Once again denied the services of key personnel through injury and exams, Greg Blaney’s sorely depleted 17-man squad –including young stalwart Cathal Conway who made his senior debut – headed down a windy M22 to face the perennial tough assignment in Toome. While the lengthy absentee list would prove a bridge too far, the nine point margin of defeat was slightly harsh on the visitors who battled valiantly to the end.
With the notable absence of Tomas McCann the Erin’s Own side was at practically full strength with their central diamond of Scullion, Crozier, Michael McCann and Carron whose combined efforts emphatically proved the difference when Naomh Brid briefly threatened a comeback early in the second period.
Cargin, playing with a stiff cross-field wind in the first half, immediately found their range as they popped over three points in the opening three minutes. Loughrey settled the visitors with a good point on five minutes but Cargin continued to dominate, adding another point before squandering a number of chances, not adding to their tally until the 20th minute. It was Loughrey the danger man again as his penetrating run was grounded just on the edge of the rectangle, Cunningham tapping over the free. This signalled a decent spell for Naomh Brid and on 24 minutes Lundy set up Ward for a point to leave just two between the sides. Things were looking promising. But Cargin finished the half strongly and the lead had stretched to five by the break.
HT: Cargin 0-9 Naomh Brid 0-4
Naomh Brid needed to make quick inroads into the deficit on the restart, which they did with a Cunningham converted free earned by Dowling , and then Loughrey setting up Lundy for a point to leave just a score between the teams. But that would be as close as it got. Ball into the whites’ forward line virtually dried up thereafter as Cargin’s big guns led by the inspirational Scullion made the middle third virtually their own. Their strong teamwork and effective short passing game mastered the conditions impressively as Naomh Brid’s challenge quickly faded. Ominously McSorley had already twice denied clear goal threats, including a parried penalty save over the bar, before the incessant pressure eventually told when he was beaten by a bad deflection on 38 minutes which doubled Cargin’s lead to six. Close and McCann added three further points to put the outcome beyond any doubt while Cunningham had the last say as Blaney’s men battled to the finish in vain.
FT: Cargin 1-14 Naomh Brid 0-8
Team: W McSorley, C Mackle, M Donnelly, T McCrudden, M Malone, D O’Hagan, R Mackle, R Smyth, J Dowling, C McGrady, J Loughrey (0-1), M Ward, P Lundy (0-1), R McGrady (0-1), N Cunningham (0-2)
