ST BRIGID’S MINORS CONTINUE THEIR PRE-SEASON CAMPAIGN
St Brigids (minors) –v- Gort na Mona 4.3.07 (YMCA) Bladon Drive
St Brigid’s Minors continued their pre-season campaign with a high quality match against the clear favourites for the 2007 Minor Championship Gortnamonagh.
The game was played in atrocious weather conditions at YMCA. Despite however the strong wind and driving rain both teams served up some free flowing superb football. In monsoon like conditions (just ask the coaches) both teams played excellent fast football in a good sporting manner.
The eventual score-line does not reflect the game itself in that St Brigid’s gifted 4 soft goals to their rivals. The defensive mistakes were perhaps understandable given the weather conditions but new gloves are being obtained for all the players.
In the first half, playing against the wind, St Brigid’s did very well to restrict Gort to a 1-4 to nil score line. When they did make forays into Gort’s half of the pitch poor final passes and poor shots, not on target, let St Brigid’s down. Gort scored some excellent long range points with their No 14 being the star of their team.
The second half performance (before the goal presentations to the opposition occurred) of St Brigid’s Minors was of a much higher quality. Chris Donnelly, Chris Mooney, Timothy McCrudden and David Brennan all scored excellent points.
However the highlight of the game was Chris Donnelly’s goal. Fouled on the 14 yard line, his quickness of thought resulted in Chris slamming the ball into the back of the net.
At that stage St Brigid’s could and should, have gone on to win the match. The momentum was clearly with the home team at this stage.
However, you cannot “gift” any team, much less a good team such as Gort, three goals and expect to win. Hopefully St Brigid’s will have learned their lesson and send out the message that from now on all “gifting” sessions are now cancelled.
There was an excellent turn out of players despite the poor weather conditions, all of whom played some part of the match.
Noteworthy performances – P Nolan as usual was in excellent form in goals. T McGeogh, showing great McLarnon cup form, was solid in defence. S O’Brien and C Mooney in the half back line, especially in the first half, were as industrious and hard working as ever.
Michael Malone orchestrated most of St Brigid’s attacks. There were excellent performances from T McCrudden, D Brennan,Richard Kervick, C Mackle, A McLarnon and Conor McLoughlin. Conor won a lot of breaking balls in the 2nd half which brought St Brigid’s back into the match. However overall all of the players can congratulate themselves for the excellent effort put in by all.
PS That includes the coaches who are now suffering various levels of pneumonia.
MAN OF THE MATCH – Chris Donnelly – not only for his excellent well taken goal but for his total effort throughout the match.
Scorers
C Donnelly (1-1)
C Mooney (0-1)
T McCrudden (0-1)
D Brennan (0-1)
Team:
P Nolan C Mackle T McGeogh
R Ward C McLoughlin R Kervick
L McGread C Mooney &nbs
