ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 2-17-5-14 St Brigids
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Despite being reduced to 14-men for the remaining 10-minutes, St Brigid’s landed two further goals to their three scored in the opening half in their 5-14-2-17 win over Lámh Dhearg at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening.
The South Belfast outfit were first off the mark when Conan McNicholl laid the ball off to Dara Quinn who found Paul Bradley to side foot over,
Parity was temporarily restored after Jack Davitt popped the ball to Owen McKeown to drop a shot over.
The game’s opening goal came after seven minutes. JJ Higgins made a driving run forward before fisting the ball into the path of James Smith, he continued his run towards goal and squeezed a low shot into the corner to make it 1-1-0-1.
It was all too easy for the visitors in the aftermath and he stretched further clear with another three unanswered scores, Conan McNicholl directed a shot high over the bar with Paul Bradley then swinging back-to-back scores.
A converted Ryan Murray free was followed by another dead-ball, this time Adam Murray kicked a two-pointer to reduce arrears approaching the midway point in the half (1-4 to 0-4).
Disaster would strike for the hosts again though as St Brigid’s found their second goal in the 17th minute.
Carving the Lámhs defence open with a move through the hands, a palmed James Smith shot hit the post and went in off Paddy Mervyn into his attempt to clear the danger.
Points were exchanged between Terry McCrudden and Smith in the aftermath, whilst Adam Murray kicked his second free of the evening, but the Lámhs were all at sea once again and Paul Bradley took full advantage- blasting home in the 25th minute to make it 3-5-0-6.
Adam Murray was the Lámhs most attacking threat and hit back to three scores before the break, though a two-pointed Reuben Carleton free had St Brigid’s in control at the break with a 3-7-0-9 advantage.
The Musgrave Park side continued to show their efficiency after the break with Conan McNicholl and Paul Bradley both registering scores.
Ryan Murray clipped over in response, though Paul Bradley and Aodhan McNicholl opted for fisted scores to put double figures between the sides (3-11-0-10).
Lámh Dhearg were offered a glimmer of hope when Paddy Mervyn was sandwiched as he was about to try his luck from close range and referee Ray Matthews signalled for a penalty.
Responsibility fell upon the shoulders of Ryan Murray- who made no mistake, firing low past Feargus Canning in the St Brigid’s goal.
Owen McKeown then surged forward and popped the ball off to Adam Murray who lined up a two-pointed effort and steered it over to half the deficit.
Things got better less than 60-seconds later when Conor Murray side-footed a floated pass into namesake Adam’s path and he struck low past Canning to make it 3-11-2-12) with over a quarter of an hour still remaining.
The pendulum had swung in the Lámhs favour and Ryan Murray kicked his second point of the half to reduce arrears to a single point.
St Brigid’s would see out the remaining minutes a man light after Aodhan McNicholl caught Marc McGarry with a closed fist in an attempt to win the ball.
Lámh Dhearg made use of their numerical advantage and hit the front for the first time when substitute Mark Finnegan kicked a two-pointed score.
However, St Brigid’s regained the lead shortly afterwards when a mark was brought forward 40-metres for a tackle in the aftermath and Reuben Carleton kicked his second two-pointed free of the evening.
Substitute Oran Boyle doubled his side’s advantage shortly after entering the fray and after playing a patient game with the ball after winning the resulting kick-out a fourth goal was forthcoming courtesy of Finn McKernan.
Adam Murray gave his side a glimmer of hope again, kicking his third two-pointer off the evening from a free in injury-time, though midfielder Patrick Finnegan put the game beyond doubt with a palmed finish over the head of John Finucane to seal a 5-14-2-17 win at the conclusion.
LÁMH DHEARG: J Finucane, Ross Murray, D Lynch, M McGarry, B Rice, P Mervyn, N McGarry, P Fitzsimons, C Boyd, O McKeown (0-1), T McCrudden (0-1), Ryan Murray (1-3, 0-1f, 1-0p), A Murray (1-10, 0-7f, 2×0-2 ptf, 1×0-2pt), J Quinn, J Davitt. SUBS: D Martin for T McCrudden (29), C Murray for J Quinn (HT), M Finnegan (1×0-2pt) for N McGarry (41).
ST BRIGID’S: F Canning, A McNicholl (0-1), C King, F McKernan (1-0), B McGurk, P King, R Carleton (0-4f, 2×0-2ptf), J Dowling, P Finnegan (1-0), N Duffy, D Quinn, P Bradley (1-4), C McNicholl (0-2), J Smith (2-2), JJ Higgins. SUBS: O Boyle (0-1) for C McNicholl (56).
REFEREE: Ray Matthews (O’Donovan Rossa)