St Brigid's end 28-year wait to win first Antrim senior title

St Brigid's beat O'Donovan Rossa 0-21 to 1-16 at Corrigan Park in Sunday's Antrim final to claim their first senior football title.

The south Belfast club, founded in 1998, were appearing in an Antrim decider for the first time and lifted the Padraig McNamee Cup after overcoming a nervy start. Cathal Murray's side recovered during the first half and became the county champions in an all-Belfast final.

At one stage St Brigid's trailed 0-7 to 0-3 in the first half but reached the interval with a two-point advantage; they absorbed pressure in the second half, conceded a Rossa goal and still prevailed by two points. The final whistle prompted a blue and yellow pitch invasion as players and supporters celebrated.

Teenager JJ Higgins, who turned 19 on Friday, finished with seven points and was named player of the match. Higgins said: "That's what happens when you're younger, you don't have much fear. I kicked a few wides in the first half but I kept going." He added: "I had a good game against Dunloy (in the semi-final win) and I was still nervous for the final, but sometimes those nerves are good and they get you up for the game."

Jack Dowling, 34, who has been togging out for St Brigid's for almost as long as Higgins has been alive, praised the young forward's consistency. Dowling said: "We did our job and just gave it to the shooters. JJ never does anything spectacular, but he does the simple things repetitively. He's relentless at the simple things." He also reflected on the achievement, saying it "didn't seem real" and: "I knew it would come. Someone said to me during the week they didn't think it would ever come, but I knew it would come. I thought it would be sooner than this, but this is sweet."

There were flags, flares and tears of joy as players and fans tried to come to terms with the victory. Club stalwart Joseph Finnegan told BBC Sport NI: "Twenty eight years we've been waiting for this and it's just unreal," and added: "It's a massive moment for the club. This is only the start for us. It's the best moment of my life bar none."

St Brigid's have secured their first ever senior football title and taken possession of the Padraig McNamee Cup after the 0-21 to 1-16 win over O'Donovan Rossa.