Finally!!
10 months after the first “Senior” training session, and well over 100 sessions since at no less than 7 different venues, over 7 months from the first challenge game (8 Feb v St Agnes) and nearly 30 matches since, over 40 players used and on another set of jerseys, 18 September 2004 saw St Brigids Seniors earn their just reward Antrim Junior Champions.
While there may be plenty of room for improvement in various aspects of technique and execution of the skills of Gaelic football, there cannot be much in terms of commitment, attitude, team spirit and above all discipline from this performance at Casement Park.
First the auld hands led by John Mackle, with 2 point blank saves at a crucial time early in the second half, through the ever steady (if a bit volatile at half time!) Eunan Coway, to scorer supreme, Frankie Devlin, with a free tally of 0 – 7, and the evergreen Hugh Martin McGurk, scorer of 1 – 1, who saved his best performance of the season to its most important game.
Then the minors of 2003 Paul O’Hara who finally scored a fifty as well as starring throughout, Conor Taylor who tackled tirelessly and was as good as an extra defender, the hard working Brendan McDonald, replacements Duncan MacAuley who managed a point from play and the reliable Jimmy King.
Next its this year’s minors Joe McKeever…”When did the boy become a man?”, “play anywhere” Deaghlan O’Hagan, and James Loughrey. Is there a finer young athlete playing Gaelic in this County? He just needs to sort out his work rota on big match days (!!) and finally Ruari O’Neill who must have taken more hits this year than Faluja but keeps coming back for more.
Finally the new boys, the 20 somethings who arrived this year Richard Smyth, man of the match, broken finger and all, “flag boy” Paul McCrudden and soccer’s Andrew Magill, a revelation of a pairing in the middle of the park. Our captain Paddy McDonald, he even smiles when he is hitting the opposition and late replacement Conor McKendry who did his bit at the end.
Along with the rest of the squad, the Club salutes you and thanks you one and all.
Final Score: St Brigids 1 – 10 St Malachys 0 – 5
