Its hard to believe that three days prior to 28 players togging out for a reserve game,the Seniors could barely field 15 for a senior league game. Gratitude then to those whostood up to be counted and those whofilled in forthe missing “stars”.
Playing with a strong breeze in the first half St Brigids struggled with the pysicalgame of Ardoyne, apart fromGregory McGonigle, who relished it. Mcgonigle and Ruari O’Neill shared the scores between them.
Half Time: Ardoyne 0 – 5
St Brigids 0 – 4
The second half was a tight affair until the injured Chris McCann took the field and his first two touches produced a goal abd an assist for a Ruari goal. that should have been that, but Ardoyne never stopped battling. Indeed with a few minutes to go they again led by a point. Conor Mullan, buoyed by the news from Healy Park, came to the rescue with an equaliser. Both sides had chances to win it, McCann missing narrowly, Aidan owens pulling off a Conor Gormley like block and Richard Syth catching one ala anthony Tohill above the bar.
Full Time: Ardoyne 0 – 14
St Brigids 2 – 8
St Brigids may feel that a draw was a fair result, Ardoyne will say “We was robbed!” Smyth was outstanding in the square,ably supported by John McKeever, McGonigle was a giant in the middle and O’Nell led the line up front.
