There’ll be days like this. But hopefully not too many. A chastened Naomh Brid skedaddled back up the M22 after a 10 point defeat to Moneyglass on Sunday, for which the home side were full value. Naomh Brid were admittedly minus a few regulars – notably the injured Joe Brolly, who was pressed into linesman duties, to the bemusement of the home support – but on paper fielded a reasonably strong side. Moneyglass, though, were coming off the back of a morale-boosting mid-week win over fellow promotees Glenavy and had a score to settle in their first meeting with the Malone side since their defeat in the 2006 Intermediate Football final.
Playing into a stiff breeze Naomh Brid made a reasonable start, sharing the first six points in a tentative opening 12 minutes, courtesy of O’Neill, Cunningham and Niblock. However, they failed to trouble the umpire again until 36 minutes, which tells its own story. Moneyglass were clearly motivated and well organized, working overtime in every sector, as an out-of-sorts Naomh Brid failed to match their hosts’ industry, too often tardy in thought and movement. On 16 minutes a speculative sideline ball lobbed into the danger area caught Naomh Brid off guard as the unfortunate Rooney, who tried hard throughout, deflected past a helpless Mackle. Moneyglass had a firm grip of proceedings, lording the midfield sector, and their movement and crisp passing was in marked contrast to that of their laboured visitors, who were finding the tight pitch an additional handicap. The last 10 minutes of the half would prove decisive as a flurry of unanswered scores rewarded St Ergnatt’s domination with a handsome eight point interval lead and leaving Naomh Brid with a mountain to climb based on their lacklustre first half performance.
Half time: Moneyglass 1-8 Naomh Brid 0-3
Manager Conway made half-time switches with his limited resources, introducing Edwards, who made an impact, battling hard for possession. But while Naomh Brid sought the early score they desperately needed, it was Moneyglass who extended their lead with a converted free. There was little cohesion or conviction with Naomh Brid’s play and while Cunningham and O’Neill briefly reduced the deficit, the game was effectively up on 41 minutes when Moneyglass were first to react to a high ball, punching past Mackle to find the corner of the net. Their tails were up as Kevin Brady bossed proceedings, expertly shepherding the defence who were hunting in packs and effectively blunting an increasingly frustrated Naomh Brid forward line that was fast running out of ideas and time. O’Neill’s point when a goal seemed certain summed up the day and although Cunningham tacked on two converted frees, Moneyglass finished as strongly as they had started, firing over two fine scores from play in injury time for a comprehensive and well deserved home win.
Full time: Moneyglass 2-12 Naomh Brid 0-8
Team: J Mackle, J McKeever, D O’Hagan, B Reilly, B McMahon (R Brolly), M Rooney, T Niblock (0-1), D MacAuley, J Loughrey, A Cole (D Edwards), C Taylor, C Mohan, N Cunningham (0-4), R O’Neill (0-3), C McGrady
