SFC Group 4 Round 2
St. Mary’s Ahoghill 3-11 St. Brigid’s 2-26
A dazzling opening half performance and three 2 pointers from the sweet striking Reuben Carleton paved the way for a convincing victory for St. Brigid’s over St. Mary’s Ahoghill at Cloney on Friday night.
The home side had surprised a few when they travelled to Pairc Na Gael in their opening game of this year’s championship and recorded a one point win over their namesakes, St. Mary’s Aghagallon while St. Brigid’s had swept aside the challenge of St. Paul’s in round 1
The Ahoghill side would have hoped to build on that opening day victory but in truth they never looked like repeating that performance against a smart moving and extremely fit St. Brigid’s.
The visitors played with the wind in the opening half with mid-fielder Jack Dowling pointing them ahead after 20 seconds and while Colla McDonnell levelled matters for the home side in the 4th minute, it would be the only time they were on level terms.
Dominating the kick-outs from both keepers through Jack Dowling and Patrick Finnegan and moving the ball at pace, St. Brigid’s took the lead again through Joe Finnegan and added further points through Paul Bradley, Jack Dowling and a Reuben Carleton 2pointer free to lead 0-5 to 0-1 after 13 minutes.
The Musgrave Park side were denied a goal by a last ditch block by an Ahoghill defender but minutes later Ronan Boyle fielded a side-line delivery and placed Patrick Finnegan who finished to the net from close range.
By half time the Musgrave Park side had moved 1-12 to 0-2 ahead thanks to two more 2pointers from Carleton and points from Joe Finnegan and Paul Bradley with the St. Mary’s point coming from Diarmaid Graham.
With the wind at their back the Cloney side were expected to do much better and eventually they did but not before Ryan Tweedy and Paul Bradley had extended the St. Brigid’s lead with points in the opening minutes.
Patrick Graham gave St. Mary’s a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 3rd minute but the visitors were managing possession well and were pressing in numbers when Ahoghill gained possession.
They increased their lead with points from Tweedy and JJ Higgins before Ronan Graham was shown Black for dissent as a bit of frustration crept into the St. Mary’s side.
A James O’Connell 2pointer and another single effort from the same player brought his sides total for the evening to 1-5 but the visitors replied through another super Reuben Carleton effort and another from Ronan Boyle moved the visitors 13 ahead with 17 minutes of the second half gone.
The Musgrave side began to empty their bench at this stage but it didn’t disrupt their rhythm as the scores continued to mount with James Smith and Niall Duffy reacting to another 2pointer from James O’Connell.
Shea Downey, James Smith, Paul Bradley and Duffy again brought their total for the evening to 1-23 before Conan McNicholl announced his arrival with a second goal.
Carleton pointed a ‘45’ after Aiden Graham in the Ahoghill goals had brought off a superb save and it was well and truly over at this stage but Ahoghill quite simply refused to roll over.
Dan O’Neill replied with their 4th 2pointer of the evening with Calum Downey and McNicholl replying to increase the gap to 20 points but again the home side made a belated response.
Diarmaid Graham struck a fine 2pointer and goals from Donal Graham and Fionnbar O’Neill in time added on only served to put a better look on the scoreline, but it will give the Cloney men a bit of confidence going into their final game against St. Paul’s.
Ahoghill never gave up and two late goals by Donal Graham and Fionnbar O’Neill gave the scoreboard a better look
A polished performance by an excellent St. Brigid’s whose speed of movement posed questions for the home side that they quite simply could not answer and they look certain to top Group 4 with their final game coming at a neutral venue against Aghagallon on the 30th August.
Should St. Brigid’s win that one then Ahoghill can still finish in second place in the group if they can overcome the challenge of St. Paul’s in their last group game.
Ahoghill: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 James Magee, 4 Seamus McKeever, 5 Dan O’Neill, 6 Diarmaid Graham, 7 Conor Crossey, 8 Patrick Graham, 9 Patrick Dougan, 10 Robnan Graham, 11 Noel Crossey, 12 Fionnbar O‘Neill, 13 James O’Connell, 14 Neil O’Connell, 15 Colla McDonnell
Subs: Donal Graham for Neil O’Connell
St. Brigid’s: 1 Declan Heery, 2 Oran Downey, 3 John Toner, 4 Conor King, 5 Shay Campbell, 6 Shea Downey, 7 Reuben Carleton, 8 Patrick Finnegan, 9 Jack Dowling, 10 Ronan Boyle, 11 James Smith, 12 Paul Bradley, 13 JJ Higgins, 14 Joseph Finnegan, 15 Ryan Tweedy,
Subs: 20 Finn McKernan for Oran Downey, 24 Niall Duffy forJJ Higgins, 25 Calum Downey for Ryan Tweedy, 23 Conan McNicholl for Shay Campbell, 19 Brian McGurk
Referee: Richard Leahy
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