South Antrim Under 16A Football final
St Brigid’s 3-8 St Paul’s 1-12 (aet)
By John McIlwaine
St Brigid’s withstood an all-out attack by St Paul’s in the second half of extra time to secure the South Antrim A football title in an absorbing game at Hallequins RFC on Friday night. When St Brigid’s turned around at half time in extra time with a four point lead it appeared that they were home and hosed, having been under the cosh for long periods of normal time. However St Paul’s completed the second period and pressed relentlessly and some wayward finishing and some great work by St Bridid’s goalkeeper James McKenna and his defenders restricted the Shaw’s Road boys to just two points from frees and they held on to take the title.
St Paul’s were on top during the opening ten minutes of the game and points from the excellent Ruairi Hamill in the second and tenth minutes by put them two clear. St Brigid’s did have a couple of attacks but with no reward, however a great move in the twelfth minute cut the St Paul’s defence apart and Ben Doherty finished the move by palming the ball to the net to put his team ahead.
Michael Mervyn and Ruairi Hamill came back with points for St Paul’s to put them 0-4 to 1-0 ahead in the twenty first minute, but St Brigid’s got back on terms two minutes later when corner-back Donal Harrison forged forward to fire over a point. St Brigid’s were having the better of things at this stage but disaster struck five minutes from the break when goalkeeper Michael Murphy was dispossessed thirty metres from his goal and Michael Mervyn had the simple task of firing the ball to the unguarded net and when Hamill added another point soon afterwards the boys from Shaw’s Road went to the changing rooms at the break with a 1-5 to 1-1 lead.
St Brigid’s needed a good start to the second half and they got it as Eoin Brown, Marcus Lynch (2) hit quick-fire points to cut the gap to the minimum. However St Paul’s regained control and points from Michael Mervyn and Aidan Toner extended their lead to three. With time almost up it appeared St Paul’s had done enough to edge the contest, but St Brigid’s were battling for every ball and after an almighty scramble midfielder Calum Webb somehow found a path through to drill the ball to the St Paul’s net. The title appeared to be in St Brigid’s hands at this stage but St Paul’s fought gallantly and three minutes into injury time they were rewarded when midfielder Caolan Crossan fired over to bring the game to extra time.
St Brigid’s struck early in the first period of extra time and Marcus Lynch pointed them ahead on three minutes and when Matt Smyth and Paul Bradley combined to put Ben Doherty through for a goal they were in control. However the second period of extra time proved anything but comfortable for the Musgrave Park boys as St Paul’s threw everything into attack. They cut the gap to two with two Michael Mervyn points but St Bridid’s showed great resistance and held on to take the title and set up a county final meeting with Con Magees, Glenravel.