Naomh Brid completed their home fixture list on Sunday with a comfortable 10-point victory against Davitt’s to maintain pole position in ACL Div 2. With closest rivals Rasharkin surprisingly dropping a point against Sarsfield’s 24 hours earlier, Naomh Brid now enjoy a three-point lead as they go on the road for their final five matches.
While a final tally of 3-10 would suggest otherwise, this was a lacklustre and at times disjointed display from the league leaders. It was Davitt’s who stole an early march, picking off two points after the alert O’Hagan had done well to smother a goal opportunity following a defensive error. However, once Naomh Brid settled, the scores came freely for the home side. Ryan Brolly, who was lively throughout, saw his scorcher turned over the bar by the keeper before an Edwards free leveled matters after a foul on the impressive Sweeney. Then O’Hagan and Brolly combined well to set up McAuley to nose the home side ahead. Three quick scores followed from Edwards and Ryan Brolly to stretch the advantage. While Davitt’s battled back with two points they were undone in between by a rocket to the net from Joe Brolly following good approach work by Sweeney.
Half time: Naomh Brid 1-6 Davitt’s 0-4
Again Davitt’s started the brighter after the interval and closed the gap to a score with two quick points. Indeed, but for another timely block by O’Hagan they could have drawn level. Cue a re-awakening in the home ranks as the Brollys pitched in with fine points before McAuley and Edwards carved open the Davitt’s defence to leave Loughrey with the easiest of goals from close range. Davitt’s to their credit battled away and came back with two points, one a last ditch save by O’Hagan who did well to tip over a goal bound shot. Joe Brolly traded points before Edwards put the result beyond doubt with seven minutes left following a neat interchange involving Loughrey and Smith. McGonigle, in a rare foray up field, took a fine score while Davitt’s had the last say with two points to take their final tally into double figures.
Team: J Mackle, J McKeever, D O’Hagan, J Marley (P Finegan), P McCrudden (J McGuckian), G McGonigle, B McMahon, R Smith, J Loughrey, M Sweeney, D Edwards, B Reilly, R Brolly (C McCann), J Brolly (R Taylor), D McAuley (C Mullan)
Man of the match: D O’Hagan
The hard work now begins for the boys in blue as they prepare to go on the road for their last five league matches. The first is the short hop across town to Cherryvale next Saturday against bottom of the table McDermott’s. There are then tricky assignments in successive weeks against Glenravel, Aghagallon, Rasharkin and finally Rossa.
