Naomh Brid made it a league double over St Paul’s at Harlequins on Wednesday evening with a functional win as the championship countdown begins. The victory which lifts the Malone side into temporary second spot in Div 1 was borne more out of perspiration than inspiration as they nonetheless comfortably saw off St Paul’s late challenge. Eunan Conway who had interrupted his holiday in the Kingdom to take in the match headed back to Dingle satisfied with two hard fought league points.
Having exited the championship at the weekend St Paul’s were anxious to tack on needed league points, and the early exchanges heralded a more disciplined and thoughtful game plan than they had shown in the earlier league encounter at Shaw’s Road. Space was at a premium despite the large pitch. Naomh Brid, though, made the early breakthrough on seven minutes, immediately after Cunningham had opened from a converted free. Reilly sallied forth from corner back and launched a direct ball into the large rectangle, which deflected into the path of O’Neill who lifted the net.
Despite the early blow St Paul’s struck back with a quick point before Edwards restored the advantage with a free on 10 minutes. The match settled into a fairly directionless pattern with neither side able to impose themselves as the ball mainly pinged to and fro in the middle third. With limited chances St Paul’s edged closer from a second point from play and a free on 22 minutes. However, a purple patch in the last five minutes of the half proved decisive for the home side. O’Neill won a free that Cunningham slotted over. Then Loughrey, who had been largely peripheral on the 40 with very limited supply, pointed. On 30 minutes Cole took a pass from Edwards and crossed high into the danger area, where Loughrey fielded superbly and laid off Taylor for a well taken goal.
Half time: Naomh Brid 2-4 Naomh Pol 0-3
The second half quickly settled into the torpor of the first, as there was little by way of invention or movement to enthuse the crowd. St Paul’s opened with a point and began to gain a slight grip at midfield, as they pressed forward with little option. But midway through the half they had fallen further behind to points from O’Neill and Cunningham, as Mackle blocked smartly at the other end. St Paul’s were guilty of further wides as the match meandered into the last 12 minutes. But there was to be a rousing finish, when the hoops belatedly found their scoring range as a hastily reorganized Naomh Brid, due to a number of injury substitutions, went into retreat. St Paul’s hit late five points with O’Neill’s reply the insurance point as Naomh Brid saw the game out.
Full time: Naomh Brid 2-7 Naomh Pol 0-9
Team: J Mackle, P Finnegan (inj. J McKeever), A Christie, B Reilly, M Rooney, D O’Hagan, B McMahon, D Edwards (0-1), F Sherry, D MacAuley (inj.C Mohan) , J Loughrey (0-1), C Taylor (1-0), R O’Neill (1-2), N Cunningham (0-3), A Cole (inj. C Donnelly)
Man of the match: B Reilly
