'Pure relief' as St Brigid's claim first Antrim title

"Pure relief" was the overriding feeling of many St Brigid's players as the final whistle sounded to confirm their 0-21 to 1-16 win Antrim final over O'Donovan Rossa, which secured their first ever senior football title.

The south Belfast club, founded in 1998, were gracing the Antrim decider for the first time and recovered from a nervy start at Corrigan Park to make history as they finally got their hands on Padraig McNamee Cup.

They fought back from trailing 0-7 to 0-3 at one stage of the first half to lead by two at the break in the all-Belfast decider.

Cathal Murray's side, inspired by teenager JJ Higgins, who kicked seven points, held their nerve in the second half, despite a Rossa goal, to win by two and spark a blue and yellow pitch invasion at full-time.

There were flags, flares and tears of joy as players and fans tried to come to terms with their seismic victory.

"Twenty eight years we've been waiting for this and it's just unreal," club stalwart Joseph Finnegan told BBC Sport NI.

"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."

Higgins turned 19 on Friday and received the perfect belated birthday present in the form of the Padraig McNamee Cup as well as the player of the match award following his sharp shooting display.

"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 said.

"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."

His teammate Jack Dowling has been togging out for St Brigid's for almost as long as Higgins has been alive, but the 34-year-old praised the teenager's composure on the big stage.

"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."

Dowling's father Dermot was one of St Brigid's founders and Jack is one of the side's most experienced players having been involved in the senior panel for 18 years.

Despite recent setbacks in which getting beyond the semi-final stage was a challenge for the club, he maintained an unwavering belief that they would eventually get to a final and get over the line.

Now, after turning dreams into reality, Dowling said it "didn't seem real" that they have ended the long wait for a maiden title.

"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," he continued.

"I thought it would be sooner than this, but this is sweet."