St Brigid’s 3:7 St John’s 1:5
St Brigid’s U12 footballers created a little bit of history for the south Belfast club on Saturday 16 October when they beat St John’s to win the O’Donnell Cup for a second successive year. This was a well deserved achievement for the entire U12 panel who displayed tremendous skill, fortitude and discipline.
St Brigid’s started sharply but could not capitalise on their good possession and it was St John’s who delivered the initial blow – a well taken fisted goal from a dangerous cross. Buoyed on by this score St John’s kept St Brigid’s pressed in their own half and added another point. However, St Brigid’s showed great composure and self belief as they kept to their task and started to find their passing rhythm. Joseph Finnegan was winning good ball in midfield and he linked well with Enda Kelly McCann and Peter Webb in the half forward line to push St Brigid’s forward. On the back of one such move, a fine ball from Peter into Gerard Kervick resulted in St Brigid’s first score of the game. When this was quickly followed by an opportunistic goal from Enda, the match was back to all square. St Brigid’s were now enjoying a strong period and their excellent work rate was rewarded when Patrick Finnegan and Peter Webb showed pin-point accuracy to both score from long distance. These scores were good but the next was special. Peter fielded a high ball on the St John’s 21 yard line and as he landed he turned on a sixpence and split the posts.
However, as half time approached, St John’s rallied. This time though the St Brigid’s defence was in a mean mood and in particular, the half back line of Daire McGarvey, Paul Storrs and Oran Boyle were all on top of their game. Daire and Oran showed tremendous spirit to repeatedly get that all important touch to break up the St John’s attacks, whilst Paul’s positional play and distribution was superb. Phelim Lennon at corner back also showed tremendous tenacity and discipline in his tackling and reading of the game whenever called on.
At half time there was only the minimum margin between the teams.
The second half started similarly to the first with St Brigid’s winning good possession. However, this time St Brigid’s would make it count. Bursting forward from midfield James Smith finished off a fine team move when he scored from 30 yards with his supposedly weaker foot. This score was quickly added to by Peter Lavery after great work by John Toner. However, St John’s were always dangerous and in the second half it was the turn of the St Brigid’s full back line of Gerard Kervick, Tiarnan Cahill and Frank McCormack, to shine. Gerard showed his versatility in effortlessly switching from corner forward to corner back duties, putting in a perfect lesson on man marking. However, perhaps the hardest man marking role fell to Tiarnan who was a rock at full back. Frank McCormack (captain) equally smothered anything which dared to go down his side.
When St John’s pressure resulted in another good point, the match was again in the balance. However, St Brigid’s responded magnificently and put together the move of the game. Ethan Carleton in goals for St Brigid’s remained calm under pressure and rather than simply clear anywhere up-field he found Daire McGarvey in space on the right wing. Daire moved the ball on quickly and intelligently to Peter Webb in the half forward line who repeated the same formula to Peter Lavery who had made a great run into the St John’s penalty box. Peter then showed his customary coolness in front of goal to kick an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Daylight between the teams at last!
Spurred on by this goal, St Brigid’s were now in full flow and were playing some great team football. Peter Webb, Enda Mc Cann and James Smith were combining well and one such move ended in a fine goal for Peter who dispatched a perfectly placed low shot to the corner of the St John’s net. Finbar Devlin at corner forward also linked well with Patrick Finnegan on the St Brigid’s left and it was a fine ball from Finbar which put Patrick through for his second score of the game. Finbar was also unlucky to have a well taken goal disallowed for a narrow square ball decision. However, this did not faze St Brigid’s and they almost added two further goals but for the excellence of the St John’s goalkeeper. The first was a chance for Owen Winters who at full forward was a constant threat to the St John’s defence. Owen’s unselfish lay-offs throughout the match repeatedly set up the other St Brigid’s forwards. A goal would have been just rewards for his display.
This was a great game of football and the St Brigid’s U12 footballers can be proud of their display and achievement for the club. On the evidence of the dedication, determination and discipline which this panel of players has shown so well over the year, there is a bright future for these young boys on the football pitch.
Panel: Ethan Carleton Phelim Lennon Tiarnan Cahill Frank McCormack Daire McGarvey Paul Storrs Oran Boyle James Smith Joseph Finnegan Peter Webb Enda Kelly McCann Patrick Finnegan Gerard Kervick Owen Winters John Toner Peter Lavery Finbar Devlin Ruairi Lynch Conor Kelly Steven Quinn Luke O’Sullivan Hugh Bogue Damian Magee Jamie Murphy
