Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship quarter-final
St Mary’s, Aghagallon 2-10 St Brigid’s 0-11
Goals from Ruairi McCann in the 1st minute of the second half and another from Eunan Walsh, six minutes from the end proved the difference as St. Mary’s Aghagallon’s more direct approach to goal proved the difference in this senior football championship quarter-final at Dunsilly today.
Ruairi McCann struck the game’s opening goal when he palmed to the net just 30 seconds after the restart and then Eunan Walsh hammered home a superb second six minutes from time and it was to prove the killer blow.
Walsh produced a burst of speed when collecting the ball out on the left to leave his marker standing and played a smart one-two before rifling an unstoppable shot to the net.
St. Brigid’s played some good possession football over the hour but were reluctant to shoot when in scoreable positions with only Peter Webb showing the necessary confidence in front of the posts.
The Musgrave Park side were well in the game however until late in the contest but never led over the hour and Aghagallon’s ability to take their scores at vital times in the game proved the difference and they were good value for their win.
Aghagallon’s Ruairi McCann gets the ball away despite the attentions of Cummins and Dowling, St. Brigid’s
Playing with a strong wind behind them in the opening period, it was Aghagallon who took the game to the opposition early on and veteran Darryl McAlernon fired over from distance three minute into the contest.
Jack Lenehan doubled their advantage with a fine score on the turn before St Brigid’s got off the mark as they worked the ball out to Webb whose shot into the teeth of the wind screwed inside the upright, much to the delight of the Biddie’s support.
Gareth Magee responded before Webb replied again, finishing a patient build up before sending over a beauty from the right to leave the sides level at the water break.
It remained nip and tuck in the second quarter with McAlernon and Webb trading points but Aghagallon were more direct in their approach play and an early ball into Magee saw the corner man apply the finish.
James Smith responded at the other end before Aghagallon replied through Magee and Ruairi McCann but it was St Brigid’s who had the final say of the half as Conor McAleer kicked a wonderful score from a difficult angle to leave his side trailing by the minimum at the break.
As they turned round with the breeze behind them St. Brigid’s would have fancied their chances of pushing on in the second half but when Ruairi McCann climbed to palm a Marc McAffee lob to the net in the opening minute the initiative was well and truly with the Lough Shore side.
To their credit, St Brigid’s hit back with Paul Bradley hitting the first of his three second half points and while Jack Lenehan pushed the St Mary’s lead back out to four, the South Belfast men began to take a foothold on proceedings.
James Smith fires over a St. Brigid’s point
They began to win a lot of possession around the middle third before driving forward as they started to eat into the St. Mary’s lead with Webb kicking a free and then adding another from play to leave two between the sides.
Aghagallon always carried the greater threat when they pushed forward however and were unlucky not to score a second major when Gareth Magee found himself in the clear but his shot was saved by the legs of Declan Heery.
St Brigid’s broke forward and after another phase of possession, worked the ball into Bradley to score and leave his side 1-8 to 0-10 behind heading into the final quarter.
Try as the might St Brigid’s could not get the equaliser despite enjoying a lot of the ball but time and again good approach work flounder on a misplaced pass or an Aghagallon turn over.
Walshes goal left the Musgrave Park side with a mountain to climb but their only response was a third Bradley point and it was Aghagallon who had the final say as Magee clipped over a free to seal victory and a place in next week’s semi-final where they will meet the winners of Lamh Dhearg and Portglenone who play on Sunday at the same venue.
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AGHAGALLON; L Mulholland; P Brannigan, D Donnelly, A Mulholland; P Maginnis, R O’Neill, J Lamont; David McAlernon, J Lenehan (0-2); E Walsh (1-0), Darryl McAlernon (0-2), M McAfee; G Magee (0-5, 2 frees), R McCann (1-1), C McAlinden.
Subs: O Lenehan for C McAlinden (HT), A Loughran for P Maginnis (48).
ST BRIGID’S: D Heery; J Morgan, P King, C King; R Boyle, M Cummings, O Boyle; J Dowling, J Finnegan; R Carleton, C McAleer (0-1), P Webb (0-6, 2 frees); P Bradley (0-3), J Smith (0-1), P Finnegan.
Subs: R Brolly for R Carleton (34), R Tweedy for J Finnegan (50), P Henvey for J Dowling (56).
REFEREE: Sean Laverty (Moneyglass)
