Naomh Brid clinched their first league points of the season at a windswept Musgrave Park on Sunday with a well deserved four point win over Ahoghill. In an evenly contested match, it was the home side’s battling second half performance against the stiff breeze that ultimately ensured the spoils. Hopefully the win will be a timely boost for Greg Blaney’s side as they recharge their batteries ahead of the tough assignment away to Creggan on Wednesday evening.
Despite falling behind to an early score, the home side rattled over three points from the McGrady brothers and Cunningham as Edwards and Loughrey held sway at midfield. However, Ahoghill snatched a somewhat controversial lead against the run of play on 13 minutes as the referee, after consultation with the umpire, dismissed protests that the ball had crossed the bye line before being slotted home past a static home defence. Nonetheless Edwards had the perfect riposte with a 40 metre point from the wing before Cunningham set up Ronan McGrady for a fine score to reduce the deficit to one. The southsiders continued to press their wind advantage, but despite further scores from Mohan, McMahon and Loughrey, countered by an Ahoghill reply, they had to content themselves with a slender one point lead at the interval. It seemed it was advantage Ahoghill.
HT: Naomh Brid 0-8 Ahoghill 1-4
Ahoghill made immediate use of the elements in the second period as they tacked on two quick points and things looked a little ominous. But in the vital centre Namoh Brid continued to wield the upper hand, with Mohan in particular grafting hard for second phase ball, and the supply forward yielded results with Cunningham (2) and the marauding Donnelly reversing the trend. Defending stoutly, McCrudden and Gallagher in particular stood tall, Naomh Brid broke smartly and effectively won the match in the space of two minutes as Ronan McGrady won a free converted by Cunningham and then helped his brother Cormac who slid home a clinching goal on 56 minutes. Ronan McGrady and Dowling hardened the advantage as the home side withstood a late onslaught from Ahoghil and the home win was well and truly secured. Well done, boys. Onwards and upwards.
Full time: Naomh Brid 1-14 Ahoghill 1-10
Team: W McSorley, C Mackle, K Gallagher, T McCrudden, M Malone, D O’Hagan, M Donnelly (0-1), D Edwards (0-1), J Loughrey (0-1), B McMahon (0-1), R McGrady (0-3), C Mohan (0-1), N Cunningham (0-4), J Dowling (0-1), C McGrady (1-1)
sub P Lundy for Malone
MoM: R McGrady
Rd 4: Creggan v Naomh Brid at Creggan on Wednesday, 2nd May. Throw in 7.30pm.
