Today we look at the ‘Best 15’ footballers from St. Brigid’s through the eyes of one of the club’s stalwarts, Jack Dowling. Jack has played for the Musgrave Park side for all of his career and has enjoyed a fair bit of success with the Belfast side including a couple of Intermediate Championship wins and has represented Antrim.
Like the rest of us Jack was looking forward to testing the water in division 1 with the ‘Biddies’ this season but Covid19 stopped him and St. Brigid’s in their tracks before a ball was kicked. The Musgrave Park side have just won two U21 championships in succession and look well equipped for life in the top grade. Jack has gone mostly for players from early in his career and while not everyone will agree with his selection, it’s just one man’s opinion.
Just a bit of fun!
Joe Brolly is congratulated after scoring a goal against Moneyglass in the 2007 Intermedite final
Jack Dowling’s ‘Best 15’
“The best St Brigid’s 15 I have played with”
1 John Mackle. After hanging up his boots in the early 90s he made a return to senior football in his mid 40’s. Great leader and always felt safe when he was in nets. Haven’t been able to fully replace him since but we do have a few young keepers coming up through the ranks.
2 Ben Sinnott. Unlucky with injuries but a great player when fit. Very strong, fit and fast. Great man marker and could push forward when needed. Very selfless.
3 Ryan Daly. Was a rock at full back for us for years. Very little got past him.
4 Andy Sweeney. Captain of our intermediate team in 2017. Naturally a half back but a great man marker. Another big loss when he moved to Dublin and joined Mark at St Judes. Played in Dublin SFC final in 2018. Only got a few proper years out of him due to injuries before he left and sadly had to hang the boots up last summer.
5 Kevin Gallagher. Fermanagh man turned Antrim man. Quiet but hard. Played half back/ forward for years. Always rely on him to back you up and rarely made mistakes. Coaching our underage and is full committed clubman.
James Louughery takes on his marker
6 Decky O Hagan. Great on the ball and very calm & rarely lost possession. Played half back and teamed up very well for years with Locky in defence. Riddled with injuries; if he was a horse they’d have put him down. Moved to England to study and work and tried to commute before injuring his shoulder again which was another massive loss. Coaching in Manchester now and hope to see him home over the next few years. Can’t forget to mention that point Vs Galway in Casement.
7 James Loughrey. Not much needs said. No coincidence that Antrim have been struggling in 3 & 4 since he left to Cork. I remember our first ever Division 1 game he scored 2 goals from corner back up in Hannahstown. Played for Ulster in 2012 and nominated for an All Star in 2013. Unbelievable speed and strength. Once he got going up the field there was no one stopping him.
8 Dara Edwards. Oozed class. Talented enough to have won an All Ireland in 2002. Joe Brolly nicknamed him ‘The Prince’. A Rolls Royce.
9 Enda Clarke. The Greencastle man was a colossus in midfield. I have never seen anyone field a ball like him or as often as him. Joined us a year or two before we won the intermediate championship in 2017 when he won Player of the Year. How he doesn’t have 3 all Ireland medals with Tyrone I don’t know.
10 Mark Sweeney. Moved to Dublin and has gone toe to toe on numerous occasions with arguably the best footballer in Ireland, Diarmuid Connolly. Deployed as a sweeper for most of his days with Antrim which held him back. Could play anywhere in the middle 8. Hardest worker in the room. Playing days in blue & yellow may lie ahead.
James Smith
11 James Smith. Only 21 but has played 4 years of senior already & was an integral part of intermediate winning team in 2017 playing centre half forward. Someone once asked me at Antrim training after 6 months of playing with him what he left or right footed. Naturally gifted footballer who has a big future ahead of him for Antrim and Naomh Bríd.
12 Cormac McGrady. Strong and very direct. Could kick scores from distance off both with ease. Always could rely on him to take an important score or nail a free kick. Early retirement and has been missed since.
13 Joe Brolly. First man I ever saw wearing tights on a football field. Even at the ripe age of 40 he was chipping keepers. Broke his collar bone against St John’s and had to retire; had it not been for that he’d have had another few years in him.
14 Ronan McGrady. Used to put up 10 or 11 points a game with ease. Unmarkable on his day and missed very little from dead ball. Any free inside the 45 is a score and have seen him nail kicks from 6-70 yards. Not the fastest but elusive & his technique is second to none. Can score goals from anywhere.
15 Ruairi O Neill. One of only few men with who won a junior championship and 2 intermediate championships. Always came up when he was needed. Great eye for goal. Moved to Louth for work and they called him ‘The Red Jesus’. Think he made it up himself.
Thankfully we have some great young players who’ve been playing senior the last 2 or 3 years but they just haven’t played enough to clinch a spot. Have no doubt this will look very different in 3 or 4 years’ time.
Ruairi O’Neill