St Brigids U14 footballers won the Fr Mullan cup on Saturday 6th October in an excellent final against a very strong and sporting St Galls team.
Playing against a swirling breeze in the first half, St Brigid’s found it difficult to find their usual rhythm and it was St Galls who started the brighter and quickly built up a 1-3 to 0-1 lead. However, as the half progressed St Brigid’s half backs and midfielders started to win the lion’s share of possession and set up some excellent counter attacks and team moves. This was best epitomised by St Brigid’s opening goal when Frank McCormack delivered a long pin point pass to James Smith in the half forward line who then quickly found Ethan Carleton with a defence splitting pass. Ethan’s finish was emphatic an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. This closed the lead to only a point but St Gall’s showed strong resolve and hit back with another fine goal. St Brigid’s continued to press hard but found it difficult to convert their chances playing into the strong wind. A single point by Peter Webb was their only reward. At half time, St Galls led 2-3 to 1-3.
In the second half, St Brigid’s started very strongly. Joseph Finnegan and Brogan Austin dominated midfield and set up numerous attacks. Joseph Finnegan gave a brilliant display of high catching whilst Brogan Austin won several key turnovers. On the back of this great possession St Brigid’s gradually reduced the deficit and points by Peter Webb, James Smith and Mattie Loane levelled the match midway through the second half. Peter Webb then added 2 further great points to put St Brigid’s ahead for the first time. This settled St Brigid’s and Peter Lavery and James Smith then added further points to open up a 4 point lead. Malachy Beyssat was introduced at this stage and with John Blaney at half forward, looked dangerous on every attack, moving the ball on quickly and intelligently. St Brigid’s were now in top gear and went on to score 3 unanswered goals. Peter Webb neatly dispatched the first. James Smith and Joseph Finnegan scored the others.
All of this pressure was built on a very strong St Brigid’s defence. John Toner, Paul Storrs and Daire McGarvey were imperious at full back. John Toner and Daire McGarvey won almost every 50:50 ball they contended and showed tremendous composure under pressure in repeatedly delivering telling passes out of defence. Owen Winters, Gerard Kervick and Frank McCormack at half back also put in fantastic shifts. Owen Winters at centre half back put in a man of the match performance winning countless tackles and setting up as many counter attacks with intelligent and quick passing. In nets, Ruairi Lynch’s kick-outs were equally clever and helped ensure St Brigid’s won the midfield territory.
This was great team performance by St Brigid’s who displayed some excellent open and fast attacking football combined with a very tenacious tackling quality.
FT: St Brigid’s 4-10 St Gall’s 2-3
St Brigid’s:Ruairi Lynch, Daire McGarvey, Paul Storrs, Oran Boyle, Patrick Finnegan, Owen Winters, Frank McCormack, Joseph Finnegan (1-1), Brogan Austin, John Blaney, Peter Webb (1-5), James Smith (1-2), Peter Lavery (0-1), Matty Loane (0-1), Ethan Carleton (1-0), Malachy Beysatt, John Toner, Tiarnan Cahill, Callum Copeland, Gerard Kervick, Finbar Devlin, Damian Magee, Henry Doran, Jamie Murphy
