O'Sullivan points way for Brigids to JHC A title

September 21, 2020

Kieran Cahill lifts the Dublin JHC A trophy for St Brigids. Picture credit: Chris Lynam

St Brigid's were crowned Dublin JHC A champions when defeating Lucan Sarsfields 0-17 to 1-13 in Saturday's final at Parnell Park.

The match ended in great drama when Kieran O’Sullivan elected to take a point from a penalty deep into added time to secure their one-point victory. The Russell Park men led by five points at the three-quarter mark, 0-16 to 1-8, but Kevin O’Reilly converted four frees and when Colm Behan put over an excellent scores the sides were level.

This final, held behind closed doors due to the current Covid19 restrictions, had been delayed during the second half owing to an injury to Brigid’s Ciarán Breslin and as the game moved into the tenth minute of added time Brigid’s were awarded a penalty that Kieran O’Sullivan drove over with practically the last action of the game.

In the opening half Brigid’s concluded the half on the up with the last four scores – Kieran O’Sullivan (two frees), Matt Barr (son of legendary Dublin footballer Keith), and Michael Fraine with a stylish point from 45 metres to lead 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time after playing with wind advantage.

Matt Barr extended Brigid’s lead on the restart but Lucan roared back to hit 1-4 without reply – former Dublin senior Kevin O’Reilly drilling home the goal, following a good fetch from a Barry Aird delivery, in the 36th minute.

Kevin O’Reilly also put over two frees with Oisín O’Brien and Rob Lambert also on the scoresheet to push Lucan into a 1-8 to 0-10 lead. Kieran O’Sullivan levelled matters before Brigid’s had a goal ruled out for a square ball infringement as full forward Stephen Moore flicked the sliotar to the Lucan net past Fintan Clandillon.

But Brigid’s surged into a five-point lead with Kieran O’Sullivan hitting three points, including two frees, Ciarán Dolan and Adam McGuirk all on target. Back came Lucan with the deadball accuracy of Kevin O’Reilly and Colm Behan’s score bringing the sides level once again.

However, Brigid’s, captained by goalkeeper Kieran Cahill, had the last word with O’Sullivan’s decisive point from that penalty in the 10th minute of added time. It's St Brigids 3rd Junior Hurling title, their last coming in 2008.

SCORERS – St Brigid’s: K O’Sullivan 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65’, 0-1pen), M Barr 0-03, C McCarthy, M Fraine, A McGuirk, C Dolan 0-01 each. Lucan Sarsfields: K O’Reilly 1-7 (0-7f), R Lambert 0-02, B Aird, D Kavanagh, O O’Brien, C Behan 0-01 each.


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