Minor Football League – Division 1
St Brigid’s 2-11 Creggan 1-09
St Brigid’s moved clear at the top of the Minor Football League table when they beat Creggan in Wednesday evening’s game at Musgrave Park. However the south Belfast side had to withstand a spirited comeback by the Kickhams side who found their form in the second half, hitting 1-5 without reply, while holding the home side scoreless for 25 minutes. When centre forward Conor Johnston pointed to cut Creggan’s deficit to a goal with five minutes still to play, it looked like they were in with a chance of a remarkable comeback, but the home side steadied the ship and a late point from James Blaney sealed the win.
It all looked so straight forward for the Musgrave Park side in the opening half. A misplaced kick-out in the second minute saw Conor McKavanagh intercept and break clear to fire to the net past the advancing Creggan goalkeeper. James Blaney added a point from a free soon afterwards and when Peter Mugrew grabbed goal number two for the Saints, the gap was out to seven.
St Brigid’s were dominant throughout the field and two points from Daniel Kelly, one by Joseph Mellon and another by Joseph Logan stretched their gap out to twelve before Creggan got the ball over the St Brigid’s endline. The Kickham’s side eventually broke their duck when Conor Johnston pointed but back came the home side and after having a goal ruled out because of a square ball infringement they tagged on two more points to put the gap out to thirteen, though Creggan hit two late points through Liam McLarnon and Conor Johnston to close the gap to eleven by half time.
When the home side grabbed the first two points of the new half the only thing is question appeared to be the size of the winning margin. However Creggan slowly began to find their feet and a point from midfielder Fintan Close appeared to settle them down.
Full forward Shea McCann added another and despite having a goal disallowed for a ‘square’ ball they continued to press. A great move by the south west side was finished to the net by McCann. Further points from Liam McLernon, Fintan Close then McLernon again had the gap down to four with five minutes still to play, but Blaney settle the home side’s nerves and they had five to spare at the end.
The win sets up a winner takes all showdown with St Paul’s at Shaw’s Road next Wednesday in the final game of the season.
To see more of Bert Trowlen’s pics from this game just click on the link below
https://myalbum.com/album/QmTew3UhGgsT5p/?invite=35bbe738-8ec2-4e65-9c89-506190feecd9
