Northern Switchgear SFC Group 2
Naomh Muire 1-10 St. Brigid’s 1-14
St. Brigid’s held off a second half comeback from St. Mary’s Ahoghill in a tempestuous affair in Cloney to qualify for the quarter-final of the Northern Switchgear SFC at the expense of their hosts. The permutations were clear. Naomh Muire needed to win by five points while St. Brigid’s quite simply had to win and in the end that is just what they did.
The opening exchanges suggested that the visitors would win with quite a bit to spare as they raced into a 1-8 to 0-1 lead after 28 minutes in a half that they totally dominated to this point, forcing several turnovers including the one that led to their goal from James Smith in the 23d minute.
The home side had persisted with the short kick-out strategy throughout the half but this time it backfired and Stephen O’Connell was caught in possession and the ball was transferred to Smith who drilled his shot low to the corner of the net.
Up to this point St. Mary’s had created quite a number of chances but were abysmal in their finishing or off target with the final pass and had only a superb long range point from Boris O’Connell in the 20th minute to show for their efforts.
A few tasty challenges seemed to finally bring the home side to life however and when Donal Graham raced clear unchallenged to fire to the net in the 28th minute Ahoghill suddenly sprung into action.
They finished the half with a flurry and Dan O’Neill pointed before James O’Connell struck a ‘45’ sweetly between the uprights in injury time to leave five between the sides as referee, Patrick Tumelty sounded his half time whistle.
St. Mary’s introduced PJ O’Connell and Owen Neeson for Patrick Dougan and Michael O’Connell at the start of the second half with PJ dropping into a role around mid-field and it seemed to add impetus to the home side’s challenge.
The second half was only seconds old when matters started to get heated as the visitors defence got itself in a bit of a tangle when they failed to deal with a long ball into the danger area and after consulting with his umpires referee Tumelty awarded Ahoghill a 13 meter free which James O’Connell stroked over.
St. Brigid’s responded with points from Joseph Finnegan and Peter Webb and Owen Neeson looked to have pulled one back for the Cloney side but his effort from 30 meters came back of an upright and was cleared to safety.
PJ O’Connell followed with another off target effort as the home side started to enjoy more and more possession but St. Brigid’s continued to look threatening on the break and Peter Webb fisted over at the other end to move his side 1-12 to 1-4 ahead after 8 minutes and they appeared to have weathered the storm.
A Joe Finnegan point in the 17th minute increased the St. Brigid’s lead to nine as several attempts at goal by the Ahoghill men were thwarted by the St. Brigid’s defence before Stephen O’Connell came forward from defence to fire over the home side’s second point of the half in the 18th minute.
Suddenly it was Ahoghill who were again calling the shots as James O’Connell pointed a couple of frees and Dan O’Neill added another from play in the 29th minute to cut the Brigid’s lead down to five but the goal that Ahoghill needed quite simply would not come.
A running battle between James O’Connell and Conor King finally boiled over with King receiving a second yellow after both players had been book earlier but it was St. Brigid’s who stood strong in defence to the end with a late shot from substitute Conor Crossey deflected over for a point to conclude the scoring.
St. Brigid’s will be happy with the result and some of their play in the opening half was top drawer as they moved the ball through the hands at speed but the management will be concerned at the manner in which they got bogged down late in both halves and it is something they will want to address before the quarter-finals.
Ahoghill as always gave it everything but took far too long to get going and in the end were forced to concede to the better team on the day.
The Cloney men will now turn their attentions to the Intermediate Hurling championship and a visit to Gort na Mona on Friday night and a win there would all but earn them a place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare in the group.
Ahoghill: 1 Noel Crossey, 22 Stephen O’Connell, 3 Martin Graham, 4 Bernard Graham, 18 Fionnbar O’Connell, 5 Patrick Dougan, 6 Thomas McGlone, 7 Eamonn Brady, 8 Neil O’Connell, 9 Patrick Graham, 17 Michael O’Connell, 11 Donal Graham, 12 Daniel O’Neill, 14 James O’Connell, 15 Ronan Graham. Subs: PJ O’Connell, Owen Neeson, Conor Crossey
St. Brigid’s: Declan Heery, 2 Peter King, 3 Conor King, 4 John Toner, 5 John Morgan, 6 Ronan Boyle, 7 Oran Boyle, 8 Fergal Meenagh, 19 Jack Dowling, 10 Peter Webb, 11 Patrick Finnegan, 12 Niall Lundy, 13 James Smith, 14 Conor McAleer, 15 Joseph Finnegan
Referee: Patrick Tumelty (Lamh Dhearg)
