A mild mannered St. Brigids minor panel finally appeared for the first home league game of the season and were well beaten by a faster, better drilled and hungier Hannastown side who last year won the Ulster minor tournament. Right from the off the hosts were second best with ball being won time after time by the Red Hands midfield.The red hands opened up the middle of the defence, and raced through to give keeper Salters little chance after 5 minutes.
Several balls dropped into the keeper’s hands at the other end, and a couple scorable frees went wide and little was going well for Naomh Brid. Rory Finnegan at half back was delivering good balls into the forward line and with Paddy Short and Rory Winters putting in a sterling shift in the full back line, and eventually the forward line eventually responded with Peter Mooney finally getting into the game. McGrady and Leonard worked their way into the game in the last ten minutes of the opening half.The half time scoreline was 1-8 to 0-3 with a Mooney shot, hitting the post before being cleared off the line, the highlight of a poor first half display where the Red Hands were much the sharper.
At the restart a much more determined Naomh Brid team appeared and Leonard started to boss the midfield with Cullen and McGrady showing useful signs of improvement. The second half was a much more even affair with some nice football played on occassions by the blues. The handling and application was sharper and the five subs all made an impact. The final score of 2-10 to 0-8 was a fair reflection of the difference between the two teams.
Rory Finegan performed best for St Brigids.
Team: M Salters, P Short, R Winters, J Langan, R Finnegan, R Mackle, D Prenter, R Flanagan, B Leonard, D Lavery, R McGrady.G Cullen, J Gildea, P Mooney, M Keenan. Subs used: J McGrath, C Conway, H Murphy, M Stuart, M McGrath,
G Henvey, J Cassidy, C Kelly all injured on the night.
The panel travel to Bellaghy this friday where all panel mebers will get a good run out against the South Derry men.
