Gort na Mona highlighted play in the first half to show why they deserve to be unbeaten league leaders. Playing very fast, attractive football they simply gave St Brigid’s a footballing lesson. The half time score of 0-2 to the home side St Brigid’s, and 3-6 to the visitors adequately reflects what occurred in the first half.
However, it is a sign of a good team to never give up battling and feed off that lesson. All of the players on the team in the second half knew they were playing for pride, and a moral victory was secured.
Michael Malone and Chris Mooney were the only point scorers in the first half. Luke McGread and Matthew Edgar had been given the difficult job of man-marking Gort’s two danger-men. During that play, Matthew did his job so well that he never looked at the ball but just simply followed and harried his man continually. Edgar clearly is an Antrim star of the future.
So St Brigid’s can take great heart out of this match. The 100% effort and continual fight was the talking point afterwards. The level of play by both sides was of a supremely high standard. Both these teams have players that would grace any representative county team.
In the Second half Stevie O’Brien and Chris Donnelly took matters into their own hands. The score of 1-4 in the second half by St Brigid’s does not reflect the complete turnabout. Some of Tim McCrudden’s shoulder charges should carry a health hazard, fair but hard.
St Brigid’s seemed transformed in the second half and playing with total confidence they had the crowd cheering them on. Instead of taking their score and going for points St Brigid’s gambled on goal opportunities. Missed chances from Mackle, Connolly, McAleer and McCrudden were unlucky not to have went in.
In Defence super displays by Matthew Edgar, Ciaran Mackle and Luke McGread. Midfield tireless work from Tim McCrudden and Mickey Malone. Stevie McAleer gave his usual high standard performance and was closely matched by Chris Donnelly, whose 50:50 tackles were always producing counter attacks for St Brigid’s.
Both Brennan and Connolly gave complete unselfish displays for the team. This week’s man of the match was Stevie O’Brien whose direct forward runs at Gort, especially in the second half were a highlight.
St Brigid’s can only learn from such a match and clearly showed as the game went on, their never-say-die commitment to each other.
Final Score: St Brigid’s 1-6 Gort Na Mona 4-8
Team: D Quigg, C Mackle (R Mackle 50mins), M, Edgar, P Nolan ( R Ward 25mins), R Kervick ( C Keenan 45mins), L McGread, C Owens (M Kelly 30mins), T McCrudden, M Malone, S McAleer, S O’Brien, D McKeever (C Fitzpatrick 30mins), D Brennan (D Connolly 30mins), C Mooney.
Subs not used: C Connolly, S Murton, C Brady, P Bogue, R O’Reilly, C McLaughlin.
Scorers: M Malone 0-1, C Mooney 0-1, S O’Brien 1-0, M Kelly 0-1, S McAleer 0-2, Chris Donnelly 0-1.
Man of the Match: Stephen O’Brien
