PRIDE & HUMILITY

McGrath: We were laid low by two painful defeats but we've used that to spur us on

- PADDY TIERNEY

IN a short space of time, St Brigid's went from being in pole position to win a second All-Ireland club title to being also-rans in their own county.

Two defeats, some eight months apart, have gnawed at the soul of this team.

One moment of genius from Conor Glass meant Glen were crowned All-Ireland champions at Croke Park and, in September of 2024, they relinquished their Roscommon and Connacht titles following a quarter-final loss to Padraig Pearses.

Some teams try not to dwell on defeats.

St Brigid's, All-Ireland winners back in 2013, leaned into the hurt and used it as fuel to drive them on this season.

On Sunday week, they'll return to Croker for another crack at bringing the Andy Merrigan Cup back to Kiltoom, with Dingle standing in their path.

Defender Paul McGrath, who turned in a man-of-the-match display in Sunday's four-point semi-final win over Scotstown, says the pain of 2024 has spurred them on.

"Yeah, look, it's been massive obviously.

That hurt a lot that year," said McGrath.