St Brigid’s edge thrilling league final

South Antrim U-13 Division 1 League Final

St Brigid’s 3-09-2-08 St Pauls

Kevin Herron reports from Musgrave Park

St Brigid’s clinched the U-13 Division 1 football league title after coming out on top in a thrilling final with St Pauls at Musgrave Park on Monday evening.

St Pauls drew first blood when Dylan Rogers-Duffy dropped in a free that was flicked onto the post and James McDonnell swooped to prod home and give his side the early advantage.

Eamon Kearney added his sides first point and McDonnell swung over a fantastic score to further extend the visitors lead, with Michael McCann eventually getting St Brigid’s off the mark- converting a free.

A fabulous Ben MacManus point from range restored St Paul’s five-point advantage and James McDonnell kicked his third score of the evening in the aftermath.

Despite their slow start St Brigid’s moved up a gear and found the net through James Morrisey to make it 1-04-1-01 and Michael McCann followed up with his second point to make it a two-point game.

A converted free from Dylan Rogers-Duffy put a brief end to the hosts momentum but Michael McCann converted his second free in response.

St Brigid’s forged ahead for the first time in the final after scorer of the first goal- Morrisey, was sent through on goal and the corner-forward picked his spot low in the corner to give his side a 2-03-1-05 lead.

**James Morrisey nets for the second time to give his side the lead for the first time**

McCann would swing over a third free of the half before the interval as they led by two at the midway point.

St Brigid’s increased their lead as McCann notched up his fourth free of the evening and fifth point overall.

At the other end Dylan Rogers-Duffy converted a free and his side regained the lead shortly after.

A well taken free from Rogers-Duffy was floated into the St Brigid’s area and James McDonnell was on-hand to fire to net and make it 2-06-2-05.

The lead would change hands once more a few minutes later as St Brigid’s went route-one and Johnny Higgins latched onto a delightful through pass and powerfully picked his spot in the bottom corner to make it 3-05-2-06.

Undeterred, St Paul’s restored parity through back-to-back Rogers-Duffy frees which left the game firmly balanced.

But St Brigid’s finished the stronger – Michael McCann converted successive frees and James Morrisey sliced the ball between the posts to move his side three ahead. A late converted free was the insurance score as the Musgrave Park side ran out 3-09-2-08 winners to claim the Division 1 league title.