The seniors’ lacklustre early league form was unbroken by a scrappy home draw against fellow strugglers Rasharkin at Musgrave on Wednesday night. The result leaves Greg Blaney’s side on just five points from 14 with two tough remaining first round fixtures against St Galls and St Johns.
Naomh Brid were boosted by the return from injury of Mark Sweeney and Ryan Daly as they bade to put to rights their rout at the hands of the St Mary’s side last August. After a tentative start in which Rasharkin posted the opening score, Loughrey settled the nerves as he continued his goal streak, latching onto a flick from Ward. Ward then increased the lead with a score on 11 minutes and when Loughrey found himself one-on-one with the keeper within a minute, Naomh Brid seemed certain to double their advantage to six. However, the chance went a-begging as the keeper smartly parried the shot to safety. The home side were just about edging the exchanges and Dowling laid off to Ward who extended the lead on 14 minutes. Rasharkin’s response was quickly countered by another Loughrey score after good work by Cormac McGrady and Sweeney.
However, the momentum suddenly swung Rasharkin’s way on 22 minutes as midfielder Etherson brushed off token resistance before feeding Benny Hassan on the square who buried his goal well. The visitors were visibly lifted and their tricky corner forward McAleese contributed two quick points to transform the scoreboard. In reply Dowling fielded well and placed his midfield partner Edwards for a score to leave the home side a point adrift at the interval.
HT: Naomh Brid 1-4 Rasharkin 1-5
The start to the second half could not have been worse for Naomh Brid who were again all at sea when Rasharkin blasted a second goal on 32 minutes in the manner of the first, a high direct ball into their full forward easily undoing a shaky defence. With a steadying score sorely needed, Edwards did well to retrieve unlikely possession on the byeline and McGrady rewarded his work with a neat point. But back came Rasharkin with two points in a minute to leave the southsiders an alarming five points adrift and beginning to look in peril. Sweeney replied with a point after shaking off a knock, but that was immediately negated by a score from McAleese on 37 minutes which, remarkably, would prove to be Rasharkin’s last of the match despite enjoying plenty of late possession.
With Rasharkin declaring for the night, the challenge was left for the home side to claw back the deficit, which they managed in a concerted seven minutes of sustained pressure. Midfield possession was key and twice Dowling bravely won the ball to set up scores for Edwards and Ward. Sandwiched between these were two further points from Loughrey who continued to pose the main threat albeit from regrettably restricted opportunities. On 47 minutes Edwards fielded well and found Sweeney who was hauled to the ground giving Cunningham the chance to equalize from the resultant free, which he did. Having stormed their way back into the match the home side looked well placed to go on to claim both points, but in an error-ridden last 10 minutes, with countless turnovers, both sides spurned chances and when the final whistle sounded as darkness descended, there was a sense that both sides were relieved to have come away with at least something.
FT: Naomh Brid 1-11 Rasharkin 2-8
Team: W McSorley, C Mackle, R Daly, T McCrudden, M Donnelly, D O’Hagan, M Malone (B McMahon), D Edwards (0-2), J Dowling, C McGrady (0-1), J Loughrey (1-3), M Sweeney (0-1), M Ward (0-3), R McGrady(R Smyth), N Cunningham (0-1)
