O’Neills Sportswear ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 1-08-2-09 St Brigid’s
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
St Brigid’s climbed off the bottom of the table thanks to late goals from Jack Dowling and Paul Bradley in their 2-09-1-08 victory over Lámh Dhearg at Hannahstown on Sunday evening.
Having previously won once in their previous four meetings, victory against St Galls last time out ensured that St Brigid’s headed for Hannahstown with a spring in their step and with results through from the afternoon ties- knowing victory would see them climb off the bottom of the table against their hosts that were going for a sixth straight league win.
The visitors began the game on the front foot and found themselves two points ahead thanks to a John Toner point and a floated effort that dropped over the bar from substitute Paul Bradley- who replaced injured Peter Lundy in the early stages.
Lámh Dhearg hit the front on six minutes with the game’s opening goal from a deflected Matthew McElgunn shot that deceived Declan Heery in the St Brigid’s goal.
Bradley tied things up with a fantastic shot that sailed between the posts, only for Conor Murray to drop over a reply at the other end.
St Brigid’s hit the front for the second time courtesy of converted frees from Enda Downey and Bradley, with Murray receiving a layoff from Owen McKeown and swinging a high shot over to restore parity as half time loomed.
It was the visitors who would head in at the break with a slender lead thanks to an angled Enda Downey point that gave them a 0-06-1-02 lead.
Lámh Dhearg started the second period brightly and levelled almost immedicably through a burst forward from Ben Rice- who would guide his shot between the posts.
Half-time substitute Kieran Fay-Kelly then kicked a superb free from the ground to edge his side ahead again and Owen McKeown would double his sides lead.
Showing a burst of pace and his trademark mazy run, McKeown then swung his shot over to give his side a 1-05-0-06 lead.
It took until the midway point in the half for St Brigid’s to hit back through Calum Webb, though Adam Murray kicked a sensational angled point to instantly restore their two-point buffer.
James Smith made it a single point game with a converted free, but Conor Murray then dropped over his third point of the evening to give his side a 1-07-0-08 lead.
Lámh Dhearg would end the game a man light after referee Sean Laverty cited Fionn Mervyn after a coming together off the ball.
St Brigid’s would make effective use of their numerical advantage late on and took the lead for the third and final time.
A high looping ball looked to be heading over the bar to reduce the deficit, though it bounced, and substitute Jack Dowling was quickest to react, and he fisted the ball over Gerard Smyth and into the net to give his side a 1-08-1-07 lead.
The visitors played out the remaining minutes on their terms and a fisted point from Oran Downey doubled their advantage.
Shaun McManus would line up a shot that rose over the bar to reduce the gap in injury-time before St Brigid’s sealed the win.
Heery’s kick out was won cleanly and the resulting mark steered into the path of Paul Bradley, he played a one-two with Oran Downey before bearing down on goal and squeezing his low effort past Smyth and into the corner of the net to seal a 2-09-1-08 win.
It moved St Brigid’s off the bottom of the league where they are in a four-way tie with St Enda’s, Rossa and Tir na Nog.
Defeat for the Lámh’s mean they must at least claim a point from their final league encounter with Rossa to ensure a place in the top-six come the league split next midweek.
Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, F Mervyn, P Larkin, Ross Murray, D Smith, B Rice (0-01), M Hynds, E Stanley, M McElgunn (1-00), D Martin, S McManus (0-01), O McKeown (0-01), T McCrudden, C Murray (0-03), A Murray (0-01). Subs: K Fay-Kelly (0-01f) for E Stanley (HT), N McGarry for D Martin (41), C Boyd for M McElgunn (46), D Larkin for A Murray (56), M McGarry for R Murray (60+2).
St Brigid’s: D Heery, F McKernan, C King, S Campbell, J Morgan, R Carleton, C Webb (0-01), J Toner (0-01), P King, J Louge, O Downey (0-01), P Lundy, E Downey (0-02. 0-01f), J Smith (0-01f), R McErlean. Subs: P Bradley (1-03, 0-01f) for P Lundy (3), J Dowling (1-00) (HT), C McNicholl for R McErlean (46).
Referee: Sean Laverty (St Ergnat’s, Moneyglass)
