The u12 football squad progressed to the semi-final stage of the O’Donnell Cup on Sunday with a comfortable 14 point win over Ardoyne.
With the summer break still in full swing, limited training and with 10 of the squad missing, there was a little apprehension within the coaching team in the run up to the weekend. Augmented with two members of the u10 squad (Thomas McCarney & Jack McGurk) the team travelled to the Cliftonville venue with the relative luxury of 3 substitutes.
Playing with the breeze and the slope St Brigids dominated the early possession stakes but failed to translate this to dominance on the score board. However, they did eventually move into a 4 point lead with scores from Phelim Lennon, Ethan Carleton (2) and Oran Boyle. However Ardoyne soon raised their performance levels and replied with two quick fire points – the lads from St Brigids soon realised they were actually in a game. Eoin Mitchell, playing as a third mid-field was picking up a lot of break ball and was ably assisted by half-forward Peter Henvey. However St Brigids finished the half the stronger with scores from John Toner and Phelim Lennon to go in at half-time 4 points to the good.
After the half-time team talk the team realised they needed to significantly up their game, now playing against the breeze and “up the hill”. The team quickly asserted their dominance with some slick passing and fluid football resulting in points from Ethan and Damian Magee. Rory Brolly then added to the score line with two well taken points from long range – at this stage St Brigids were well on top in all sectors. In particular Ben Power at full back was dominating proceedings on the edge of the square while half-back Conor Kelly and corner back Peter Heaney mopped up any loose ball. Peter King raiding from half-back added two fine points to extend St Brigids lead, while Ardoyne were held scoreless at the other end with some fine work by Tom Dunford and Rory Lynch.
Up front John Morgan and John Higgins were continuing to cause plenty of issues for the Ardoyne rear-guard, when Phelim Lennon put the result beyond doubt scoring a fine goal from distance. Both Thomas McCarney and Jack McGurk had also joined the fray before this and were also making their presence felt – indeed Jack was unlucky when the referee harshly ruled out his three point score for a relatively soft free close to the goal line.
Well done to the squad you all played on the day – Rory Lynch, Peter Heaney, Ben Power, Tom Dunford, Peter King, John Toner, Conor Kelly, Ethan Carleton, Oran Boyle, Damian Magee, Phelim Lennon, Peter Henvey, John Higgins, Rory Brolly, Eoin Mitchell.
Next up is a strong Rossa side in the semi-final on Sunday 11th September.
