Naomh Brid put the disappointment of their opening mid-week league defeat to rest with an emphatic 10 point win over Creggan on Sunday. It was the club’s first senior win at the loughshore venue but the contest was much harder won than the scoreline would suggest. Whilst a trio of goals was the obvious difference on the scoreboard, the platform for the victory was a well disciplined and dogged defence in which full back Christie was a standout leader.
The Creggan venue was resplendent in the warm spring sunshine as the home side started brightly, tapping over a free in the opening minute. But their early impetus was checked on eight minutes when Smyth fielded well and Morrow and Loughrey combined to send McGrady through for a well taken goal. The sides exchanged a brace of points as the battle raged up and down the field. Creggan would later regret a number of squandered opportunities, though in fairness the blues defence was working overtime to harry and hassle their opponents, prompting mistakes. Creggan closed the gap to two on 22 minutes but Naomh Brid’s response was swift as Loughrey and Cunningham created the chance for the excellent McGrady to slot over a fine score. McGrady then turned provider for Loughrey who split the posts while on the run. Creggan were smarting and were left even more frustrated by Christie’s point blank clearance on the goal line, though they had the consolation of a follow up point which concluded the first half proceedings.
Half time: Creggan Kickhams 0-5 Naomh Brid 1-5
The home side were left to rue two further wides on the resumption as on 33 minutes the influential Edwards fielded well before releasing McGrady who laid off to the overlapping Loughrey and the county man buried an unstoppable shot to the net. The blues now had a decent lead to defend in a tight match and they stuck manfully to the task. The referee had his hands full at times as he flashed a yellow or two to bring some order in a niggly period. Creggan’s attack were getting little change out of Christie, Mackle and Gallagher in particular, who limited them to a paltry three second half scores with some excellent tackling and shepherding.
With points from Loughrey and McGrady, Naomh Brid had a firm grip of the match as it headed into the closing stages after a 12 minute spell without a flag being raised. Then in a final flurry of activity Naomh Brid doubled their lead as McGrady atoned for his late penalty miss after Dowling had been upended, when he capped a fine performance with a second goal, McMahon the provider. Another point from McGrady was followed by one from younger brother Ronan who was on the field just long enough to grab a score and round off a satisfying evening’s work for the Malone boys.
Full time: Creggan Kickhams 0-8 Naomh Brid 3-9
Team: W McSorley, D MacAuley, A Christie, C Mackle, P Lundy (G Bogue), B McMahon, K Gallagher, R Smyth, M Sweeney, J Dowling (R McGrady (0-1), D Edwards, J Loughrey (1-2), A Morrow (R O’Neill), N Cunningham, C McGrady (2-6)
Man of the match: A Christie
