THEY say lightning doesn't strike twice, but many club members in St Brendan's won't believe that particular phrase, as they were once again beaten in a final this year by Wild Geese.

This time it was the Sheridan Cup decider played in Garristown, where the Oldtown men added to the silverware won by the club's hurling section in powering to another magnificent cup success.

Unlike in the championship final two weeks previously, it was Wild Geese who got off to a great start. Playing into a strong wind in the first half, Geese scored 2-4 to St Brendan's mere two points.

Early scores stemmed from a David Mc Donnell free and a fine point from Vadim Lee. This was soon followed up by a David Mc Donnell goal, and moments later Danny Monks also rattled the net.

Indeed, the Geese were also unlucky not to have claimed a third goal as they hit the post and crossbar in the space of five seconds, before the St Brendan's defence scrambled the ball clear.

It was evident at half-time that the damage had been done by the Geese already and that St Brendan's would have a huge task to claw back the eight-point Geese lead while playing into the wind in the second period.

However, there was little sign of the Geese slackening off in that second half as they continued to make inroads into the Brendan's defence and add on more scores in the second half. Among them was a great individual point from Daryl Browne, while David Rennie slotted over a point after cutting in from the left -hand sideline.

Paul Murray finally put the game to bed with a fisted effort over the Brendan's keeper after a smart hand pass from David Mc Donnell.

Substitute Aidan Schaill almost got the Geese's fourth goal, but a strong tackle from the Brendan's full back denied him the privilege at the last second.

At the other end of the field the Geese defence dominated the game and gave nothing away all day. That was until a few minutes from full-time when St Brendan's got a controversial penalty which they duly converted.

However, that score was no more than a consolation as Wild Geese finished ninepoint winners.