Next Stop – Croke Park
Saturday 18th February 2012. All Ireland CLub Semi Final
Garrycastle 1-11 … 1-09 St Brigids. (Pearse Park, Longford)
Garrycastle booked their place into the All Ireland Club final with a narrow victory over close neighbours St Brigids at Pearse Park.
With just over 10 kilometers seperating both clubs, the tie had an added edge to it as East met West in a Shannonside derby… and with both clubs traditionally sporting the same colours the stand was a sea of green and red.
With the scores remaining close throught the first half, St Brigids took the upper hand when they were awarded a penalty. Karol Mannion made no mistake from the spot to aid the Connacht champions to a 2 point lead at the break.
Garrycastle came out for the second half all guns blazing and after Dessie Dolon sailed over a point, they got their deserved reward when James Dolan fired the ball into the back of the net to reverse the 2 point advantage into Garrycastles favour.
The Westmeath side were dealt a blow with 15 minutes remaining when midfielder David O’Shaughnessy was sent to the line with a second yellow card. Brigids made the numerical advantage count straight away to pull back a point but the 14 men battled hard to block every attack and in the final stages they regained their 2 point advantage to set up a St Patricks Day final tie against Crossmaglan in Croke Park.
Click Here For More Photos From Garrycastle v St Brigids
Patrick Mulvihill keeps hold of th eball under pressure from Senan Kilbride and Darren Dolan
AC Sports Images 