It was another busy Saturday across Ireland’s club championships, with drama, big performances, and hard-fought wins across the country.
Galway SHC Final: Loughrea 1-15 St. Thomas’ 1-14
Loughrea made it back-to-back Galway senior hurling titles after a thrilling one-point victory over St Thomas’ at Pearse Stadium. It was a tense and physical battle played in difficult wet and windy conditions, but Loughrea led from start to finish.
The champions were five points clear at the break despite playing against the breeze, thanks to strong first-half displays from Anthony Burns, Vince Morgan, and Tiernan Killeen. They could have been further ahead but hit seven wides and missed several goal chances.
St Thomas’, appearing in their ninth consecutive Galway final, fought hard after the restart. Conor Cooney kept them in touch with a series of frees, while Darragh Burke and Victor Manso chipped in from play.
Loughrea looked to have sealed it when Darren Shaughnessy blasted home a late goal, but a stoppage-time rally from St Thomas’ cut the margin to a single point. Still, the holders held firm to lift their fourth county title.
Roscommon SFC Final Replay: St Brigid’s 1-16 Pádraig Pearses 1-12
St Brigid’s regained the Roscommon senior football title after holding off Pádraig Pearses in an entertaining replay at Dr Hyde Park. The Kiltoom club’s efficiency in front of goal and a superb goalkeeping performance from Conor Carroll proved decisive.
Carroll was named man of the match after pulling off three outstanding saves, while forwards Bobby Nugent and Ben O’Carroll combined for ten points. After a first half that saw Brigid’s rally from four points down to lead 0-10 to 1-5 at the interval, they pushed on after the break.
A black card for Conor Hand briefly gave Pearses hope, but Brigid’s defensive organisation never wavered. A late goal from Brian Derwin finally sealed victory, giving St Brigid’s their 19th county title and first since 2023. They now advance to a Connacht semi-final in two weeks’ time.
Ulster SFC Preliminary QF: SOL Newbridge 1-14 Dunloy 0-11
Derry champions SOL Newbridge opened their Ulster Club campaign with an impressive win over Dunloy at Owenbeg. They entered the game as favourites and lived up to that tag, finishing strongly to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Newbridge were made to work for it, though. They trailed by four at half-time after a sharp Dunloy spell before the break. The turning point came early in the second half when Callum McGrogan punched home a well-worked goal to swing momentum firmly in their favour. From there, Conleth McGrogan and Oisin Doherty kicked a pair of brilliant late two-pointers to seal the win.
Dunloy, playing in their first senior provincial football campaign, battled bravely and showed flashes of their potential but couldn’t match Newbridge’s pace or accuracy in the closing stages.
While not fancied to go all the way, Newbridge have the talent and structure to trouble anyone left in the competition. Their quarter-final meeting with Armagh champions Madden now looks set to be one of the ties of the round, and another chance for the Derry side to prove they can go deep in Ulster.
Connacht LGFA Semi Final: St. Brigid’s 3-7 Glencar/Manorhamilton 1-12
The St Brigid’s women also had reason to celebrate as they narrowly overcame Glencar/Manorhamilton in a dramatic Connacht senior club semi-final. Played in Boggaun, the Roscommon side’s three second-half goals proved crucial in edging a high-quality encounter.
Glencar/Manor’s Muireann Devaney was outstanding, scoring ten points and almost salvaging a draw deep into added time. Her final free dropped short, allowing Brigid’s to escape with victory by the slimmest of margins.
After the final whistle, tempers flared briefly, showing a reflection of just how much was at stake. St Brigid’s now await the winners of Sunday’s clash between Westport (Mayo) and reigning All-Ireland champions Kilkerrin/Clonberne.
The big question in the Connacht club championship now looms large: can anyone stop Kilkerrin/Clonberne, who are chasing an incredible five-in-a-row All-Ireland titles?
Portarlington 1-12 Old Leighlin 0-6
Portarlington opened their Leinster senior football campaign in style with a convincing win over Old Leighlin in Carlow. The Laois champions controlled the game from early on and rarely looked in danger, thanks to strong performances from Colm Murphy and Rioghan Murphy.
After a cagey start, Port’ pulled away to lead 0-9 to 0-3 at half-time. Their defence was rock solid, with Curtis Lyons and Jason Moore leading the line, while Murphy kept the scoreboard ticking with four frees.
Old Leighlin battled gamely and briefly rallied when Port captain Ronan Coffey was shown a black card, but they couldn’t find the goal they needed. Rioghan Murphy sealed the win with a stoppage-time strike to make it 1-12 to 0-6.
It’s been over a decade since a Laois club reached a Leinster final, but this Portarlington side look well-equipped to change that. They now face Louth champions Naomh Máirtín in the quarter-final on November 16.
