In-form Lamh Dhearg proved far too strong for Naomh Brid at Hannahstown on Wednesday night as they ran out convincing 10 point winners to maintain their challenge at the top end of the table. Meanwhile Naomh Brid remain locked on five points from eight matches in what looks increasingly like a dog fight in the clustered bottom half of the league. As he continues to seek his first away win of the season, Greg Blaney’s selection options would appear to be strictly limited with a severely depleted squad.
On the night, the absence of Mark Sweeney’s foraging ability in the midfield area was a telling factor, particularly in the last 10 minutes of the first half when Lamh Dhearg forged ahead with four unanswered points as they simply vaporised Naomh Brid in the crucial middle third, snapping up every single break ball to gain an invaluable momentum and confidence by the interval. Up until then, the southsiders had competed well enough and were arguably unlucky to be two points adrift based on their build-up play and amount of possession. But by the interval the telling factor was that they had registered just two points, one each from Dowling and a Cunningham free.
HT: Lamh Dhearg 0-7 Naomh Brid 0-2
It’s best to be brief about the second half. Suffice it to say that playing up the slope proved no handicap to the home side who simply took up where they had left off, bossing the midfield sector and hoovering the bulk of break ball, which ensured a steady supply line to the lively Cunningham and co who were in punishing form up front. A solitary converted free from Cunnningham on 42 minutes was all that Naomh Brid could muster in response as the Red Hands kept up the pressure to the finish despite the outcome having been long since settled.
FT: Lamh Dhearg 0-13 Naomh Brid 0-3
Team: W McSorley, C Mackle, R Smyth, R Daly, M Donnelly, D O’Hagan, K Gallagher, D Edwards, J Dowling (0-1), C McGrady (M Malone), J Loughrey, B McMahon, M Ward, R McGrady (R Mackle), N Cunningham (0-2)
Next week’s midweek match against St Paul’s at Musgrave provides a chance to get the show back on the road again.
