ACFL Division 2
St Ergnats, Moneyglass 0-17 St Brigids, Belfast 1-13
By Ursula Bradley
After being called off on Wednesday night due to unplayable conditions St Brigid’s travelled down to Marion Hill early Sunday afternoon hoping to claim the three points, but Moneyglass, after being beaten in their last match by league leaders Glenavy, had other ideas.
Moneyglass man Liam Brady got proceedings underway with the first point of the game followed minutes later by full forward Dermot McErlain. The St Brigid’s men were slow to start and could do nothing but look on as a spilled ball on the 45 yard line found the hands of Moneyglass midfielder Ryan Doyle who got his first point with the support of Ryan Boyd and Paul Tohill.
After a few unfortunate wides it was ten minutes into the half before St Brigid’s fired over their first point. A miskicked free from Moneyglass ended up a sideline ball for St Brigid’s and Ronan McGrady found the running half back who popped it between the sticks.
At the other end of the pitch Liam Brady showed off skills which would be better suited to a soccer pitch to try and challenge the Belfast keeper Conway for the first time, a save from the keeper ended up back in the hands of Brady who fisted it over the bar. His name was to feature on the score sheet again just minutes later for a pointed free on the 21 yard line in the 17th minute.
Moneyglass’s attack were kept relatively quiet the remainder of the half, a turnover ball in defence for the St Brigid’s men was cleverly worked up the pitch, this time full forward Ben Leonard for St Brigid’s split the posts to leave it a one point game. Good defending from full back Tiernan Duffin denied the visitors a few scores from balls which dropped short in the Moneyglass goalmouth and a counter attack launched by Moneyglass man Paddy McCormick was unlucky not to end in the back of the net as Seanchan Duffin hit the woodwork. St Brigids half back Peter Lundy got the final say in the half with a point leaving it level pegging at the short whistle.
The second half got off to a better start for the travelling team who won the throw in and were awarded a free on the fourteen metre line to get Leonard the first score of the second half. A further two points from play for the visitors saw them three in front but a magic run from Moneyglass’ McCormick who ghosted past three of the St Brigid’s defence, was to prove fruitless as Conway saved the final kick.
The Moneyglass midfielders Ryan Doyle and Boyd were causing havoc with the St Brigid’s kick-out and great play from Gavin Murray to Seamus Devlin ended in a pointed free for Brady on the 14 metre line. A double sweeper system for the home team left the St Brigid’s team scratching their heads as Gavin Murray and Padraig Mackle cleaned up any attack the Belfast side attempted and a final delivery of the overturned ball to Liam Brady ensured the sides were level 10 minutes into the half. St Brigid’s corner back Finn McKeirnan showed his frustration which was punished with a yellow card.
Next it was James Smith of St Brigid to cause upset with a point from play followed by a goal from a Moneyglass kickout, the boys in blue seemed to panic and the visitors went four ahead with a well struck point on a 45 by Leonard. Gavin Murray returned to his corner forward role and won the kick-out passing to runner Dermot McErlain who scored his second of the game. A substitution for Seamus Devlin introduced Niall Boyd to the game, Boyd made an impact quickly with an excellent point from a tight angle. The St Brigid’s kick-out was won in a breaking ball by Moneyglass Miren Neeson and team work between top scorer Brady and Seanchan Duffin saw the home team pull back another point. The game was to go to the wire as the travelling team got another point by substitute Dean Smyth followed by one on the counter attack James Smith. Paddy McCormick was on the run again and this time he passed to Niall Boyd who got his second in a few short minutes, but substitutes at the other end of the pitch Smyth and Mackle kept the Belfast teams noses in front.
A further point from play for Moneyglass Dermot McErlain and pointed frees from Ryan Boyd and Seanchan Duffin left it all level with only minutes left on the clock, the thunder began to roar and a final attack from Dermot McErlain and Paddy McCormick was passed to influential Ryan Doyle who got the final point of the game to seal the win. The heavens opened to rain as St Brigid’s battled to level the game but it was not be for the Belfast men as the final whistle sounded to mark a much needed home victory.
Moneyglass: 1. Mark Carey 2. Kevin McPeake (Michael McLaughlin) 3. Tiernan Duffin 4. Sean Kelly 5. Patrick McCormick 6. Miren Neeson 7. Seamus Devlin (Niall Boyd) 8. Ryan Boyd 9. Ryan Doyle 10. Gavin Murray 11. Paul Tohill 12. Padraig Mackle 13. Liam Brady 14. Dermot McErlain 15. Seanchan Duffin
Referee: Eamon McAuley