Fourteen men St Brigid’s beat St Gall’s

Reserve Football Cup – Group 2

St Brigid’s 2-13 St Gall’s 1-10

Despite playing fmore that fifty minutes of the game with just fourteen men St Brigid’s beat St Gall’s by six points in Friday evening’s Reserve Cup Football game at Musgrave Park. The South Belfast side had goalkeeper James McKenna sent to the bench for ten minutes just three minutes into the game after dragging down St Gall’s corner forward Kevin Brady and he was just back on the pitch a few minute when he offended again, this time receiving a yellow care, and subsequent red.

St Gall’s, who were trailing by a point when the penalty was awarded, slotted the ball home and they were still a goal to the good at the first water break on 1-3 to 0-0-3. However after the short pit stop St Brigid’s came flying out the traps and midfielder Conor Slevin brought them level with an excellent individual goal, before Conor Taylor edged them ahead a minute later.

Mark Cumming brought St Gall’s level soon afterwards but St Brigid’s were getting on top and despite losing Brady to a red card they went on to lead by 1-7 to 1-5 at half time.

A succession of great points from left half forward Peter Lundy saw St Brigid’s maintain the upper hand and they had stretched their lead to 1-10 to 1-7 by the second water break. Mark Cummings was keeping St Gall’s in touch with some top class scores, but three in a row from full forward Peter Webb appeared to have St Brigid’s safe as they pulled five clear going down to the home straight.

Ryan Murtagh fires home St Brigid’s match sealing goal.

However St Gall’s came back with two points from Michael Hopkins and David Cummings to leave just a goal between the sides and when the St Brigid’s stand in keeper was blown up for time wasting there was a chance for the men from Milltown. It wasn’t to be as the home team won the throw-up ball and when the ball was moved to the other end of the field substitute Ryan Murtagh fired home to seal the win.