Naomh Brid eventually dispatched Lamh Dhearg by four points at Harlequins on Sunday evening to secure a vital win in their battle to avoid relegation from the top flight. In an absorbing encounter the home side re-found the form and grit lacking in recent matches, which had seen their dramatic slide down the table. Despite the victory, the southsiders remain deep in a relegation dogfight as with just three fixture rounds remaining in an intriguing Div 1, any two from five clubs could still face the drop.
With memories of Cunningham’s master class still fresh from the away defeat in May, Loughrey was sensibly deployed to shadow his Saffron team mate in the corner, and the Hannahstown marksman was crucially kept subdued for the most part. The home side were bristling with intent from the off and a McGrady free opened their account after Sweeney was felled. Sweeney was himself caught in possession as Lamh Dhearg scored from their first attack. But Naomh Brid looked sharper overall and were dominating in most areas. Sweeney caught cleanly and sent away Donnelly for the lead. The eager Donnelly then turned provider as McCann deservedly stretched it to two. Donnelly was causing all sorts of problems for the away defence and when he was hauled to the ground on 12 minutes the penalty was indisputable. He dusted himself down to calmly slot home and by now Naomh Brid were off to their proverbial good start. The omens were good as Lamh Dhearg struggled with the intensity of their hosts’ play. Sherry and Reilly were prominent in supporting the midfield as they continued to make the running. McKeever was unfairly upended as he overlapped in attack and McGrady posted another score from the free to extend to lead to six. The visitors, who statistically are not yet safe themselves from the drop, were eventually stirred into action and they dominated the last 10 minutes of the half as Herron in particular took a firm grip at midfield. Winning a succession of breaking ball, they struck back with four unanswered points as a somewhat rueful Naomh Brid went into the break clutching a more slender lead than their overall play had merited.
Half time: Naomh Brid 1-4 Lamh Dhearg 0-5
The visitors picked up immediately where they had left off and reeled the lead in to the minimum on the re-start. But Naomh Brid held their nerve and struck back with a converted McGrady free after good work by the impressive McLaughlin at centre half. O’Neill was another who put in a gutsy shift and he combined well with Donnelly to set up O’Hagan for a good score. The advantage was hardened on 39 minutes with an excellent goal by McCann at the end of an intricate passing move created by Loughrey who linked superbly from defence. But just as things seemed fairly secure, the visitors were thrown a lifeline on 46 minutes when McSorely was harshly adjudged to have unfairly dispossessed the rampaging Lamh Dhearg full forward as he bore down on goal. The resultant penalty was expertly dispatched by Cunningham and it was game on again. The Red Hands quickly added a point as the margin reduced to a score. But Naomh Brid held tight and another of the evening’s grafters Sweeney hustled for possession and passed to O’Hagan who released McCann for a relieving score. McCann, a constant threat at full forward, then fed O’Neill who bought a free, converted by McGrady as the home side turned the screw. O’Hagan who was relishing his new role at half forward then found substitute Taylor who fizzed over from close range. There was still a real edge to the match as it drew to a close and Lamh Dhearg showed no signs of giving up as they struck back with two points and the gap was closed again to a slender goal margin. But it was Naomh Brid, desperate for the league points,who had the final say as Loughrey
