O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Football League Division One
Lámh Dhearg 0-8 St Brigid’s 0-14
PICS BY KEVIN HERRON
St Brigid’s great start to the O’Neills Sportswear Antrim Football League Division One took another step forward at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening when they beat Lamh Dhearg by six points. It has been a great race between the top three so far with St Brigid’s, Cargin and Portglenone all on maximum points, and looking at the fixtures it could well continue that way for a while yet for none of the trio meet each other until Sunday June 9th when St Brigid’s host Cargin at Musgrave Park.
Early points from Niall Duffy and Matthew Downey gave the visitors a good start and it was ten minutes before back in action Conor Murray got the Lamhs on the scoreboard. The Hannahstown men were starting to build a bit of momentum and another point from Murray was added to with one from Shaun McManus, and it was out to four when Murray hit the target again.
Rory McErlean steadied the ship for the Musgrave Park men but Dan Murray replied right away to keep the home team on top. However St Brigid’s were starting to find a bit o rhythm in their play and Murray and Lundy soon had them level. Hannahstown got their noses back in front when Adam Murray converted a 45, and it looked like they would go in at the break with an advantage, but McErlean found the target again for St Brigid’s to send the sides in on level terms on 0-6 apiece.
Jack Dowling gave St Brigid’s back the lead in the opening minute of the second half and they went two clear when McErlean added another from a free. The scoring dried up at this stage, despite both sides having a good few chances the next score didn’t arrive until the end of the third quarter, McErlean once again the man to provide the finishing touch.
Tension were high as both teams gave their all to gain the upper hand. A bout of ‘handbags’ led to a brief delay, but when things got going again Conor Morray fired one over for the home side to cut the gap back to two. However St Brigid’s were still holding the upper hand and they increased their advantage in the closing stages to win by six in the end.
LÁMH DHEARG: G Smyth; D Martin, M McGarry, Ross Murray; D Smith, B Rice, D Murray (0-1); C Boyd, S McManus (0-1); N McGarry, T McCrudden, R Diamond; A Murray (0-1, ’45’), C Murray (0-4, 1f), C Lappin.
Subs: M Lowe for C Boyd (38), M Finnegan (0-1) for N McGarry (53), A McAufield for R Diamond (53), N Hughes for C Lappin (60+1)
ST BRIGID’S: D Heery; F McKernan, P King, C King; J McCarney, M Cummings, S Campbell; J Logue, J Dowling (0-2); N Duffy (0-1), M Downey (0-1), J Smith (0-3); P Lundy (0-1), C McAleer, R McErlean (0-6, 5f).
Subs: F Sherry for M Downey (10), S Boyle for J Logue (35), A McNicholl for P Lundy (52), D O’Hagan for F Sherry (60+1)
