Sean Stinson’s 2-20 St Brigid’s 3-8
By John McIlwaine
Sean Stinson’s kept themselves in contention for the Minor Football League Division 1 title with a comprehensive win over St Brigid’s at Ahoghill on Tuesday evening. Dominant for most of the game the home side were clawed back on the scoreboard on a few occasions as the visitors brought themselves back into contention through their forwards ability to grab goals, despite being largely starved of possession. Stinson’s led by 1-11 to 1-4 at the break and when they added the first five points of the second half they appeared to be cruising. However a couple of quick goals from St Brigid’s suddenly brought the game back to life and though they threatened a couple of times in the final quarter, Stinson’s were never really threatened and a late goal from the excellent Ryan Convery sealed it once and for all.
Because of holiday’s and injuries St Brigid’s arrived in Ahoghill with just fourteen players and so Stinson’s responded in kind by taking off one the named fifteen starters. Stinson’s dominated the early minutes and were five points up after seven minutes as Ronan Kelly, Oisin Doherty (2), Ryan Convery, Ciaran Lynch tapped over points. St Brid’s forwards had seen little of the ball by this stage but in their first serious attack centre forward Peter Henvey got through to plant the ball neatly in the bottom corner of the net to cut his team’s deficit to just two. Paddy Graffin and Conor Crossey responded with points for the home side to open the gap to seven before Saints centre back Peter Henvey got up to help his forwards by slotting one over from twenty metres. The gap stayed at six after Stinson’s Ryan Convery and St Brigid’s Ruairi Brolly exchanged points but Stinson’s took control and four points on the trot, plus a goal from Ronan Kelly in reply to two from Brolly left them seven up at the half time whistle.
The home side’s dominant start to the second half appeared to have ended the game as a contest as they lead was stretched to twelve. It looked like both teams were going through the motions but when Brolly and Henvey combined to set up centre back Calum Webb for a palmed goal it awakened a bit of interest. When Brolly was pulled down a minute later while closing down on goal and Henvey dispatched the resultant penalty the gap was down to a manageable seven points. Brolly actually had it back to six after pointing a free in the fifty third minute, but Stinson’s responded with a later flurry and an expertly taken goal from Ryan Convery ended any lingering hopes of an unlikely comeback.
Sean Stinson’s
Harry Lennon, Christie Convery, Brian Lewis, Fintan McLarnon, Paul McAlease, Declan Dobbin, Ryan Convery (1-4), Ronan Kelly (1-5), Oisin Doherty (0-3), Patrick Graffin (0-1), Conor Crossey (0-3), Rauri McAleese, Ciaran Lynch (0-3), Patrick Dougan (0-1).
St Brigid’s
James McKenna, Calum Copeland, Daniel Foster, Ruairi McDonnell, Peter Healey, Calum Webb (1-2), Eoin Mitchell, Henry McGuigan, John Toner, Peter Henvey (2-0), Brian McCarthy, Ruairi Brolly (0-6), Patrick McCann, Tom Dunford.
Referee – Jarlath O’Donnell (Con Magees)