A third consecutive Go Ahead Junior 1 Club Championship Quarter Final awaited the St Brendan’s Football 1st XV, Sponsored by Dynamic Safety Solutions as the team travelled to Páirc Uí Ruairc in Howth to face the home challenge of Beann Eidair, in a repeat of the September 2023 fixture between the sides. St Brendan’s won that day 4-16 to 0-9. However, Beann Eidair go into this game as favorites having won all three matches in Group 1 and returned scores of 3-18, 1-14 and 3-12.
Before we go any further, let's turn the clock back to last Sunday in St Catherine’s Park in Lucan, where The St Brendan’s Hurlers, sponsored by Bodibro played in the Quarter Final of the Go Ahead Junior C Championship against Na Gaeil Oga. The Hurlers reached the Quarter Finals on the back of a 3-12 to 2-12 victory over Naomh Fionnbarra in Round 5 of the Championship in a match, unbeknownst to this writer, moved from Sunday August 31st to Wednesday August 27th with a 6.45pm throw in, to allow several Naomh Fionnbarra players attend that weekend’s Electric Picnic.
However, Na Gaeil Oga got out of the blocks quickly and blasted three goals inside 5 minutes which was the foundation for an 8-13 to 1-13 win to end St Brendan’s Hurlers 2025 season.
So, onto today in Howth and it was all Beann Eidair from the word go with the home side getting the opening score six minutes into the contest with a free in. The Dark Force backs were kept busy with Bryan ‘The Passenger’ Marley winning two crucial turnovers in the opening eight minutes, the first bid for a point ended when free in from Cathal ‘Patrick Mahomes’ O’Donnell went wide.
14 minutes gone and the mountain St Brendan's had to climb was steeper than the hill they had to climb just getting here! Beann Eidair split the defense and had an easy tap in for goal, 1-2 to 0-0.
It was already a bad morning for The Lumberjack Liam Atkinson whose car succumbed to the steep Howth hills and the engine caved in 20 meters from the clubhouse! But Shane Feeney threw him on 24 minutes into the contest, but by that stage the home side hit a second goal and two single points. However, Eoghan ‘The Bridge’ Clogher kept his side in the contest with crucial saves.
Going into injury time and the thought of a first half shut out shuddered John Tuffy. O’Donnell however ensured that did not happen after a foul on The Return Of The Mack Cillian Morrisson gave St Brendan’s a chance of a score before half time. O’Donnell hit a two pointer from a free in with the last kick of the first half and a half time score of Beann Eidair 2-7 St Brendan’s 0-2.
The Howth side wanted to end the contest once and for all with two quick fire points to start the second half. Morrisson gave his side some hope with his first score of the morning, a single, wind assisted.
22 minutes to go to extend St Brendan’s season by two weeks and after a foul near the corner on Eoin ‘Quinn Roux’ Fallon, O’Donnell scored from a free in to make it 0-4.
Clogher was in scintillating form with another save for a 45 after the Beann Eidair forward side stepped and went for placement, but his shot hit Clogher’s inner thigh, nothing materialised from the 45. Washington Sean Whelan went for a two pointer but the shot fell short however Cillian Morrisson couldn’t connect with the fist which would have made things interesting.
Another O’Donnell free in followed after Beann Eidair fell foul of the 3 Up rule. However, the home side couldn’t extend their lead especially when a close range free went wide.
Tom ‘Heatmap’ Gallagher tried an unlikely comeback when picking up a long ball from Whelan but his shot was saved for a 45. O’Donnell played a 1 2 with The Castlebar Mitchell Colm Harte and took his shot from outside the 40 meter arc and score his second 2 pointer to put nine between the sides with three minutes to go.
However, Beann Eidair struck for a single to put 10 between the sides and the referee blew for full time and in essence blew the final whistle on the St Brendan’s Football 1st XV 2025 season.
Final Score from Páirc Uí Ruairc: Beann Eidair 2-11 St Brendan’s 0-7.
