Antrim Football League Division One

St Brigid’s 0-20 St Gall’s 1-7

St Brigid’s made it two wins out of two in Division 1 of the Antrim Football League when they beat and understrength St Gall’s side in Wednesday evening’s game at Musgrave Park.

The south Belfast men had won their opening game at the weekend thanks to an injury time goal in Portglenone. However they were in charge from the start in this game and controlled proceedings from start to finish. They led by 0-6 to 0-2 at the first water break and were 0-10 to 0-4 ahead at half time. They continued to dominate in the second half and though the visitors grabbed a goal in the final quarter through Thomas Bunting it was little more than a consolation by that stage and in the end St Brigid’s were ten to the good, and full value for it..

St Brigid’s corner forward Peter Henvey caused the St Gall’s defence no end of problems in the opening quarter and his strong direct running led to a series of scores from himself and team mates Ryan Tweedy, Peter Webb and Patrick Finnegan which helped the Musgrave Park side to a 0-6 to 0-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

Mark Cummins pulled a point back for the visitors just after the restart, but substitute Jimmy Smyth, who was just on the field replied with a fine score at the other end. A point from Niall Burns left just three between the sides but St Brigid’s hit back strongly and points from Henvey and Ronan Boyle helped them to a 0-10 to 0-5 lead by the interval.

During the third quarter St Gall’s fought back and closed the gap to just four points, thanks to a fine score by Sean Burke from distance, but the home team upped the pace again and three on the bounce from King, Henvey and Finnegan had them seven up at the second half water break,

With Jimmy Smith in superb form in the final quarter the home side pulled further ahead and two excellent points from Smith and one from Ryan Tweedy stretched them eleven clear. To their credit the Milltown men battle back and Thomas Bunting grabbed a consolation goal, but it was a case of too little – too late as the home side had the points already secured.

ST BRIGID’S

D Heery; J Morgan, C King, C Webb (0-1); P King (0-1), J Toner, O Boyle; M Cummings, J Dowling; R Boyle (0-1), R Tweedy (0-4), P Finnegan (0-3); P Webb (0-1 free), J Finnegan (0-1), P Henvey (0-3, 2 frees). Subs: J Smith (0-5) for P Webb (17 mins), N Lundy for P King (52 mins), C Conway for J Dowling (58 mins).

ST GALL’S

 N McCurdy; C Chada, S O’Hagan, C Murray; R Wilson, A Gallagher, J McCaffrey; S Burke (0-1), T Bunting (1-0); C Doherty, T O’Neill, N O’Neill; M Cummings (0-1), N Burns (0-3 frees), S Kelly. Subs: B McCaffrey (0-2 frees) for N O’Neill (HT), E McCurdy for R Wilson (43 mins), C O’Kane for S Burke (45 mins), O Crawford for C Murray (47 mins), N O’Neill for M Cummings (51 mins).

REFEREE: Kevin Parke (Naomh Éanna)