With possibly their finest performance of the year, the seniors advanced to the league final and a step closer to Division 2. While the score line may give the reflection of a one sided affair, this was a tough battle from start to finish with St Pauls never giving up despite the three killer blows dished out by the visitors.
St Brigids were off to a dream start with Duncan MacAuley finding the net within a minute, quickly followed by a point from the ever-improving Conor Taylor. St Pauls responded with a goal of their own on five minutes after a fine catch and run from their centre half forward.
After ten minutes St Brigids hit a scoring groove with points from MacAuley, Conor Mullan and the outstanding James Loughrey plus a free from Joe Brolley.
While that may have been Brolley’s first touch, his second was worth the entrance fee alone (it was free in!). Winning the ball behind the full back the pundit headed goal ward on a solo run before beating the keeper and the cross bar with the most delicate of lobs. The same player added two more points before Frankie Devlin closed the half with a pointed free.
Half Time: St Pauls 1 – 3
St Brigids 2 – 8
St Pauls came out all guns blazing but found the defence, in particular Joe McKeever and ever-reliable Richard Smyth virtually impassable. A nasty clash forced a double substitution and the loss of the right side of the back line. Both Frank O’Neill and Paul O’Hara had been in complete control before the incident that left them nursing injuries. The strength and versatility of the panel was evident however, with Paul Finnegan coming on and Paul McCrudden switching to half back and carrying on in the same fashion as their predecessors. Ruari O’Neill was also introduced and proved a real handful for the home defence. With Frankie Devlin acting as marshal and Deaghlan O’Hagan eventually nullifying the fielding of St Pauls best player the home side were struggling to find a way through to John Mackle’s goal.
Meanwhile at the other end Loughrey effectively killed off the game by following up his own tremendous block with a cracking goal. Mullan impressed and Niall McDonald found his scoring boots and landed a couple of good points before making way for fellow minor, Aidan Owens. 16-year-old Mark Sweeney also made an impact as a substitute in the last ten minutes. Taylor added a couple more and with the entire forward line and midfield tackling like a certain county team (one guess) it was left to veteran Devlin to close the game as he had the first half with a point from a free.
Full Time: St Pauls 1 – 6
St Brigids 3 – 15
One more big performance needed and its two promotions in two years.
Team:
John Mackle, Frank O’Neill, Richard Smyth, Joe McKeever, Paul O’Hara, Frankie Devlin, Deaghlan O’Hagan, Paddy McDonald, James Loughrey, Paul McCrudden, Conor Mullan, Niall McDonald, Conor Taylor, Joe Brolley, Duncan MacAuley.
Substitutes used:
Paul Finnegan, Ruari O’Neill, Aidan Owens, Mark Sweeney, Jimmy King.
