O’Neill’s Sportswear Antrim Division 1 Football League
Con Magees 1-07 St Brigid’s 1-09
After 17 years in Antrim’s lower divisions Con Magees Glenravel were hopeful of a triumphant return to Division 1 status but St Brigids were not in a charitable mood in this league opener. Terrible weather conditions impacted both sides making free flowing football a pipe dream; the result decided by who could adapt best to the conditions. County commitments depleted both sides of marquee players so it was down to hard fought dirty ball, a stroke of luck and game management experience to decide the victors. The Belfast men triumphed in what became a game of two halves but in reality either side could have claimed the spoils on the day, and a draw would have been acceptable to both.
A cross field wind bringing northerly showers rendered this a game for only the diehards to watch. Experience can’t be bought and with the home side creating mistakes when in possession it was left to the city men to keep the scoreboard ticking over. St Brigids duly obliged picking off the opening four scores thanks to the accuracy of James Smith, Conor Downey and goal keeper Declan Heery. Glenravel pointed from a free to get to their name on the score board after twenty five minutes but one minute later, a mix up in the Glenravel defence gifted a goal opportunity to St Brigids and their attack pounced to create mayhem which resulted in a penalty being awarded. Conan McNicholl took on the responsibility and cooly stoked the ball into past stand in ‘keeper Lennon to the bottom left hand corner and suddenly the home side were facing an uphill struggle which got a degree worse when Conor Downey stroked over the final score of the half to leave St Brigids ahead 1-05 to 0-01 as referee Karl Doherty sent both teams to the shelter of the changing rooms.
St Brigids will have felt a little fortunate to be so far ahead on the short whistle and that seemed to stir the home lads on as they recorded the opening score of the second half which was followed by a Shea O’Broin goal and suddenly there was only three points separating the teams. Conor Downey would extend that lead to four points with a well taken free but Aiden O’Donnell and Daniel McQuillan reduced the gap to two with a couple of really well taken points. St Brigid’s were visibly shaken at this stage and despite another score, Glenravel were starting to play some good football with further points from Aiden O’Donnell including, arguably the best score of the game to reduce the gap to a single point and the home spectators starting to believe their lads could turn the game around. Conor Downey increased the Belfast men’s lead to two with a fine point from free and though Sean McKay would put over a great score from distance for the home team, time was running out for them. In a frantic final five minutes with everything to play for it was the experience of the Belfast men that saw them over the line as they pointed from some distance to leave two points separating the teams in the end.
You certainly couldn’t describe this game as a classic encounter but there was no shortage of endeavour from both sides and some really exceptional point scoring from distance given the conditions. The home side will look back on a poor first half performance giving their opponents a seven point lead at half time and a mountain to climb. A mountain which in the end proved too steep. Both teams will point to depleted panels and the weather as a reason for a challenging performance but both can look back on the positives, especially the Belfast men who took two league points back to Musgrave Park.
