A brace of goals from minor Cormac McGrady, one in each half, laid the platform for a functional home win over a below-strength Portglenone at Musgrave Park on Tuesday evening. Both sides went into the match on the back of defeats from the previous Sunday, and their early sparrings betrayed a lack of cohesion with stray passes regularly breaking the flow of play. With the notable exception of an excellent Mackle penalty save on two minutes, a brace of points at either end summed up a fairly non-descript opening 20 minutes. Eunan Conway urged more tempo, which prompted an immediate response in a three-minute burst. A Cole point was followed by a converted 45 by O’Neill. The opening goal on 23 minutes was instigated by Sherry’s turnover and pass to O’Neill, who sent through McGrady for a fine finish. Portglenone carried a threat, though, particularly through the centre, and followed up a point with a timely goal on 30 minutes as, from a high midfield catch, they quickly carved open a porous defence to score close home.
Half time: Naomh Brid 1-4 Portglenone 1-3
The home team came out for the second period with a flea in their ear and responded with three points, two from O’Neill who was sharp throughout, and a good score from McGuckian. However, the visitors clawed their way back again, encouraged by a continued tentative home performance, scoring three without reply. It was young McGrady to the rescue once more with a goal on 47 minutes to give needed breathing space, Sweeney this time the provider. The sides swapped scores again but Naomh Brid’s four point cushion provided the impetus for the final push. The defence stuck to their task with discipline, as O’Hagan and Sherry continued to build from deep. O’Neill and Edwards added further points and McGrady rounded off proceedings with two converted frees for a satisfying evening’s work.
Full time: Naomh Brid 2-12 Portglenone 1-7
Team: J Mackle, B McMahon, A Christie, D MacAuley, F Sherry, D O’Hagan, M Rooney, D Edwards (0-2), J McGuckian (0-1) (M Donnelly), B Reilly (C Mooney), T Niblock (R Brolly), M Sweeney (C Mullan), A Cole (0-2) (P Finegan), R O’Neill (0-5), C McGrady (2-2)
Man of the match: C McGrady
The win leaves Naomh Brid handily placed in third place behind the unbeaten Cargin and St Gall’s, perennial pace-setters. Frustratingly, the hiatus in league fixtures means a further three week wait until the mid-week meeting with Creggan on Wednesday, 24 June.
