CCC had set Friday 11th July as the night to play the semi-finals of the Reserve Shield, quite unbelievable!!!
We asked Rasharkin to transfer the game to another date and initially they advised they could and would if agreed by CCC, only then to advise that they couldn’t find a single date to suit. Again unbelievable as both clubs have only a single game scheduled in the league in August and not until the 20th.
So it was a real scramble to get together a team with so many committed to getting out of South Belfast over the 12th weekend, avoiding the parade through the parish. It really looked that we only had 13 players available until some rearranged their holiday and other plans to make sure we could field. We had a total of 16 players including both keepers Stephen Morrisey and Mark Salters.
The decision of Rasharkin seemed to really further motivate the team under the control of John Bogue, as his co-manager and the two senior managers were away.
St Brigid’s started sharply with a well struck 45 from Joe Begley opening the scoreline followed by a point from Dee Brennan and two from Chris Quinn. Rasharkin pulled back two points before Luke Mc Cann put his name on the sheet with a well taken point. Rasharkin scored a point from a free followed by two points, again from free’s by Joe Begley. Dee Brennan hit another point, Rashrakin replied, then Chris Quinn added to his point tally before Rasharkin finished the first half with a point.
Thanks to the early points the score at half-time in Musgrave was St Brigids 0-9 Rasharkin 0-5.
John Bogue called for an even greater effort form the guy’s as the game was far from over and Rasharkin would throw everything at the team. They also had a full substitute bench while we had the sole sub, Mark Salters.
A quick point by Chris Mc Cann was countered by one from the visitors. Then St Brigid’s players rallied to the call and put the game beyond Rasharkin with 5 points and then a goal all from play, before Rasharkin scored again. Chris Mc Cann 1-2, Joe Begley 0-2 and Dee Brennan 0-1.
It wasn’t all about the forwards but rather an entire team effort. The defence fought for every ball and dominated the second half, enabling mid-field to build the platform for the forwards to take their chances.
The visitors obviously rattled resorted to a more physical and unnecessarily aggressive period of play, in order to try and rattle the short benched St Brigid’s. The tactic didn’t work as our players kept their composure and it was a Rasharkin player that was sidelined by the ref. There could even have been a couple more of their team put out of the game.
The visitors did score two points but Chris Quinn and Joe Begley had the last two points of the game.
Final score St Brigid’s 1-17 Rasharkin 0-8.
Superb result considering so many players and members of the management team were not available.
Eamon Convery was delighted that the players got their deserved result and was especially thankful to those who deferred holiday plans and even a house move, so as to get a team out.
Ballymena up next in the final, more details to come.
