Minor A Football Championship (semi-final)
St Brigid’s 3-09 St James Aldergrove 0-08
Photographs: Bert Trowlen
‘Goals win games’ is the old adage and such proved on the mark again in the opening game in a double bill at Hannahstown on Sunday. Three goals in the course of the hour by a well drilled St Brigid’s side saw them claim a place in the final of the Minor football championship at the expense of St James Aldergrove.
The South Belfast side looked confident from the outset and although Aldergrove were first to open account through Kian Jones and were level at 0-02 apiece at the end of the opening quarter the Belfast side began to get on top.
A precision based approach opened the way for Conor Slevin to find the net for Joe Brolly’s charges in the 16th minute and enable a 1-05 to 0-04 interval lead.
Aldergrove continued to struggle to find passage through a well organised St Brigid’s defence and found themselves further in arrears a few minutes into the second half when towering corner forward Paul Bradley found space to add another goal and increase their advantage to seven points, 2-06 to 0-05.
St Brigid’s looked in charge at such juncture and when the Crumlin lads were reduced in number a few minutes later when Aaron O’ Connor picked up a second yellow they faced an uphill struggle if they hoped to secure a place in the decider.
Kian Jones raised a further three white flags in succession to give the South West side hope but Eoin Brown nipped in to raise another green flag for the City boys to see St Brigid’s ease over the winning line on a 3-09 to 0-08 winning margin.
Although St Brigid’s failed to impress in the league, the South Belfast side had contested an Ulster final a couple years back at under-16 level and potential was evident as they lined out against Aldergrove.
Aldergrove would probably have started as favourites however as they sit top of the Minor league and have reached the final of the Laverty cup and they started on the positive with an early point from the boot of Kian Jones but back to back replies from James Mc Kenna and Paul Bradley saw St Brigid’s gain advantage.
Aldergrove drew level again a few minutes later when Daniel Shields defied an acute angle to split the posts but a well laid approach from Ronan Boyle and Marcus Lynch saw the latter’s lob finished to the net by Conor Slevin at the other end.
Kian Jones punished an indiscretion on the advancing Eoin Hamill to send between the posts and after Paul Bradley made reply in kind at the other end the hugely talented full forward added another.
This 21st minute score was to prove their last in the opening half however and late scores from Paul Bradley and Reuben Carleton ensured a 1-05 to 0-04 interval advantage for the city side.
The second half got under way with an opening score from St Brigid’s Reuben Carelton who directed a 50 metre free between the posts before Conor Morris replied for Aldergrove at the other end.
The city lads were utilising the extra man to good effect with ‘sweeper’ Eoin Brown coming forward at every opportunity to test the Aldergrove defence and when Marcus Lynch picked out Paul Bradley in space in the 36th minute the towering corner forward fired to the net to put his side 2-6 to 0-6 ahead.
Aldergrove needed to find a response and after Marcus Lynch slotted a 38th minute free between the posts the Crumlin lads took charge for a time as their ace full forward Kian Jones fired over three quick points to reduce the deficit.
The Crumlin contingent had cause to hope but such was soon dashed as back came St Brigid’s with a Paul Bradley point before Eoin Brown fired to the back of the net.
Aldergrove continued to push forward but despite effort aplenty the target was proving elusive and in the event the last score fell to St Brigid’s and a 59th minute Conor Slevin point ushered them over the winning line and into the Minor A final on a scoreline of 3-09 to 0-08.
St Brigid’s: Declan Heery, Jim Turkington, Daniel Foster, Matthew Smith, Thomas Mc carney, Rueben Carelton (0-02), Toirleach Brolly, Conor Slevin (1-01), Tom O’ Doherty, Eoin Brown (0-01), Ronan Boyle, Marcus Lynch (0-01), Paul Bradley (1-04), Ben Doherty , James Mc Kenna (0-01)
Aldergrove: Oisin Mc Garry, Coery Fogarty, David Aiken, Logan Fleming, Lee Mc Cusker,Eoin Gough, Declan Gough, Oisin Graham, Finn Mc Donagh, Glenn Dunning, Conor Morris (0-01), Aaron O’ Connor, Kian Jones (0-06), Daniel Shiels (0-01)
Subs
Michael Blayney for D Shiels
Conall Quinn for G Dunning
Malachy Burns for F Mc Donagh
Referee M Quinn (St Enda’s)
