Antrim Minor Football Championship semi-final
St. Brigid’s 2-14 All Saints 1-13
A goal just before half time and another prior to the second water break were the scores that sent St. Brigid’s through to the Antrim Minor Football final and a meeting with Erin’s Own Cargin after a four point win over a battling All Saints at Dunsilly tonight.
The excellent Ronan Boyle rose to fist the first one home in the 32nd minute to send his side into a 1-8 to 0-4 half-time lead and just when it looked like the Ballymena side might take something from the game, Marcus Lynch drilled the second one home to open up a 1-12 to 0-8 lead
The Slemish Park side threw everything at the opposition in the closing stages, scoring five of the last six points but the goal they needed just wouldn’t come as the St. Brigid’s defence closed ranks and it is they who progress to a replay of last year’s final against Erin’s Own Cargin who defeated Sarsfield’s in the other semi-final.
Ronan Boyle rises to fist home St. Brigid’s opening goal
Both sides wasted chances in a cagey opening period before Ronan Boyle got St. Brigid’s off the mark with a point in the 6th minute but the Slemish Park side responded strongly as Ronan McKillop and Adrian Scullion split the uprights to put them 0-2 to 0-1 ahead with 12 minutes gone.
Marcus Lynch and Liam Finnegan put the Musgrave Park side one ahead as we reached the first water break with Adrian Scullion replying on the restart to tie the contest once more before St. Brigid’s began to gain the upper hand.
Marcus Lynch pointed from play and added another from a free before the excellent Ronan Boyle moved his side three ahead by the 24th minute before the lively Joseph O’Rawe replied after making a mark for the South West side.
Both sides were playing good football with Ronan McKillop and Adrian Scullion looking lively when they ran at the St. Brigid’s defence and Ronan Boyle and Marcus Lynch at the heart of everything good St. Brigid’s did.
Ronan McKillop who scored 0-7 for All Saints
Oisin McDonnell and Lynch added further points for the Belfast side with Ronan McKillop and Adrian Scullion replying for All Saints but St. Brigid’s struck with the game’s opening goal, two minutes into injury time when Ronan Boyle rose above the All Saints defence to punch a Marcus Lynch delivery to the net.
Ronan McKillop, who looked dangerous every time he gained possession closed the gap with a point on the restart but Ronan Boyle replied with two for St. Brigids to move them seven ahead by the fourth minute and again they looked to be taking control.
All Saints were having none of it however as they hit three scores on the trot with Cal O’Brien rising to fist home a Ronan McKillop delivery and Adrian Scullion and the superb McKillop adding points to put them right back into contention by the 7th minute.
The South Antrim side had been under the cosh for a time but they struck decisively just before the second water break as Conal Lynch shook off his marker to fire over and Marcus Lynch drilled a low shot past Daniel McCoy in the All Saints goal to again open up a comfortable lead.
Oisin McDonnell and Marcus Lynch extended that lead on the restart and it looked all over but the Slemish Park side quite simply refused to throw in the towel as they dominated the final ten minutes scoring five points in reply to one from St. Brigid’s.
Adrian Scullion, Ronan McKillop and Oisin Connolly led the charge but the goal they needed just wouldn’t come and it is St. Brigid’s who go forward to meet their opponents of a year ago, Cargin in this year’s final.
St. Brigid’s scorers: Ronan Boyle 1-5, Marcus Lynch 1-5, Oisin O’Donnell 0-3, Liam Finnegan 0-1
All Saints scorers: Ronan McKillop 0-7, Adrian Scullion 0-4, Cal O’Brien 1-0, Joseph O’Rawe 0-1, Oiain Connolly 0-1
Referee: Colin Mallon (Aghagallon)
