Naomh Brid clinched a superb four-point victory over St John’s on Sunday to boost their prospects of retaining ACL Div 1 status. This was a ding-dong battle throughout between two well-matched sides, and the result hung in the balance until a late Edwards goal gave the Malone side breathing space to seal an historic first two league points at Musgrave Park.
There was a buzz of expectancy around Musgrave Park as the teams went through their warm-ups and the sizeable home support was not to be disappointed. On three minutes the Malone men responded with interest to the Johnnies’ opening point when Loughrey kept his composure to fire home after good work by Sweeney and Edwards. The sides traded converted frees as the play ebbed to and fro. O’Neill’s quick thinking found Edwards in space and he smartly fisted over to extend the lead. The Corrigan men kept in touch with a simple free from a foul off the ball, but young McGrady, who was proving the usual handful, took a neat pass from Loughrey to pluck a fine point from his impressive repertoire. McGrady then turned provider as he was fouled after a fine catch, and Cunningham duly dispatched the point. Unfortunately for the home side who were in full flow, an injury halted proceedings on 20 minutes. The break allowed the visitors to regroup and from the restart the momentum seemed to transfer seamlessly in their favour. They were now lording the midfield and finding an alarming amount of space. Their return was three points in a blistering five minute spell followed by the equalizer on 30 minutes, which came as no surprise. Indeed, there was relief that no further damage was inflicted before the half time whistle.
Half time: Naomh Brid 1-4 Naomh Eoin 0-7
St John’s picked up where they left off and rattled over a point directly from the throw in. But Joe Brolly, a half time sub, made an immediate impact as he was illegally held off the ball, allowing Cunningham to tap over an easy free to level affairs. St Brigid’s were beginning to find their range as first Cole, introduced at the interval, took a good score on the run and then Edwards added his second from a Brolly assist. St John’s countered to reduce the margin to a point from a soft free and were only denied the lead on 37 minutes by an outstanding low reaction save from Mackle at the expense of a 45. The battle raged on and St Brigid’s responded to the Johnnies’ equalizer with Loughrey finishing the move of the match with a classy point. The contest was gripping as the play swung from end to end. As the match entered its final 10 minutes St John’s had drawn level yet again, leaving the outcome well and truly in the balance. It was Loughrey once more with a superb catch and point at full tilt that restored the slim advantage. Once again points were exchanged as the odds on a draw plummeted. But Naomh Brid were not to be denied, as their tenacity and flowing football brought the reward they deserved. Reilly, in particular, was outstanding in a mean defence. Ryan Brolly thumped over a long range point on 56 minutes but the coup de grâce was delivered in the final minute by Edwards who took an exquisite pass from Donnelly and calmly found the bottom corner of the net from 20 metres out to the delight of the home support. St John’s were beaten and their final point was a mere statistic.
Full time: Naomh Brid 2-11 Naomh Eoin 0-13
Team: J Mackle, J Loughrey, A Christie, B Reilly, R O’Neill (R Brolly), B McMahon, J McKeever (D O’Hagan), M Donnelly, R Smith, M Malone (J Brolly), D Horrisk (A Cole), M Sweeney, C McGrady, N Cunningham, D Edwards
Man of the match: B Reilly (and micky Donnelly says he played well)
