All County Football League Division 1
St Brigids 1-11 Tir na nÓg Randalstown 1-8
St Brigids saw off a late comeback from Division one new boys Randalstown at Musgraave Park on Sunday to claim the two points on the opening day of the 2022 season.
Leading by six points with eight minutes remaining, the South Belfast side looked to be cruising to a comfortable win but three unanswered points from last year’s Intermediate double winners set up a nervy finish.
It was a closely fought opening quarter as the sides equally shared six points before Randalstown’s Daniel Martin pounced for the opening goal of the game.
But it was St Brigids who took the initiative from that goal and helped by a major from Conor McAleer, Anthony McGrath’s side held a three point lead at the break, 1-7 to 1-4.
It was a quiet third quarter but with Peter Webb helping himself to three further points, St Brigids lead 1-11 to 1-5, before Tír na nÓg rallied late on, but it was just a case of too little, too late.
St Brigids: Declan Heery, John Morgan, Conor King, Daniel Foster, Peter King, John Morgan, Fergal Meenagh, Caomhan Daykin, Jack Dowling, Ronan Boyle, Patrick Finnegan, Niall Lundy (0-1), Paul Bradley (0-2), Peter Webb (0-6 3f), Conor McAleer (1-2 2f).
Replacements: Shay Campbell for Daykin, Sean McKernan for Foster, Conor Slevin for Lundy, John Blaney for O’Boyle.
Tir na nÓgSean Paul McAtamney
Ethan Higgins, Peter Cullen, Brandon McLarnon
Barry Magee, Barry McCormick, Aaron McNeilly, Oliver McAtamney, Ciaran O’Neill, Christy Sheerin, Seán Duffin
Darragh Fagan, Ciaran Logan, Kevin Sheerin, Daniel Martin
Subs used
Ryan O’Neill
Pearse Sheerin
Conor Hastings