Connacht Club FC Semi-final/ St Brigid's 4-10 Killererin 1-11: Is there another All-Ireland medal in the future of Padraic Joyce? This was the tantalising question for Galway football people as they traipsed away from Tuam Stadium having watched Killererin come undone against a fabulous display from St Brigid's.
Joyce has been a blazing force in Galway for 10 years. We forget he is only 30 years. On yesterday's evidence his fire for the game is still there. This match may have boiled down to Joyce's skills against a fine collective effort from St Brigid's and it is a long way until next year's championship - or picket lines - but there was something in defeat for the Galway faithful to savour.
By the end, the match was a celebration of the superb combination work and finishing of the Roscommon men, who will face Ballina Stephenites in what ought to be an engaging battle for the province. It was somewhat of a turkey shoot in the last 10 minutes, the St Brigid's rush of goals pushing them towards an unassailable position.
What developed in the first half, though, was a fascinating demonstration of wills between two of the leading lights of the western theatre. All through Killererin's campaign, the form of Padraic Joyce had suggested he was tapping into the sublime creativity that marked his best years in the maroon shirt of Galway.
There were shades from the second minute yesterday when he raced out to collect a ball and, with his back to the goal, feinted right and swivelled to his left before angling a point. It was enough to prompt St Brigid's manager Anthony Cunningham to make a switch, with Robbie Kelly relieving Ger Aherne of Joyce watching.
But despite the best attentions of the Roscommon men, Joyce looked capable of scoring at will, twice winning high ball which he had no right to before clipping his points. With his cousin Nicky landing a point, Killererin raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after just seven minutes and at that stage, it seemed probable they would soon be looking to test St Brigid's famous goalkeeper Shane Curran. Instead, the goals came at the other end.
St Brigid's move the football with accuracy and sense of purpose. While Killererin possess a towering midfield pair, the Roscommon duo roamed the field at will, with the athletic Mark O'Carroll prominent in the sweeping St Brigid's attacks that led to the goals.
But it was the passing of Frankie Dolan that shone through this half. His pass to Cathal McHugh for the St Brigid's second goal was pure craftwork, long, perfectly weighted and allowing the corner forward time to claim possession, turn and pick his spot. Twice more he deceived the Killererin back line - a unit under siege - with similar passes and after that, he contented himself with firing low, bullet-like ball at David O'Connor.
O'Connor is a seasoned Brigid's man and was a late call-up here. He haunted Killererin. He loitered around the fringes and proved a supreme finisher of the swift counter-attacks. Once O'Carroll thundered through after untidy Killererin defensive work and supplied O'Connor for the fourth goal, the match looked over at 4-10 to 0-7. Within a minute though, Tommie Joyce sent a long ball towards his brother and, with Roscommon men swarming around him, Padraic Joyce collected and drilled a fabulous goal.
Minutes earlier, Joyce had conspired to half punch, half throw the ball past Curran in a desperate effort that was deemed a foul at the other end. It was one of those games of wits and desperate efforts and as Curran and Joyce briefly embraced, St Brigid's came flying up the field and were rewarded with a point from Senan Kilbride. Immediately, Joyce got possession and cracked another point.
Killererin were six points down with 15 minutes left and in trouble in many parts of the field but the match was so lively and big hearted it seemed anything could happen. Had Killererin squeezed a goal - and the totemic Curran had to leave the field in the last 10 minutes - the raucous crowd might have been treated to a grand finale.
Instead, it was the cool finishing of O'Connor - a fitting reminder of the valour of the club player on what was a momentous weekend. Jimmy the Nail, as he is known, finished with 2-3, drew a fine save from Alan Keane and was denied what would have been a hat-trick when his volley clipped the post. He trotted off with a few minutes to go to the loudest roar of the day.
ST BRIGID'S: S Curran; E Ruane, D Donnelly, R Kelly; P Domican, D Donnelly, N Grehan; M O'Carroll, K Mannion (1-0, pen); J Tiernan (0-1), F Dolan (0-4, frees), G Dolan; D O'Connor (2-3), S Kilbride (0-1), C McHugh (1-0). Subs: B O'Brien (0-1)for G Dolan (49 mins), J Martin for S Curran inj (50 mins), P Kilcommons for C McHugh (53 mins), C McHugh for D O'Connor (55 mins), E Mannion for G Aherne (57 mins).
KILLERERIN: A Keane; D Flaherty, M Mitchell, D Kelly; I Reddington, T Joyce, J Mannion; T Hughes, M Keane; J Keane (0-1), P Joyce (1-9, three points from frees), T Flynn; S Hughes, N Joyce (0-1), T Fahy. Sub: T Wilson for M Keane (53 mins).
Referee: M Duffy(Sligo).
