St. Brigids seniors after enjoying a mid July break began their preparation for the second half of the season with a challenge game against the under 21 Na Fianna, Coalisland team at a beautifully turned out Harlequins ground last Monday night . This club captured the Ulster minor trophy last year at St. Paul’s and have a highly rated team in the Tyrone Under 21 competition.
St. Brigid’s fielded a strong fifteen with ten first team panel regulars featuring, and started well with Mel MacSherry nephew of the opposition mentor Ronan scoring an early goal and converting a 45. This set the tone for the first half with Ryan Brolly, Mickey Donnelly and Mark Sweeney all featuring on the scoreboard.
St. Brigid’s with an experienced defensive six repelled the infrequent attacks from the East Tyrone outfit.
Naomh Brid had a comfortable lead at the break 1:10 to 0:4
The free flowing football of the first half was aided by a breeze which the Tyrone men enjoyed in the second half and buoyed by their victory over Eiregal Ciaran in the league the previous day, the more experienced hands on the Coalisland team began to build from the back and knocked over some early points to get within touching distance of the Malone Road boys. However scores from the home teams under 21 quartet of Brolly,Sweeney,Donnelly and MacSherry kept clear blue water between the two sides.
John Mackle will be pleased to note that Stephen Morrissey hit a short kick out to his new found
friends from coalisland, and then as the ball whizzed past his ear thought it was not such a good idea.
His next kick out went the customary 60 metres with authority.
Pleasing aspects for the Manager were the converting of 45’s, and a return to scoring form of Mark Sweeney and the continued fine form of Paul Finnegan in defence. However cause for concern was the fall off in workrate and losing the second half, certainly not the attitude of a team making their Antrim Senior
Championship debut in a matter of weeks, against a highly rated Portglenone side who contested a senior county final two years ago and are currently fifth in the all county league division one.
Team: S Morrissey,P Finnegan,R Smyth,J McKeever,G Macklin,G McGonagle,M Donnelly,D Edwards and N MacDonald,R Brolly, M Sweeney,B Reilly,C Donnelly, M MacSherry,E Smyth
Subs used : B MacMahon,B Loughran,G Morris,T Kane
