The senior football team secured their first ever victory in the senior Football Championship at the 3rd time of asking with a 2-15 to 0-8 victory over Dunloy at Casement Park.
Dunloy started the much brighter under the lights at Casement Park and threatened the Naomh Brid goal on several occasions. If it were not for the athleticism of John Mackle in goals, bringing off a fantastic save after five minutes when a goal looked the odds-on outcome. During this first 20 minute period Dunloy were the better side and it took a penalty save from that man Mackle again to keep the Malone Road men in the game. As the half wore on Naomh Brid began to gain control around the middle and with Niall Cunningham on form from frees and Ruairi O’Neill proving a growing threat they forged a 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead.
With Loughrey coming to the fore and O’Hagan undertaking a sweeping role, Naomh Brid began to stamp their authority on the game as the second period got underway. Points from Cunningham and O’Neill extended the gap and when Loughrey ended a sweeping move by punching the ball to the net (after a pass by Ruairi – hard to believe I know) the result looked to be safe with barely 15 minutes of the second half on the clock.
Naomh Brid were now dominant in all sectors of the pitch and finally producing the football you would expect from a team sitting third in the top tier of Antrim football. When substitute McGrady found the net for a second goal and with 10 minutes still remaining Dunloy had given up the chase. Live wire O’Neill rounded off a very strong performance when he “dummied” his way through the Dunloy defence only to see his rasping shot rebound of the underside of the cross bar.
Naomh Brid cruised to the final whistle limiting Dunloy to 3 second half points and booked their place in the semi-final. Final score:
Naomh Brid: 2-15
Dunloy: 0-8
Well done to manager Conway and his charges for securing the first Senior Championship victory. Next up are fellow Division 1 outfit Portglenone in what promises to be a much sterner test for Naomh Brid.
