CONTROVERSIAL LAST SECOND GOAL CAUSES HEARTACHE
FOR ST BRIGID’S
Rossa 2-7 St Brigid’s 2-6
At Rossa 17.4.2007
Minor League Match
St Brigid’s Minors lost by one point in their 2nd Minor League Match. In the last seconds of the game with St Brigid’s holding a 2 point lead Rossa blasted a free at a packed St Brigid’s goal mouth. Clearly the ball was saved by Ben Sinnott but one home umpire claimed the ball had crossed the line. The referee consulted with another umpire who had then magically appeared and controversially awarded the goal to Rossa.
This was an undeserved ending to what was a spirited all round performance by the St Brigid’s Minors.
Missing 2 regulars, Chris Donnelly and Chris Mooney (to exam commitments) the South Belfast Minors started the match somewhat hesitantly. Having a large percentage of possession St Brigid’s forward moves seemed to break down due to errant final passes.
Both sides initially traded two points each. Michael Malone had an excellent long range effort whilst Cormac McGrady followed up with his customary exhibition of text book free kicking skills.
An excellent point from open play by Connor McGranaghan resulted from a superb St Brigid’s move initiated by Andy McLarnon.
However Rossa were giving a very good account of themselves and their no 5 and No 8 combined to score an excellent goal to leave St Brigid’s trailing at half time.
Half-time Score 1-2 Rossa 0-3 St Brigid’s
With Andy McLarnon tiring after giving an excellent 1st half performance on the wing, Ronan Ward was brought on at half time to give fresh impetus for the away team.
However Michael Malone decided he did not need any help and within the first minute had sent a long range effort over the goalies head into the net.
Rossa responded with two high standard points of their own before Ronan Ward calmly scored a point after further good work by Timothy McCrudden.
At this stage the game was evenly balanced Rossa crowded the midfield and with St Brigid’s failing to win any breaking balls Rossa slotted over 3 unanswered points. But for sterling work in defence by Thomas McGeogh and Luke McGread the damage being inflicted by Rossa at this stage could have been worse.
Most other teams would have collapsed at this stage but the St Brigid’s Minors, led by some sterling work by Ben Sinnott, Matthew Kelly and Mathew Edgar looked to turn the flow of play back to their favour.
Stephen O’Brien won a free and that man Cormac McGrady duly obliged with a point. Then came the move of the match. Started by Steven O’Brien he continued on the overlap up the field and with the final return pass his shot to the top right hand corner of the Rossa goal gave St Brigid’s a richly deserved lead.
At this stage Rossa were clearly rattled. One of their players was sent off for an unnecessary retaliation on David Brennan though other fouls went unpunished.
Cormac McGrady slotted over his 3rd point from a free and it appeared, with time well up that St Brigid’s had achieved a well earned victory.
However St Brigid’s failed to kill the game off. Further potential frees to St Brigid’s resulted in hop-balls instead from which Rossa launched a final attack.
Whilst it was clear to all and sundry that no score had been made two umpires signalled a goal leaving the referee, in the last second of the game, with no choice but to award same.
The blue and yellows can take great heart from their performance. This was an all round excellent team display.
In defence some of the blocking of the ball and covering from Thomas McGeogh was amazing. Ben Sinnott gave his usual faultless performance on th
