is in the Junior 5 All County Championship on August 24th and a home tie against Geraldine P Morans.
