Greg Blaney’s side raided Ahoghill on Sunday as their best performance of the season deservedly delivered two precious league points. The six point victory was hard fought, though, with the match finely poised until a crucial second half penalty swung the tie in the visitors’ favour.
The southsiders team sheet was attack-minded with James Loughrey thrust into the full forward line alongside Ward and McGrady, where the trio had a productive afternoon. This was helped by the welcome return of Mark Sweeney to midfield where he forged a decent partnership with Jack Dowling over the hour.
The first period was itself a half of contrasting fortunes. Naomh Brid started smartly as they attacked with purpose and guile, Loughrey proving a constant menace. Generally sharper to the ball and crisp in the tackle the visitors ensured a plentiful and swift supply of ball into the danger zone, where Ward, who was in punishing mode with three early scores, Loughrey and McGrady quickly broke their ducks. Sweeney burst forward also to add a score as did O’Hagan, who popped up from defence to arrow a fine point from an assist by young Cathal Conway, making a very commendable full senior debut.
By the 21 minute mark the visitors were looking mighty comfortable as further points from Sweeney and Loughrey left them six points to the good with Ahoghill seemingly shell-shocked and toiling. But remarkably the game turned full tilt as the home side hit a purple patch in the closing minutes of the half, picking off a string of unanswered scores, rapidly reducing the deficit to a single point.
HT: Ahoghill 0-09 Naomh Brid 0-10
With their good work all but dismantled, the half time mantra of the visitors was simply to work harder than the opposition for the next 30 minutes. That would be the key to success. Ahoghill drew level on the re-start as the match swung from end to end. With the visitors in need of a steadying response, the breakthrough came on 37 minutes when Conway was pole-axed in the area and Ward calmly found the bottom corner of the net from the resultant penalty. It would prove the decisive point in the match as Naomh Brid, visibly lifted, re-established their authority with Loughrey, Sweeney, Ward and Cunningham slotting over consecutive scores in as many minutes. The lead had leapt suddenly to seven points with 15 minutes remaining, which was asking a lot of Ahoghill. They did rally with three points of their own but Jack Dowling’s late inspirational point after a 50 metre run was the perfect insurance riposte to cap a welcome victory.
FT: Ahoghill 0-13 Naomh Brid 1-16
Team: W McSorley, T McCrudden, R Smyth, K Gallagher, B McMahon, R Daly, D O’Hagan (0-1), J Dowling (0-1), M Sweeney (0-3), R Mackle, N Cunningham (0-2), C Conway (C Mackle), R McGrady (0-2), J Loughrey (0-3), M Ward (1-4)
Man of the match: M Ward
