As the crow flies, the distance between St Brendan's GAA pitch in Longmeadows and the Liffey Gaels GAA pitch in Kilmainham, is a mere 200 meters. But travelling by car, according to Google Maps, the distance is actually 2.7k, but when the new foot bridge opens near the Garda Boat Club in 2027, that distance, by foot, will be just 1k. 

This morning, the St Brendan’s Football 1st XV, sponsored by Dynamic Safety Solutions, travelled to Liffey Gaels for a must win Round 3 fixture against Good Counsel Liffey Gaels in the PTSB Junior 1 Club Championship.  

We join this writer at the beginning of the second half where The Home Side lead The Dark Force by 0-11 to 0-5 at Half Time, but it could have been a different story had Washington Sean Whelan converted his two point attempt on the stroke of half time, which went wide. 

At the start of the second half, another Whelan shot went wide, but St Brendan’s got the opening score of the second half thanks to The Adventure Man Nicky McCafferty, indeed, the point had made in County Antrim written all over it with The Bombscare Donal Clarke supplying the final pass. The gap was down to four with The Valley Rover Tadhg O’ Brien who took the point despite the referee giving an advantage for an earlier infringement. 

After three points on the spin for GCLG. O’Brien saw a goal bound shot hit the leg off a GCLG player. Eoin ‘Quinn Roux’ Fallon retrieved possession and passed to Whelan who had to settle for a single point. But The King O’The 2 pointers didn’t wait long to get another crack at a such a score and got it when The Golden Mullet Conall Morgan drew the foul and Whelan took his shot and got the two pointer he craved to put three between the sides, 0-14 to 0-11, nine minutes gone in the second half. 

GCLG were awarded a free in, but due to mouthing, the referee reversed his decision and instead gave a 13 meter free in to St Brendan’s which McCafferty converted, but the home side did peg a point back to make it 0-15 to 0-12, fourteen minutes gone. 

The gap was back to four momentarily, Whelan won Eoghan ‘The Bridge’ Clogher’s kick out with a Mark, played the ball onto McCafferty and another point, but the gap went back to four points with another GCLG point. 0-17 to 0-13, another point from play from GCLG made it 0-18 to 0-13. 

McCafferty converted another close range free to make it 0-14, but there was 10 minutes left to save St Brendan’s Championship bacon for 2026. However, GCLG hit two singles to stretch the gap to six points. Conall Morgan, in need of a two pointer, saw his shot sail wide at the last possible moment. 

GCLG, wanted to end the contest in style with a goal, however, the adrenalin got to the forwards head and got penalized for overcarrying. Whelan had an attempt on a two pointer from a free in, but the referee penalized Whelan whilst the ball in mid flight for crossing the line. The GCLG defenders celebrated that free out like they had won the All Ireland. Another late bid for a goal from McCafferty, ended with a clearance from the small square and soon afterwards the final whistle went. 

And that was that. No fourth consecutive quarter Final for The Men's Football 1st XV, who are now out of the Championship and the 2026 season drawing to a close and likewise the careers of Eoghan Clogher and Stephen Durkan who played their last match in the black and amber. 

One team who will be delighted with this result this morning was Beann Eidair, who didn't want to face St Brendan's in the Championship for the third time in four years and will now instead face Good Counsel Liffey Gaels in Howth in two weeks’ time. 

Final Score from Liffey Park Kilmainham, Good Counsel Liffey Gaels 0-20 St Brendan's 0-14. 

 

Meanwhile later in the afternoon in Longmeadows, the St Brendan’s Football 2nd XV, in partnership with Stoneybatter Pride of Place took on Templeogue Synge Street in Round 2 of the PTSB Junior 5 All County Championship.  

Speaking to this writer during the week, John ‘I hate Denis Bastick’ Joyce told me that he that he had been dreaming and scheming over how he is going to tear Bastick apart since the Junior 6 All County Final South in November 2024. 

However, Whilst Castlebar Co Mayo native Joyce won his own personal battle and even getting to do this to Bastick, The Darkest Force lost the war with The Syngers running out 4-19 to 2-9 winners. Fergal 'I am Maximus' Lyons and Kyle Cunningham with the goals and Tom 'Heatmap' Gallagher with a two pointer. Next up for the 2nds is a Championship fixture against Clontarf in two weeks time.