ACFL Division 1
St. Brigid’s 1-17 St. James 1-08
St Brigid’s continued their winning streak as they overcame an exuberant Aldegrove side at a sun-kissed Musgrave Park on Wednesday evening.
It was the visitors that got off to the brighter start as Seamus McGarry kicked the opening two points of the evening to settle his men. Shane Boyle replied 2 minutes later for the home side.
Throughout the first half Aldegrove’s long ball into the forward line proved a thorn in the side for the Biddies defence. The men from Crumlin will rue their missed opportunities as McGarry the talisman, twice found himself in on goal only to be denied by the excellent Declan Heery on the 7th and 9th minute mark. And again, an elegant Joe McCarney diving block prevented a clear goal scoring opportunity.
However, halfway through the first half, Aldegrove made a breakthrough. Eoin Gough gathered the ball and made a piercing run through the heart of the Biddies defence, Gough found Oisin Graham who swung his right boot at it and found the back of the net, opening up a four-point lead.
Throughout the first half the south Belfast men struggled to make inroads, however the Biddies found some joy towards the end of the first half through the boot of Conor McAleer and back-to-back scores from Rory McErlean kept them in touching distance going into the interval.
Half Time
St Brigids 0-06 St James’ Aldegrove 1-05.
St. Brigid’s began the second half the better of the two. Declan Heery stepped up to the ‘45’ and nestled it over. Meanwhile, Jack Dowling found some room on the edge of the semi-circle and pointed to bring the game level after 5 minutes into the second half.
It was the home side that continued to impress in the second half, with a spring in their step. Inspired by livewire Niall Duffy who drove at the Aldegrove defence, laid it off to Peter King who fisted over and St. Brigid’s led for the first time.
Aldegrove, however, found scores of their own through Trowlen and McGarry but it wasn’t enough to trouble the Musgrave Park side.
Duffy proved a constant threat to the Aldegrove defence over the second period, the dynamic dual – player showed a sense of tremendous adventure kicking back to back points off his left boot. 2 minutes later, it was Duffy again, who found himself in space in behind the Aldegrove defence, McAleer popped it to Duffy who selfishly found McErlean at the back post and he palmed home to increase the south Belfast sides advantage.
It was evident that the Biddies had turned the screw and they continued to keep the score board ticking, Aodhan McNicholl drove forward from half-back, laid the ball off to Jack Dowling who brushed off his opponent and once again landed the size 5 between the uprights. The introduction of Enda Downey, who kicked two placed balls and further scores from Heery and Dowling proved to seal the win and ensured 7 wins in 7 games for the Biddies.
