RESULT DOES NOT REFLECT MAGNIFICENT PERFORMANCE BY
ST BRIGID’S

MINOR LEAGUE MATCH

Tuesday 3rd April 2007

Gort na Mona 3 – 5 St Brigid’s 0 – 10

There are some matches that excite and frustrate in equal measures and this match was certainly one of those.

St Brigid’s quite simply played magnificently and the score line does not reflect the game that took place at Gort na Mona on Tuesday night.

16 wides by St Brigid’s (including smashing the ball against the cross bar) to Gort na Mona’s 5 wides sums up the game.

Oh yes and the defence tactic used by St Brigid’s of “hit and hope” which resulted in three soft goals also added to the problems.

However despite that St Brigid’s can use this match to move on for the rest of the season. The Malone Road Gaels played mature, exciting, fast flowing football that clearly rattled their opponents. For the majority of the game Gort (this year’s favourites for the Championship) simply could not cope with St Brigid’s style of football and the “blue and yellows” really should have left with the spoils.

A 4 point defeat was further explained with Gort coming out of the blocks with the first two scores. A soft goal and a point from long range did not augur well for the South Belfast outfit.

However when the St Brigid’s defence stopped impersonating “The Three Blind Mice” Gort realised they were in for a match. Having won easily against their opponents in a pre-season friendly the West Belfast team had clearly underestimated their South Belfast neighbours.

Chris Donnelly’s runs resulted in two quick frees for St Brigids which Cormac McGrady professionally despatched over the bar.

However Gort were up for the fight and in a game that could have easily graced any final they came back with 2 excellent points and of course the obligatory “soft” goal.

Some tactical changes in defence by the coaches to counter those defensive lapses were made with Matthew Kelly man marking the danger forward in the Gort line up.

At this stage, being 7 points behind it would have been understandable if St Brigid’s heads had dropped.

However Chris Donnelly had other ideas and a powerful solo, deserving a goal, saw the ball smash off the cross bar and over for a point. More pressure play from the blue and yellows merely resulted in further wides before that man Cormac McGrady stepped up to score another vital point. Gort ended the first half by showing how to take their scores with an impressive point just as the whistle was blown by the referee.

Half time: Gort na Mona 2-4 St Brigid’s 0-4

In the second half there were some tactical changes with Chris Mooney moving into a 3 man midfield along with David Brennan and Michael Malone. Injury to Luke McGread saw Mathew Edgar slotting into the corner back position. Andy McLarnon was brought and on to bring more pace to the wing.

However Gort started off with being given the customary “free shot at goal card” and the West Belfast outfit were now sitting pretty on a 9 point lead.

Not to be deterred St Brigid’s came at Gort with waves of attack. For the rest of the second half most of the play was in the Gort half. Surging runs from Chris Donnelly, Ben Sinnott, Chris Mooney and Stevie O’Brien were the highlights of this half and brought the visitors crowd of supporters (all 8 of them) up on their feet. Michael Malone and David Brennan fulfilled their defensive midfield duties superbly.

However chance after chance again went begging until Cormac McGrady started to show the way with 3 well taken points (2 frees).

A Michael Malone long range effort followed by a further point from the 14 yard line by the same player brought St Brigid’s ever closer. Perhaps sensing

By Paul Gormley Wed 4th Apr