St Brigids U14 ‘B’ squad rounded off their Div 2 campaign with an intense run of 3 games over 8 days, which resulted in 1 win and 2 defeats.
The squad began their 8 month long campaign back in January with pre season training as part of a 40 man U14 squad which eventually split into two teams, each competing in the South Antrim U14 league, one in each division.
Our League 2 team was always facing an uphill battle, playing against the ‘A’ teams from other clubs, some of whom would have been well capable of competing in Div 1, but who had opted for the more comfortable passage throughout the league. We set out to be competitive in every match played as well in the league overall and to the credit of this squad of players that is how the season panned out, for the most part.
The records will show that we finished 5th out of 9 teams, won 4 games and collected 8 points. Behind that record is a season of hard training, committed players, willing U12s who stepped up when called upon in some games, some big defeats which were discouraging for players, mentors and most likely parents but in each case the St Brigids boys knuckled down and came back again, and again and again. The season also had frustrating narrow defeats, that quartet of wins and a club camaraderie which will outlast the bare statistics.
Last Tuesday night we played Pearses in St Malachys college. That match was tight in the first half when even though St Brigids had the majority of possession, too many shots dropped short or flew wide, and at the short whistle the game was level. In the second half however St Brigids stepped up the effort, tightened up in defence and quickly put the game to bed. Reuben Carleton belied his age and size in goals and ensured the hosts didn’t score in the second period. IN defence Ryan Austin, Patrick Magee, Conor Mulgrew were complemented by young Oisin McDonnell and Ronan Boyle. As a unit they restricted Pearses chances but also launched attacks resulting in scores and chances for the forward unit.
John Higgins, who captained the team on either side of his unfortunate collar bone injury, linked defence and attack in midfield along with Jack McGurk and both got on the scoresheet. Michael Canavan finished with 3.1 while James O’Rourke and Lochlainn Quinn also registered scores. Carter Wickham and Peter Mellon also played big parts in a deserved comprehensive win.
Our last two games were against the division’s joint leaders St Johns and Gort na Mona. The boys held their own against St Johns in the first half and were only 1 point down at half time, assisted by a goals from Canavan and Eoin McKernan, In the second period however they ran out of steam and a physically bigger and stronger St Johns pulled away to win by 7-7 to 4-7.
In the final game of the league campaign Gort Na Mona put the lads under pressure from the first whistle as they went in search for the big scoreline which would guarantee a league win. St Brigids stood strong after a slow start and only for some wayward shooting we should have doubled our first half tally of 3 points. However there was much to take heart from in the first period, with some excellent passing and brave tackling throughout the side along with scores from Jack McGurk and Ben Doherty.
In the second half, again the opposition proved to be too strong for our squad, the majority of who will still be U14 next season.
Thanks to all the players and mentors who helped out throughout the year specifically John McKenna, Martin McCarney, Anthony Carleton, and to the ever present parent Steve Austin, all of whom pitched in throughout the campaign.
Brendan Mulgrew
The squad*, pictured after the final game of the season: 
Back left – right
Carter Wickham, James O’Rourke, Eoin McKernan, John O’Sullivan, James McKenna, Ben Doherty, Ryan Austin, Patrick O’Hagan, John Higgins, Thomas McCarney, Patrick Magee,
Front, left right
Peter Mellon, Lochlainn Quinn, Patrick McKay, Conor O’Hagan, Michael Canavan, Reuben Carleton, Jack McGurk, Joe McCarney, Conor Mulgrew
*Not pictured Oisin McDonnell, Ronan Boyle,
