Last season we had “Lost in Rasharkin” and this year it was “Where’s the pitch in Ahoghill?”
5.15pm: Clear instructions given out…’Take Randalstown turn off M2, head for Portglenone, turn right at Cross Keyes Crossroads and the pitch is a mile up Cross Keyes Road on right. Do NOT go into Ahoghill and do NOT ask for directions!
6.45pm Paul McCrudden… “Me and Richard Smyth are in Ahoghill and no one will tell us where the pitch is.”
6.50pm Frankie Devlin… “Which way is it out of Ahoghill?”
6.55pm Conor Mullan… “Nobody seems to know where there is a Gaelic pitch around here.”
7pm Joe Brolly…(in changing room) “we asked a mother and daughter at their house where the Gaelic pitch was and they said they didn’t know. The house is 500 yards around the corner.”
7.05 (match scheduled for 7pm) Gregory McGonigle… Hi Sir where the f**k are we?”
7.10 Ref blows whistle.
7.15 Ref throws ball in.
7.16 Richard Smyth takes the field.
7.17 Duncan MacAuley scores a goal.
7.18 Stephen Morrissey and Joe McKeever score an own goal between them.
7.19 Ruari O’Neill scores a goal.
7.21 James Loughrey scores a goal.
7.23 James scores a point.
7.26 Joe Brolly scores a goal.
So fifteen minutes gone, fifteen players on the field and the score is 1 – 0 to 4 – 1.
Chris McCann added a couple of points before the break as a normal Gaelic match slowly took over.
Half Time: Ahoghill 1 – 3
St Brigids 4 – 3
After an early goal from McCann in the second half, the visitors contented themselves with tapping over eight more points while holding the home side to a single score.
Full Time: Ahoghill 1 – 4
St Brigids 5 – 11
Then it was back into the cars, out the gate, turn left and left again at the crossroads… what could be simpler?!
This Sunday the Seniors take on St Teresas away …. That’s up the Glen Road, past the school and brewery on right and pitch on right. Throw in 12 noon. Richard Smith and Co. will be phoning from Hannahstown from 11.50 am onwards.
Team:
Stephen Morrissey, Deaghlan O’Hagan, Richard Smyth, Joe McKeever, Seamus McArdle, Frankie Devlin, Aidan Owens, Gregory McGonigle, James Loughrey(1-3), Duncan MacAuley(1-1), Chris McCann(1-4, 1 free), Benny Reilly, Ryan Brolly, Joe Brolly(1-1), Ruari O’Neill(1-1).
Substitutes Used:
Conor Mullan, Mark Sweeney(0-1), Paul McCrudden, Thomas Clarke.
