The Division 5 team travelled on Sunday to the Whiterock Road to play in a top of the table clash against O’Donnell’s at MacRory Park. The game was played with a gale force breeze blowing off the mountain.
Naomh Brid started playing with the elements in their favour. Cormac McGrady brought his shooting boots and struck three early scores to settle things, then Jimmy King from play did likewise. The half back line of Paul Finnegan and Eddy Smyth snuffed out any attacks the opposition could muster. The Darren Horrisk and Chris McCann partnership in midfield were on top. Ben Synott, who is really coming into his own, was linking up well in attack, and the half time score of nine points to two showed the dominance of the St. Brigid’s men who reserved some great quality work for the this vital league clash.
However the second half saw the hosts with a lot more possession, however Ben Synott and half time sub Aidan Christie won vital ball and carried the ball into the severe wind and turned defence into attack. A disciplined Performance and some excellent tackling gave little chance to O’Donnell’s who lost a man to a straight red card. With the bench all getting a run out, and the lessons learned from previous close games came to the fore and Keeper McHendry and McDonald at centre full back organised the full back line and but for a goal in the driving sleet five minutes to go the score line at the end would have been even more decisive.
The pleasing thing from the St. Brigid’s view point was the youthful team that showed they had what it takes to win an important top of the table clash. The management team will get a chance to cast an eye over those who did not feature in a challenge game next Sunday at Musgrave. It’s a testament to the large panel
who have continued to turn out in such inclement weather and there will be ample opportunity to stake a claim for the remaining games next sunday.
The final score of O’Donnells 1:7 St. Brigids 0:15
Musgrave Park saw Naomh Brid pick up two vital league points against the struggling Gort Na Mona.
Despite the wet conditions the pitch was in excellent shape and despite winning limited possession in midfield had Niall Cunningham and Mark Sweeney to thank for two first half goals. An Outrageous point from the enigmatic Dara Edwards from the side line capped a pleasing first half from the Malone boy’s.
Gort Na Mona who had missed five wide’s at the start finally got the ball to Michael Pollack their ace marks man and they came back into the game.His scoring prowess
was a feature of the first half.
The home team were playing into the stiff breeze in the second half and when a scrappy goal was concede a nail biting final ten minutes were lined up. However young minor McGrady and Sweeney won frees which Joe Brolly knocked over and despite a poor performance the result was a good one. The final score of St. Brigid’s 2:8 Gort na Mona 1:8 refelects the old addage that goals win games, and if possession had been turned into scores Gort na mona would have had an easy victory.
