Naomh Brid kept up their fine start to the season with a well-earned win over Rasharkin on Saturday to keep them joint top of Div 1 with holders Cargin.
A windswept Musgrave Park was the eleventh hour setting for this league encounter with our old south west rivals, whose home pitch had fallen victim to the heavy rain. However, there were no such problems for the resplendent Musgrave Park, which is arguably the best playing surface in the county.
Rasharkin arrived too late for a full warm-up, which on reflection gifted their hosts an early advantage. In the blink of an eye Brolly had fired over a trio of scores, O’Neill adding a fourth, as Naomh Brid swept into gear with the aid of the breeze. The respite for the visitors was fleeting as their opener was returned with interest on 12 minutes when Brolly’s neat flick into Cunningham’s path was dispatched to the net with authority. Loughrey, who was a commanding playmaker on the 40, followed up with a fine point as Naomh Brid’s overall graft and craft worked to telling effect. Rasharkin were struggling to make any impression as Naomh Brid dominated the midfield exchanges and in the break ball. While Rasharkin notched two scores from rare opportunities, these were matched by a brace from Brolly, who was in mean form. On 27 minutes Loughrey piled on more agony for the visitors with an exquisite cross-field lob to Edwards, lurking in the large rectangle, who made no mistake from close home.
Half time: Naomh Brid 2-7 Rasharkin 0-4
The second half began as the first with the clinical Brolly picking off two more points, dashing any Rasharkin hopes of an early comeback. With a virtually unassailable lead it was not surprising that the Malone men’s second half performance did not quite match their early tempo. Rasharkin to their credit kept the home side honest and were rewarded with half a dozen points that left their final tally more than respectable. However, the result was never in any doubt as all the while Naomh Brid’s passing and movement were continuing to probe and prise the away defence, allowing the elusive Brolly to pop up with another trio of scores to sign off on nine for his labour. Manager Conway could afford to ring five late changes with the points in the bag.
Full time: Naomh Brid 2-13 Rasharkin 0-10
While much stiffer tests lie ahead, notably starting with the visit to Musgrave Park of St Gall’s, All Ireland club finalists of 2006, on 31 May, Eunan Conway should be reasonably satisfied with his charges steady progress to date and six league points to boot.
J Mackle, J McKeever, M Rooney, B Reilly, B McMahon (M Donnelly), D O’Hagan, D MacAuley, D Edwards (1-0), J McGuckian, F Sherry (T Niblock), J Loughrey (0-2), M Sweeney, R O’Neill (0-1) (R Brolly), J Brolly (0-9), N Cunningham (1-1) (A Cole)
Man of the match: J Brolly
