St Brigids manager Jeorme Stack admitted his side had to come through the toughest test to win the Roscommon title.
Brigids claimed their 18th Roscommon senior title with a 0-12 to 0-11 win over Boyle on Sunday. Boyle fighting back to bring the game back to one point.
“We hadn’t been put to that sort of test in the games earlier in the year” explain Brigids boss Jeorme Stack.
“We had moments in those games were had to dig out and get dominance in those games” added Stack. It could have gone either way”.
“I was very, very confident, that we would stand up to a battle” explained Stack. “Whether, we’d come out of the right side of it, different things happen in matches”.
“But I did know, that group would come to a battle and give it their all” declared Stack.
Star man O'Carroll silenced
Ben O’Carroll registered three points all from frees for St. Brigids. While a good return for O’Carroll, it was surprising that he registered no points from play.
“We all know Ben is the marquee forward on our team, probably one of the marquee forwards in Roscommon” explained Stack.
“It’s a good sign of the team, that when Ben doesn’t kick a couple from play, which is very rare, we had other fellas to step up”.
“Shane (Cunnane), Paul McGrath, Conor Hand. That’s the sign of a good team. It’s a great credit to them and to Ben!” added Stack.
“Ben is throwing the ball around as well. Most teams will put their top marker on Ben and a couple of other fellas for company as well. We’ve got to learn how to manage that”.
While praising the forwards, Stack was quick to praise his sides defence. St. Brigids having conceded just two goals in six championship games.
St Brigid’s Joint-Captains, Paul McGrath & Mark Daly after receiving the Fahey Cup from Roscommon GAA Chairperson, Brian Carroll and Tim Hayes of The Hodson Bay Group. #RosGAA pic.twitter.com/E5kJznuAaV
— Roscommon GAA (@RoscommonGAA) October 22, 2023
“If you’re to win championships in any county, there has to be good structure to your defence and there has to be work rate all over the pitch” Stack declared.
“The rebound of that is, you have the ball up to the forwards quickly” Stack explained. “We didn’t get that as much today, but that was really down to Boyle. That’s great credit to them”.
“Not conceding a goal, I take great satisfaction” Stack added. “There’s another game or two to come. It’s something we have to keep working on!”
St. Brigids will face the Sligo champions Coolera Strandhill in the Connacht championship on November 11th or 12th.