U-14 South Antrim , Fr Mullan Cup Final
St Galls 3-08-4-11 St Brigid’s
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Naomh Úna
The opening minutes set the tone for what was to come in a thrilling Fr Mullan Cup final on Sunday morning between St Galls and St Brigid’s at Pairc Naomh Úna
Ronan Niblock popped over the opening score inside the opening sixty seconds and a converted Padraig Kelly free had St Galls off a perfect start. St Brigid’s halved the deficit when Garrett Finnegan switched to James Morrisey to hit back.
Both sides then registered goals within a minute of each other, Finn Smyth played a delightful pass that Jude May ran onto, and he rifled low into the back of the net to give his side a 1-02-0-01 lead.
It was short-lived though when Senan McMahon guided a shot into the corner of the St Galls net in response.
The Milltown outfit re-established their earlier two-point advantage when Padraig Kelly kicked his first from play, though Paddy McAteer took a lay-off from Rory Magee and split the posts.
Pre-match favourites St Brigid’s forged ahead on the 11th minute, Dan McAuley hung up a shot that dropped into the path of James Morrisey to sweep a shot to the net and give his side a 2-02-1-03 advantage.
A further point from Aidan Holmes extended their lead, with St Galls ending a 13-minute scoring period when Padraig Kelly found Conan Mulligan to float a shot over.
Morrisey dropped over his second point of the half, and he followed that up with a second goal before the break, flashing a low effort beyond Eoin Rogers reach to make it 3-04-1-04.
Points were traded before the break with Sean Doran narrowing the deficit, but Rory Magee converted a free with the last action of the half as St Brigid’s were in the ascendancy at the midway point.
St Galls began the second half brightly and halved the deficit when Conan Mulligan laid the ball off to Finn Smyth – whose shot squeezed past Dara McMullan.
Aidan Holmes responded for St Brigid’s, who would extends their interval lead with a further goal and two point without reply.
James Morrisey claimed his hat-trick after Eoin Rogers could only partially clear a high ball towards his goal and the corner-forward steered the loose ball home.
Further scores followed through Garrett Finnegan and Rory Magee (free) as their side were 4-08-2-05 to the good.
A converted Padraig Kelly free would be the first of three unanswered St Galls scores, Kelly also kicked a 45’ and Jack Owens clipped over from play to reduce arrears.
With five minutes remaining St Brigid’s looked to be safe with Holmes and Dara McAuley pointing to widen the gap to eight.
St Galls refused to throw in the towel and when Finn Smyth dropped a high ball into the square, Ronan Niblock seized the ball and slotted home to make it 4-10-3-08.
The Milltown men were in need of another major to set-up a grandstand finish, though St Brigid’s held firm and Aidan Holmes kicked the final point of proceedings as St Brigid’s ran out 4-11-3-08 winners at the conclusion to lift the Fr Mullan Cup.
