Weather would be a factor in both games, as a strong wind blew straight down the pitch at Moneyglass.
SENIOR RESERVE
First up were the senior reserves, keen to put the defeat by Gort na Mona behind them. Playing with the wind advantage St Brigids dominated the first period with free moving forwards racking up score after score. Points from play came from Tim Mc Crudden, Chris Quinn, Niall George, Brendan Mc Donald plus two from Joe Devenney. Martin Ramsey slotted over 4 from frees. Then Luke Mc Cann crashed the ball into the net.
The score with a few minutes left in the first half was Moneyglass 0-1 St Brigids 1-10, however the home team picked of two points before the interval leaving them with a 10 point deficit. The tactic for the second half was to try and dominate the first 10 minutes and it would require a lot of carrying of the ball into the scoring zone. Points came from Brendan Mc Donald, Chris Quinn and two from Luke Mc Cann, before Moneyglass replied with two points.
Chris Quinn, playing at centre half forward, finished off two great passages of play hitting the back of the net on both occasions. The final score was a point from Chris Quinn. While the forwards took their chances it was resolute defence which made certain Moneyglass never got a chance in the second half. Out standing were Ryan Mackle , left half back who took some heavy knocks before being substituted, Cathal Conway, at full-back, who commenced a move that resulted in the first goal by Quinn. Damien Judge kept a clean sheet and for once, captain, Micky Donnelly wasn’t the oldest player for St Brigids.
Chris Mc Cann tortured the Moneyglass defence and was always keen to be involved. He also added some amusement to the game when being free around mid-field called for the ball, when delivered he called out “God not there I can’t run”!!
Final score Moneyglass 0-5 St Brigid’s 3-15
SENIOR
In order to keep in the hunt for promotion the Moneyglass game plus the next three ( St Teresa’s, Portglenone and Randalstown) were regarded as key games for the seniors.
Playing into the wind it was Moneyglass who opened the scoring with a point. With 10 minutes gone it was two points each. Cormac and Ronan Mc Grady being the scorers. The next five minutes passage of play saw the home team build a two point advantage. St Brigid’s responded with four points in a row; Cormac from a free followed by Ruairi O’Neill, Cormac and Ronan from open play . Moneyglass slotted over followed by a point from a free by Cormac to see St Brigid’s with a two point lead with less than 5 minutes remaining. However two points from Moneyglass saw the teams level at the interval 0-7 each. It was noteworthy that seven Moneyglass players had picked off a point each with only one being a free-kick.
Declan Morgan made it very clear what needed to be done in order to win the game and most importantly not to concede frees in the scoring range, which due to the very strong wind meant anywhere within 60 yards of our goal.
A good build up of play eventually saw Ruairi twist and turn before slotting the ball low into the net. Advantage St Brigid’s however a normally routine free kick was not converted by Cormac with seemed to lift the opposition. The next three score were Moneyglass, yes you got it two frees and a penalty.
Although the penalty was a terrible decision by the referee. Yes Ciaran Mackle put pressure on the full-forward but he in turn had pulled back Tommy O’Neill in goals, who was trying to clear the ball. When the referee blew the whistle, being the umpire where the incident occurred, I called to Tommy to relax as it was a free out. It was shocking to see the referee point to the spot and indicate he was awarding a penalty. The incident didn’t even see a player ticked never mind a booking, quite incredible.
Rattled by the penalty St Brigid’s responded with a point each from open play by Ronan Mc Grady and Peter Lundyto level the game at 1-9 each, with 15 minutes played of the second half. A point within a minute of being equal from Moneyglass was followed up with a most malicious assault in Ruairi O’ Neill. Off the ball and with the referee facing away Ruairi was felled by a punch to the head. The ensuing fracas clearly indicated that the referee had lost control of the game. Despite clear punching and shoving, by both teams, no one was booked. At one stage the referee indicated that he was abandoning the game only to change his mind.
Anyhow after a few minutes delay the game resumed. The incident seemed to rally Moneyglass while St Brigid’s were unnerved. In a four minute spell of open play Moneyglass had put the ball over the bar four times. Their 5 point lead was never really challenged and a converted free by Cormac was followed by a point from play by Moneyglass.
Final score Moneyglass 1-15 St Brigids 1-10
