O’Neills ACFL Semi-final
St Brigid’s 5-25-0-09 All Saints, Ballymena
Kevin Herron reports from Dunsilly
St Brigid’s claimed the vacant spot in the League final with Cargin after powering through a depleted All Saint’s side at Dunsilly this afternoon.
The nature of the time of year told on the Saint’s – who were only able to muster a squad of 16 and whilst St Brigid’s were also missing players, they were much stronger in options to call upon.
The Musgrave outfit were ahead within two minutes after being awarded a penalty that was dispatched low to the corner of the net by Conor McAleer.
Patrick Finnegan could have doubled the goal tally minutes later, but Conor Brennan stood tall to deny him.
They would extend their lead through points from James Smith and a fisted Finnegan effort before All Saint’s hit back.
Michael McCarry flighted a high ball on top of Sean McVeigh- who claimed the mark and converted it.
The sides traded scores as Enda Downey landed a free and Kavan Keenan tried to find McVeigh with a long pass inside that bounced over the bar.
St Brigid’s pulled clear with five unanswered scores in the aftermath, Finnegan dropped over his second point and then slipped an off the shoulder pass to John Toner to shoot over.
Conor McAleer landed a point from Jack Dowling’s lay-off, Rory McErlean converted a free and Shea Downey swept over to ensure that their side were 1-08-0-02 ahead by the 21st minute.
The Saint’s briefly halted the momentum as Michael McCarry kicked the first of three first half frees, the other two following four further St Brigid’s scores without reply.
McErlean converted his second free of the half and then landed his first from play, Patrick Finnegan shot over his third and James Smith doubled his personal tally.
McCarry’s successive replies momentarily narrowed the margins, but St Brigid’s ended the half with a further goal and a point.
Their second goal arrived on the 29th minute when Niall Duffy popped the ball across to James Smith in space and he swept a shot into the corner to make it 2-11-0-05.
Rory McErlean kicked his third free of the half before it was out as St Brigid’s were in cruise control at the interval.
The Musgrave men picked up where they left off before the break as Shay Campbell guided a shot over and four minutes after the restart their third goal arrived when Niall Duffy palmed across for McErlean to touch home.
Michael McCarry kicked his fourth free in response, though Michael Cummings slipped in Patrick Finnegan to take a fisted point.
A move off the training ground saw John Toner sweep the ball to Jack Dowling in space and he added to the scoreboard before Shay Campbell rolled home a fourth goal to move his side 4-16-0-06 to the good.
To their credit, All Saint’s battled with Sean McVeigh proving tough to deal with on the edge of the square- one of his knock downs almost resulted in a goal opportunity, though Darach Bradley opted to split the posts instead and McCarry converted a further free in the aftermath.
Patrick Finnegan would add another score before departing and substitute Conan McNicholl then added his name to the increasing list of scorers.
Both sides spurned glorious goal opportunities within seconds of each other, Sean McVeigh knocked the ball down for Oliver O’Rawe who was twice denied in quick succession and after St Brigid’s sprung the counterattack; Aodhan McNicholl could only watch on as his low effort clipped the outside of the post.
Fortunately for St Brigid’s they wouldn’t rue their missed chance as they grabbed their fifth of the afternoon through Rory McErlean after a nice interchange with Conan McNicholl.
Aodhan would join sibling Conan on the scoresheet with a fine point from range with Conan doubling his personal tally a minute later and fellow substitute Peter Lundy popping over another as their advantage continued to increase.
A converted 45’ from Brian McGurk followed and further scores from Rory McErlean (free) and Peter Lundy ensured that St Brigid’s had amassed 1-08 without reply.
Free-takers McCarry and McErlean would kick placed balls before the contest was brought to its conclusion as St Brigid’s booked their place in the League decider against Cargin for a chance to lift the Eddie Fitzsimons trophy next weekend.
St Brigid’s: D Heery, J Toner (0-01), J Finnegan, C King, B McGurk (0-01 45’), S Downey (0-01), S Campbell (1-01), M Cummings, J Dowling (0-01), N Duffy, P Finnegan (0-05), J Smith (1-02), E Downey (0-01f), C McAleer (1-01, 1-00p), R McErlean (2-06, 0-05f). Subs: C McNicholl (0-02) for N Duffy (39), A McNicholl (0-01) for J Smith (40), P Lundy (0-02) for J Dowling (40), C Downey for P Finnegan (45).
All Saint’s: C Breenan, A McGreevey, M Read, R Thom, D Bradley (0-01), K Keenan (0-01), E Walsh, E Kilough, P McNicholl, P Mitchell, M McCarry (0-06f), P O’Boyle, O O’Rawe, S McVeigh (0-01m), R McVeigh. Subs: J Rocks for O O’Rawe (HT), O O’Rawe for P O’Boyle (42), P O’Boyle for S McVeigh (53), S McVeigh for P Mitchell (60).
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Glen Rovers, Armoy)
For more pics from the game click on the link below