The best left and the best right foot in Roscommon put on a show in county final

Niall McIntyre

Some finishers.

TG4 decided on Roscommon, it was a good decision. The Rossies’ county final was broadcast live on Sunday afternoon and the clash of Clann Na nGael and St Brigid’s didn’t disappoint.

Two forgotten men of Roscommon football showed their class on opposite ends of the Hyde Park field in the decider. For St Brigid’s, their big, burly but deceptively deft and extremely skilful full forward Senan Kilbride was in lethal form.

For Clann na nGael, Donie Shine was rampant.

Kilbride lit this game up in the fifth minute when he ghosted in behind the Clann full back before taking a gorgeous pass on the turn, before solo-dummying the ball beautifully around the keeper.

It was cool, it was calm and it was class and it sprung this game into life.

Senan Kilbride Goal pic.twitter.com/i9Ta9QcSnt

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 14, 2018

The man with the golden gun of a left foot would go onto score two more absolute beauties from the left corner of the pitch in the first half.

The careless nonchalance with which the man strokes the ball is a sight for the sorest of eyes.

Clann na nGael v St. Brigids Half-Time Highlights pic.twitter.com/Mft6PHdctr

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 14, 2018

But what Senan Kilbride could do, Donie Shine could match. For this writer, Shine was the man who put Roscommon football back on the map again when he racked up ten points in the county’s 2010 Connacht final win, their first in nine years.

Back then, it looked as if the 21-year-old was about to take off and wield his genius all over the inter-county game. For one reason or another, however, his development stalled and most recently, he barely got a look in under Kevin McStay.

What he does have, however, like Kilbride, is a razor accurate foot. His favoured boot is the right one and everything it touched got the umpires busy out there in the decider.

His first point with the outside of the right 0.28 into the below highlights reel is a perfect example of his brilliant ball-striking.

Clann na nGael v St. Brigids Full-Time Highlights pic.twitter.com/3Ulh7bF1T8

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 14, 2018

His blasted penalty, into added time in this one, sealed the deal for Clann as they coasted to a 4-15 to 1-12 victory.

Donal Shine Goal from a penalty pic.twitter.com/pNuV1urN9Z

— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 14, 2018

The main talking point of this game was sub Cathal Callinan’s finish after Brigid’s keeper Shane Mannion slipped taking a kickout. It was perfectly judged by the supersub and it really was a decisive nail in the Brigid’s coffin.