St. Brigid’s 3-11 Davitt’s 3-11

Last year’s Intermediate championship winners, St. Brigid’s would have started the season as one of the favourites for a promotion spot and when they defeated Aldergrove on day one the tag of favourites seemed to have been justified but it hasn’t quite worked out that way since.

It’s early days yet but defeats to Gort na Mona and St. Paul’s have left them playing catch up so when Davitt’s visited on Sunday the need for two points had risen in importance but they were facing a Davitt’s side who have made a few sit up and take notice by their performances this season.

St Brigid’s’ took on Davitt’s at Musgrave Park in a crunch clash that took on another layer of importance for the home side after two recent losses to Gort na Mona and St Paul’s. It was also the first game of the season for St Brigid’s at Musgrave Park and so there was added incentive for them to put in a good performance – and the return of the Messiah Enda Clarke to the St Brigid’s starting line-up was a huge boost.

Nevertheless, Davitt’s got off to the better start, hitting some outstanding scores in the opening stages of the game as St Brigid’s struggled to get into their swing. Fresh from his Irish Premiership victory with Crusaders, Sean O’Neill was excellent in midfield for Davitt’s, his fine striking of the ball and vision helping set up and deliver scores for his side. Eventually, however, St Brigid’s’ James Smith got annoyed with his team playing so abysmally and so in order to let off some steam he got on the ball, laid it off, went past a defender and smashed the ball into the net with his left foot. From there, St Brigid’s took the upper hand and ended the half strongly, taking some good scores – including an outstanding long-range point from Peter Webb – to leave it 1-6 to 1-5 in favour of Davitt’s at half-time.

The second half was played at a frantic pace, with both sets of players displaying huge heart and bravery throughout. Fifty-fifty balls were hotly-contested and occasionally tempers were frayed. Davitt’s looked the favourites for victory when they cut St Brigid’s open for a goal, putting them five in front with twenty minutes to go, but a goalkeeping error and a neat lob from home skipper Ruairi O’Neill (reminiscent of Mikey Sheehy’s infamous chip of Paddy Cullen in the 1978 All-Ireland final) brought St Brigid’s back into the game; and shortly afterwards a wonder-strike from Smith with his left peg brought the sides on level terms. As Davitt’s moved one ahead, O’Neill got on the end of a slick team move from St Brigid’s, netting with ruthless precision to leave them two in front before Clarke channelled his inner Ciaran McDonald to add another. At this point, Davitt’s’ heads could easily have dropped. But the away side deserve huge credit for their spirit and desire and managed to fashion a goal that seemed to deflect off a St Brigid’s defender and into the net.

In the closing minutes the sides couldn’t be separated and at the final whistle it was all square but St. Brigid’s will look on this as a point lost rather than a point gained while Davitt’s continue to improve and impress and will test the best of them as the season progresses.

Referee: John Moran