ACFL Division 1
Casement’s 0-12 St. Brigid’s 2-7
A goal in injury time from Peter Henvey earned visitors St. Brigid’s the points in this excellent ACFL Division 1 game in Portglenone today. The Casement’s had led most of the way and held a two point advantage with time almost up when Henvey struck to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
It was visitors St. Brigid’s who got off to the better start and Michael Cummins rose to palm a Ronan Boyle cross to the net in the first minute with Peter Webb adding a point to put them four in front with only two minutes on the clock.
Michael Hagan opened the home sides account from a close range free in the 4th minute but it was the Musgrave Park side who were enjoying the better of the early exchanges and they replied with a fine point from Ronan Boyle to move four in front once more.
Slowly the home side settled however with Fergal O’Kane pointing from play and Michael Hagan adding another free and one from play to leave just one it by the 10th minute.
It was end to end stuff with both sides contesting every ball and the impressive Peter Webb edged his side further ahead from a free and then Port’s keeper Ryan O’Neill reached high above his own crossbar to prevent what looked a certain point.
Play swung to the other end of the field again and Michael Hagan was wide from a free but redeemed himself when he punished another infringement to send over in the 27th minute and leave his side trailing by the minimum at the break.
It was St. Brigid’s who threatened first on the restart but Peter Webb had a shot blocked down and then fired wide from a difficult angle before Fergal O’Kane replied at the other end to level the scores after five minutes play.
Casement’s were beginning to get on top and Michael Hagan pointed a close range free to put them in front for the first time as St. Brigid’s introduced Callum Webb for Reuben Carleton in an effort to curtail a lively home attack.
The home side were now enjoying a bit of success with Michael Hagan and Oisin Doherty operating as a two man forward line with a good deal of success and Doherty pointed an excellent free from out on the right after being fouled himself.
Aidan McAleese added another to move his side three in front by the 14th minute but St. Brigid’s replied through Peter Webb and James Smith frees to leave just one in it again at the second water break.
On the restart Oisin Doherty struck an excellent point from play and another from a free as the foul count for both sides mounted but Peter Henvey converted another free at the other end to keep his side in touch with seven minutes remaining.
It looked Portglenone’s to lose but significantly they hit a number of wides at this stage of the game with St. Brigid’s launching one last attack and Peter Henvey cut in from the left to fire past the advancing Rian O’Neill and give his side a lead they were to maintain to the final whistle.
A thoroughly entertaining game of football with both side fiercely contesting every ball and each sides enjoying periods of ascendancy but Portglenone will feel that they did enough to win it in the end and will be disappointed to have conceded that late goal while St. Brigid’s will be delighted with the result.
Casement’s: Rian O’Neill, Connor McGhee, Shane Delargy, Ronan Delargy, Ryan Convery, Ruairi Hagan, Caolan Tierney, Michael Donnelly, Paddy Kelly, Adrian McKeever, Niall Delargy, Fergal O’Kane, ,Michael Kelly, Michael Hagan, Oisin Doherty.
Subs: Conal Delargy for Michael Hagan, Ronan Kelly for Aidan McAleese, Gerard McAleese for Paddy Kelly, Cioran McKenna for Michael Kelly.
St. Brigid’s: Declan Heery, Reuben Carelton, Niall McDonald, Conor King, John Morgan, John Toner, Peter King, Michael Cummins, Jack Dowling, Ronan Boyle, Ryan Tweedy, Peter Webb, Patrick Finnegan, Joseph Finnegan, Peter Henvey, Subs: Callum Webb for Reuben Carleton, Odhran Boyle and Ronan Devlin for John Morgan and Niall Lundy.
Referee: Eamon McAuley (Erin’s Own)
Appologies I inadvertintly left out the St. Brigid’s team but it is included now