2nd May
League
St Brigids 0:7 Gort Na Mona 2: 13
In what is becoming an all too common scenario as 8 of the Under 14 squad failed to show for this league game. Mentors again were forced to recruit from the U-12 ranks but still only managed to field a 14-man team.
The extra man advantage for Gort na Mona showed early in the game as they open the scoring with two quick goals. To their credit St Brigids fought back with a sustained period of pressure immediately afterwards but the forward line of Chesser and Stuart (Both playing their first full game for St Brigids) were denied by the woodwork. Gort na Mona regained control in mid-field despite the best efforts of Gribben, Dowling and a very tired (two games in one day) Mc Grady. Our backline of Winters Bogue and Webb defended stalwartly, with Michael Webb in particular doing a great job keeping an eye on the extra man throughout. Two great stops by Campbell late into the first half heralded a switch in Gort na Mona tactics as they began to rain in high balls from around the 45m line. The half finished Gort na Mona 2:7 to no score.
The good aspect of only having 14 men is nobody is disappointed by substitutions. Therefore it was an unchanged St Brigids side which came out in the second half. Almost immediately their luck seemed to change as Mackle and Dowling pointed from distance. There then followed a remarkable period of attack and counter attack with both sides failing to deliver the final blow. After a scoreless ten minutes however Mc Grady latched onto a well taken free from Gildea to point from distance. Camped in Gort na Mona`s half for a further 10 minutes St Brigids notched up points from Mackle and Gribben. A further attack orchestrated by some great footwork from Mackie (a hint of rugby skills in the body swerve Conor!) saw Gribben slot over St Brigids final score of the game. As legs tired Gort na Mona again began the long-range bombardment in the dying minutes yielding 6pts to close out the game.
Man of the Match: – Michael Webb
Notable performances: – James Gildea M Campbell and Rory Winters.
