Ladies Overcome St Galls
St Brigids Senior Ladies hit the ground running in their first competitive outing of the new campaign to notch up a 4-9 to 2-6 victory away to St Galls.
Early injuries, and sickness to Eimear McKenna meant some enforced changes at the back but the girls were undeterred and well able to adapt. Maybe because her Dad and Granda came along to support, Mary Keenan put in the display of the first half closely followed by her partner in crime at centre full back, Catherine O’Neill. Unfortunately Catherine then had to leave at half time to take a driving lesson [who organises these things?] so Bronach McKendry ably moved inside allowing Naoimh O’Hare to come on and put in a fine surging performance.
The early stages were close with 2 Caoimhe McCullagh points matched by frees kicked over by the home team. Catherine Mullan was as ever dangerous on the burst through the middle and her final tally was at least 4 points [sorry Catherine but your correspondent was so caught up in the moment that some of his writing is indecipherable].
Caoimhe pressed home the advantage with a finely taken goal but St Galls kept up with 3 more points and a goal. New “signing ” Donna McNulty got the equaliser for the sides to go in at 1-5 each.
The second half looked ominous for the girls in Blue and Gold. St Galls scored a couple of early points but and then Naomh Brid stepped up a gear. The midfield diamond of Sarah McGuckian, Sophie Curran, Ciara Loughran and Catherine Mullan forced their way back into the game. Sarah deserves particular mention for a superb all round match. Her link play backed up by the hard work of her partners allowed Catherine Mullan the freedom to launch attack upon attack and then to feed into the more advanced forward line.
Just as St Galls matched each score in the first half so a second Caoimhe goal saw St Galls burst the St Brigid’s net. This despite a sterling show from Claire Curran in goals – her security gave the team backbone and confidence [although she swears she will never return there!].
The pivotal moment came from our player of the match, Caoimhe McCullagh. A sweetly struck free kick hit the net when St Galls were expecting the ball to go over, followed by another point .She ended with 3-3 and an MVP. Then “impact sub “Anna Finnegan, after some extra fatherly coaching, scored a peach of a goal to put some clear blue water between the sides. St galls put over 2 more points but another point from the visitors ended the game at St Galls 2-6 to our 4-9.
Just as Bob Dylan has the “Never Ending Tour “so Naomh Brid Ladies have a never ending season. Their hard work and “back to basics” endeavour over the winter was clear for all to see and congratulations are well deserved…..even if it was only the first game!
