Character of St Brendan's players was crucial says manager

Belmullet’s Coláiste Naomh Bhreandáin were a dozen points in front at the break having made use of the strong wind but St Tiernan’s came back into the game in the second-half and got to within three points, making for a tense final five minutes to Saturday’s Connacht senior ‘D’ final in Bonniconlon.

Coláiste Naomh Bhreandáin dug deep and held out for the win which manager Noel McLoughlin was “absolutely delighted” about.

“I’m delighted for the Barony of Erris, we have four clubs represented in our school and it starts there with the clubs, we only develop them further,” said McLoughlin. “But this team all year, whether it's basketball with Mr (Declan) Reilly, they've a never say die attitude.

“They're unbelievable. Their fight, their spirit, the teamwork camaraderie they have, they're just a credit to our area and a credit to the school.” 

Speaking of the wind factor, Noel McLoughlin had hoped to go against the wind in the first-half but they had to change their plans when playing with it from the off.

“It was a significant factor. We were hoping to go against in the first-half and defend and try and stay in the game. But when we got the wind with us, we changed our tactics and we went for the scores.

“You have no choice when you have a strong wind, you have to build that lead. We played Tiernan's already this year, and we had the wind the first-half and we didn't make hay that time, but we definitely made hay today, in the first-half.” 

Coláiste Naomh Bhreandáin were able keep their lead despite a second-half rally from St Tiernan’s and the character shown by his side was pleasing for McLoughlin but something, he said, that the players had shown in spades not only on the Gaelic football field this year.

“These boys don't know how to give up. Mr Reilly here was in Monaghan a few weeks ago and they were nine points down in the basketball game and came back to win it by a point on the buzzer.” 

Declan Reilly added: “The most important ingredient you can have in sport is character and our team has it in abundance. But I just want to say congratulations to both teams. I thought it was a marvellous advertisement for colleges football to have a ‘D’ final with two North Mayo teams played in North Mayo was a really unique occasion, a great occasion.” 

St Tiernan’s joint-manager Seamus Kelly was disappointed for his side who came back to within a score.

“We played quite well in the second-half but we never really got into the game I don't think at any stage, we just didn't, for whatever reason, just didn't click today.

“We came back and we got within one score at the end but at no stage could you say that we had control on the game.”