Naomh Brid bounced back quickly after their home defeat to St Gall’s last week to claim another two precious Div 1 league points on Sunday evening at Enwright Park. While this was a somewhat perfunctory performance against a gutsy Gort Na Mona side, who were full of running throughout, it’s results that count, and the large away support went home contented with the points secure.
The Gorts, playing with the wind and gradient advantage, dominated early proceedings and registered the first score after two early misses. And while Edwards punished a foul on McMahon to level up, the home side had a firm grip on proceedings, with a fast, incisive running style, which was rewarded with three slick points in as many minutes. But Naomh Brid responded well as first O’Neill pointed from the sideline and then, from a superb Finegan block, Edwards broke to reduce the deficit further. While the home side squandered useful chances, Loughrey showed his county class, to sprint the length of the field before setting up MacAuley for the equalizer. But the energetic Gorts were defiant and, despite an excellent turnover from Finegan and then O’Hagan preventing a goal chance, they twice pierced the heart of the away defence to lead by two at the break.
Half time: Gort Na Mona 0-6 Naomh Brid 0-4
With the advantage of the slope Naomh Brid restored parity within three minutes as first O’Hagan set up Edwards, and then Brolly and Edwards combined for O’Neill to level. While Gort Na Mona briefly regained the lead from a soft free, the power balance was subtlely shifting. A hard home pressed defence gifted Brolly a score for over-carrying while a Finegan and McMahon move drew a foul that Brolly gratefully punished. When the Gorts levelled with a dubious free, the Malone boys’ response was swift as Smith powered through to feed the accurate Brolly. An excellent 45 from the home side saw them draw level on 50 minutes, but that was to be their last say. Brolly replied instantly before Edwards landed a mighty 50-metre free. Sub Donnelly then laid on the final score for O’Neill as Naomh Brid consolidated their position in the top half of ACL Div 1.
Full time: Gort Na Mona 0-9 Naomh Brid 0-12
Team: J Mackle, P Finegan, J Loughrey, B Reilly, B Mcmahon, D O’Hagan, M Donnelly, R Smith,D Edwards, M Sweeney, A Cole (C Donnelly), D MacAuley (P MacDonald), R O’Neill, J Brolly, M Malone
Man of the match: P Finegan
After seven matches Naomh Brid now sit on eight points, just two points off joint leaders St Gall’s and Portglenone. Matches against St Paul’s away and Rasharkin at home will mark the season’s half-way point, but manager Conor MacSherry must be very content with the flying start his side have made to life in Div 1.
