St Brigid's beat Scotstown in All-Ireland semi-final

Connacht champions St Brigid's advanced into the final of the All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship with a 1-16 to 1-12 victory over Scotstown at Breffni Park.

The Roscommon side enjoyed a good run to the half to open a four-point lead and they managed that gap throughout the second period as Scotstown spurned a number of opportunities.

It was the Monaghan side's first appearance at this stage since winning their previous Ulster title in 1989 and they will have some regrets as they didn't make their chances count, but it's St Brigid's who will meet Dingle in the final on Sunday, 18 January.

In freezing conditions, the sides produced an enthralling battle that swung this way and that in the opening period, but Scotstown just couldn't reel the Connacht side in who return to the final for the first time since losing to Glen from Derry in the 2024 decider.

"We probably had a few [chances] in the second half that could have killed the game, but we left the four points in it," St Brigid's manager Anthony Cunningham told BBC Sport NI.

"You just don't know with the modern game and the two-pointers. We are delighted with some of our play, but we could have made it a bit easier.

"I think the crucial point was the five to ten minutes before half-time as it gave us a cushion and we got stuck into the players at half-time to get things right.

"It's great to be back in a final as they will be disappointed with a couple of years ago, but you have to be impressed by An Daingean and we'll have to up our game again."

Scotstown enjoyed early pressure with Rory Beggan kicking a 45, but St Brigid's roared into the contest as on six minutes, goalscorer from their Connacht final win Ruaidhri Fallon turned provider as he slipped Brian Derwin in and the corner forward finished brilliantly to the top corner.

Points from Ben O'Carroll and Fallon followed with Scotstown rocking, but the Ulster champions were right back in it as after Nicky Sherlock pointed, the subsequent kick-out went awry as Mattie Maguire turned it over and found Jack McCarron who finished to the net with aplomb.

After an exchange of points, Francis Maguire landed a two-pointer for Scotstown, but St Brigid's were beginning to get on top and were back on terms through Bobby Nugent and Ciaran Sugrue.

Micheal McCarville briefly restored the Scotstown advantage, but they were almost hit for a second goal when St Brigid's broke and with Beggan out of his goal, Ben O'Carroll tried his luck from distance. Beggan scrambled back but the ball came to Paul McGrath to level it for the fourth time.

However, St Brigid's finished the half better with four points which included a superb two-pointer from Bobby Nugent to take a 1-10 to 1-6 lead into the break.

Scotstown had a chance to make a dream start to the second half, but Conor Carroll saved from Shane Carey and somehow, Darren Hughes' follow-up was saved on the line.

St Brigid's broke with Conor Hand kicking a two-pointer and although Scotstown got it back to four, this proved to be a gap they just couldn't narrow further.

A Bobby Nugent two-point free pushed the margin back to six with a pair of Jack McCarron scores bringing Scotstown back to within striking range entering the closing stages, but there was a sense they really needed a big moment.

Shots at the posts began to tail wide and on 55 minutes, it seemed Scotstown had a certain goal when substitute Tommy Mallen picked out McCarron but St Brigid's defender Sean Trundle got back to divert out for a 45 which amounted to nothing.

Another late goal chance saw McCarville blaze over but time was against the Ulster side as St Brigid's return to a second final in three years.

Scotstown: Rory Beggan (0-1, 1x45); Damien McArdle, Ryan O'Toole, Darragh Murray; Kieran Hughes, Darren Hughes, Donnchadh Connolly; Micheal McCarville (0-2), Gavin McPhillips; Max Maguire (0-1), Shane Carey (0-1f), Francis Maguire (0-3, 1x2p); Mattie Maguire, Jack McCarron (1-3, 0-1f), Nicky Sherlock (0-1).

Subs:Conor McCarthy for N Sherlock (HT), Tommy Mallen for Mattie Maguire (46)

St Brigid's: Conor Carroll; Pearse Frost, Sean Trundle, Robbie Dolan; Ruaidhri Fallon (0-1), Brian Stack, Paul McGrath (0-2); Shane Cunnane, Eddie Nolan (0-1); Ciaran Sugrue (0-1), Conor Hand (0-2, 1x2p), Bobby Nugent (0-6, 1x2pf, 2f); Ben O'Carroll (0-1), Mark Daly, Brian Derwin (1-0).

Subs: Ronan Stack for M Daly (33), Charlie O'Carroll (0-1) for B O'Carroll (48), Senan Kilbride for B Nugent (55)

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)