Naomh Brid U21s came agonisingly close to clinching an historic final place in the U21 Championship in a thrilling draw with St Gall’s after extra time at Corrigan Park on Friday evening. If the replay’s half as good, it’ll be worth flocking to.
Naomh Brid 2-11 St Gall’s 1-14 after extra time
St. Brigid’s drew with a C.J. McGourty inspired St. Galls in the Antrim Under 21 championship semi final last Friday night at a sun drenched Corrigan Park. The enormity of the task facing St. Brigid’s could be gleaned from the fact that St. Galls have won 6 out of the last 7 county under 21 titles.
After two half’s of ten minutes of extra time nothing could separate the teams. Both teams could say they had chances to win but it took a last minute free from that man McGourty to snatch a draw for the Miltown
Blues. The game was a nip and tuck affair although St. Galls scored first and went in at half time with a slender one point margin. Five of the six St. Brigids forwards had got on the score sheet.It was a first half that saw St. Brigids score four unansewered points and then St Galls do the same.
A more focused second half display from the St. Brigid’s full forward line saw MacSherry finish a sweeping move that went the whole length of the pitch to the net. That had narrowed the margin to two pints and two further points from Sweeney and MacSherry brought the scores level. Points were exchanged before St Galls leveled from a free to ensure extra time. The Malone road men were inspired by the figure of Deaglan O‘Hagan who was carrying out trojan work in the centre half back role and James Loughrey was lording midfield but an accurate McGourty kept tagging points on to keep the opposition within touching distance a draw was always a large possibility and at full time the score was 1:10 each
The final whistle saw both camps relieved but it was the St. Brigid’s men that took the lead in the first period of extra time due to a Rory O‘Neill point and Niall MacDoanald rifled home from close range to take a 4 point lead. Two frees before the break gave the St. Galls men some hope. St. Brigid’s were too
Defensive in the second period of extra time and a tiring team conceded two free for the game to end in a draw.
St. Brigid’s showed a lack of maturity at times but were full value for the draw, the replay is at Gort Na mona on Friday night, at 7 pm. The Large crowd expected will see a pulsating game if the replay matches the first fixture.
Best For St. Brigid’s were Deaglan O’ Hagan and Andrew Brennan in defence with good second half displays from Mel MacSherry and to a lesser extent Niall MacDonald and Ruari O’Neill.
