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Junior 9 Match Report versus Wanderers - Sat, 29 May 2004

St Brigids 2-13 Wanderers 1-14

St Brigids survived a second half comeback in this hum dinger of a tie to defeat Wanderers. The sun drenched Dublin Mountains proved a great backdrop for this match but a stiff breeze would make this a game of two halves. The match was played in Wanderers newly refurbished sports complex, which overlooks Dublin City from the scenic Dublin Mountains. Wanderers won the toss and decided to play against the wind in the first half. Quite a sizeable lead would be needed for St Brigids if they were to win this match. Midfield was a real battleground with both sides keenly contesting. The game started at a slow pace but in no time, the game was in the melting pot. St Brigids were the first team on the scoreboard when Stephen Dunning pointed off his left and Neil Plunkett also pointed from distance. Wanderers began to get a foothold in the game and soon narrowed the gap to one when impressive midfielder Willie Hannon pointed. St Brigids soon responded with points from Keith Morris and Ian Craven. Wanderers were moving the ball very well and on occasions opened up the St Brigids defence. St Brigids were very unlucky not to go six ahead when Neil Plunkett?s pile driver rebounded back off the bar. Plunkett was a real threat and his mazy runs were causing Wanderers problems. Wanderers soon reduced the margin to one point when Willie Hannon & Paul Joyce pointed. Paul Joyce scoring a sweetly struck forty-five metre free. With twelve minutes remaining in the half, St Brigids only lead by one. They needed to put daylight between themselves and Wanderers due to the ever-strengthening breeze. St Brigids soon responded and produced an impressive period of play to finish the half. They knocked over six unanswered points to stretch their lead to seven points. James Carty scored an impressive point when fielding the ball from a kick out and pointing from forty-five metres. Neil Plunkett scored two points and was becoming a real cause of concern to the Wanderers defence. Wanderers responded with a late point to narrow the gap to six points at the break. St Brigids started the second half impressively and soon led by 10 points. Stephen Kelly ran onto a beautifully placed ball by Neil Plunkett and pointed from an acute angle. Neil Plunkett then scored a goal when responding quickest to the Wanderers keepers parry to score from close range. St Brigids seemed to be cruising but they were soon brought back down to earth. Wanderers began to win the battle in midfield and began to score a will. With the aid of breeze, Wanderers eroded the St Brigids lead steadily over a fifteen-minute period. Wanderers were scoring at will and St Brigids couldn?t get the ball out of their own half. Wanderers scored ten unanswered points to level the match with ten minutes remaining. Willie Hannon, Noel Cahill, and Stephen Roche dominated the midfield sector for Wanderers during this period of the game. Wanderers produced numerous slick passages of play, which carved open the St Brigids defence. St Brigids looked under real pressure and with only ten remaining Wanderers looked like they would win comfortably if they carried on the way they were playing but Tim O?Leary produced a great defensive tackle and passed to David Smith who sprinted up the wing and feed Keith O Neill with a perfect ball. Keith O Neill turned his man and scored a badly needed point for St Brigids. St Brigids scored a goal from the resulting kick out when Ian Craven plucked the ball from air and supplied Stephen Kelly with an exquisite ball in the corner. Stephen Kelly turned his man and seemed certain to score a goal when one on one with the keeper. The keeper pulled off a fine save but James Carty was fastest to react and finish to the net. Wanderers responded and tagged two points back but they could not peg back the resurgent St Brigids side who now turn their attention to the championship.

St Brigids: Cathal McNamara, Declan Hanley, Chris Lynam, Tim O?Leary, David Smith, John Dunning, Brendan Farrell, Keith Morris, Ian Craven, Eoin O Sullivan, Neil Plunkett, James Carty, Stephen Dunning, Keith O Neill, Stephen Kelly.

Scorers: Neil Plunkett 1-3, James Carty 1-2, Stephen Kelly 0-2, Stephen Dunning 0-2, Keith O Neill 0-1, Ian Craven 0-1, Keith Morris 0-1 and John Dunning 0-1 Half Time: St Brigids 0-10 Wanderers 0-4

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