Sugrue goal crucial as Brigid's survive Mohill scare

St Brigid's 1-07 Mohill 0-08

St. Brigid's survived an almighty scare from Leitrim champions Mohill to set up a provincial decider against Corofin in a fortnight.

The 2013 All-Ireland champions were made to fight all the way for their two-point triumph at Dr Hyde Park, with Ciarán Sugrue’s 46th minute goal proving decisive.

Jerome Stack’s men enjoyed plenty of possession during the opening half but found it difficult to breach a packed Mohill defence.

Playing with the aid of a strong wind, Eamonn O’Hara’s side opened the scoring through their talisman, Keith Beirne, after just three minutes.

Beirne added another from a free, but each time Brigid’s were able to equalise through a couple of Bobby Nugent frees to leave the sides deadlocked at 0-02 apiece after 13 minutes.

Beirne weaved some more magic to edge his side ahead with his third point of the afternoon, but the visitors suffered a blow when they lost midfielder Domhnaill Flynn to a black card.

Full-forward Jordan Reynolds edged his side further ahead before Ben O’Carroll’s 28th minute free left it 0-04 to 0-03 to Mohill at the end of a poor first half.

Despite the dominance of Ruaidhrí Fallon and Eddie Nolan, Brigid’s could never generate any meaningful momentum, despite defender Ronan Stack bringing the sides level after 36 minutes.

Half-time substitute Brian Derwin edged his side in front for the first time before Brigid’s produced the game’s significant moment.

Bobby Nugent gathered Cormac Sheehy’s kickout and the ball was worked quickly through Eddie Nolan and Stack to O’Carroll who fed the supporting Sugrue to bundle the ball over the line.

Flynn kicked a superb point but Brigid’s responded with scores from substitute John Cunningham and Nugent (a free) to leave five