Naomh Brid maintained their top spot in ACL Div 1 with a three point win over Ahoghill at a windswept Musgrave Park on Sunday afternoon. However, the performance was well below par and the blues had to rely on the cushion of an early scoring spree which the spirited visitors had almost managed to whittle away by the finish.
Things could hardly have got off to a better start for the league leaders as they ripped open the Ahoghill defence with two goals inside the first four minutes after Dowling had registered the first point. Loughrey combined with Cunningham to set up Sweeney who swept home a low shot to the corner which was quickly followed by a second major from Dowling taking a pass from O’Neill. Ahoghill were stunned and initially struggled to cope with a stiff cross field breeze. It was 10 minutes before they opened their account by which time Cunningham had stretched the home lead to a handy eight points. It was a frustrating half for the visitors who were struggling to gain possession and deficient in attack. Two points on 15 minutes marked the end of their scoring for the half. Meanwhile Naomh Brid made most of the running with Malone and Smyth edging the midfield contest. They continued to exploit the wind advantage with Loughrey, O’Neill, McGrady and Cunningham chipping in with a further five points to leave Ahoghill with a mountain to climb in the second period.
Half time: Naomh Brid 2-7 Ahoghill 0-3
Whether it was the elements or complacency, or a combination of both, Naomh Brid’s performance after the break fell well short of the standards expected. The play was too often slow and lateral with possession coughed up cheaply. Ahoghill with the wind at their backs came increasingly into the game and four unanswered long range points brought them some cheer. Their hopes were further strengthened when they capitalised on a defensive lapse to fire home a goal on 46 minutes to leave just a score between the sides.
However, Loughrey settled frayed nerves within a minute as he started and ended a move involving O’Neill and Dowling, passing into the net from close range. A Cunningham free looked to have settled things with 10 minutes remaining, but that was the last home score while plucky Ahoghill, now dominating midfield and in most sectors, continued to claw back the deficit with fine scores. Four more points had once again drawn them to within a score on 58 minutes and a very unconvincing Naomh Brid were relieved to see out the nervy final minutes without further loss. There will need to be a marked improvement for the tricky trip to an improving Rasharkin on Wednesday evening.
Full time: Naomh Brid 3-8 Ahoghill 1-11
Team: W McSorley, P Finegan, A Christie, D MacAuley, K Gallagher, B McMahon, R Daly (C Mackle), R Smyth, M Malone, J Loughrey (1-1), M Sweeney (1-0), J Dowling (1-1), R O’Neill (0-1), N Cunningham (0-3), C McGrady (0-2) (C McLaughlin)
