Junior 1's versus Noamh Olaf - Thu, 22 Jul 2004
ST. BRIGID?S 0-10 NAOMH OLAF 0-8
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Promotion remains a realistic possibility for the Junior ?A? Footballers of St. Brigid?s after they defeated Naomh Olaf in a tight yet intriguing Adult League Division Five encounter last Thursday night.
Prior to the contest Olafs, Kilmacud Crokes and Round Towers of Clondalkin shared top spot in the division with Brigid?s one point adrift in fourth place, but now Donal Quinn?s outfit leapfrog their Sandyford opponents in the table after this two-point victory at Russell Park.
The hosts were made work extremely hard for the win as, after holding a 0-6 to 0-0 lead with 27 minutes played, they were hauled back to 0-7 apiece with ten minutes remaining, therefore paving the way for a tension-filled conclusion.
Nevertheless, the Russell Park boys showed their mettle to finish the stronger and strike three consecutive points with David D Fitzgerald (2) and Brian McGuinness claiming the scores.
D Fitzgerald ended as top scorer for Brigid?s with 0-6 in his gearbag, and once again his free-taking ability ? 0-4 of his final tally arrived from placed balls ? proved invaluable to Quinn?s outfit.
Brigid?s started in fine form, and led 0-3 to 0-0 after fifteen minutes through a brace of Fitzgerald scores and a point from Barry Muldoon, but it would have been more if Michael Walsh hadn?t missed a fantastic goal chance from close range after a fine move that also involved Muldoon and Brian Fogarty.
Nevertheless, with John Baxter and Dermot Reidy dominating midfield, Brigid?s continued to pour forward, and pulled 0-6 to 0-0 clear with both midfielders and Fitzgerald getting on the mark.
Olafs came more into the contest in the dying stages of the half, and opened their account with a pointed free, although it took 28 minutes to arrive, a testimony to how well the Brigid?s defence were performing, with Enda Lynch and Vincent Bruin in particular standing out.
And the hosts were also grateful for the goalkeeping abilities of Kevin O?Donavan, who produced a magnificent save in injury-time to keep out the Olafs attack.
But Brigid?s fell asleep in the opening fifteen minutes of the second period and Olafs, who now looked to have all the momentum, took advantage to level matters at 0-6 apiece midway through the half.
Fitzgerald responded for the hosts to end a twenty-minute scoring drought, but with the likes of Bruin, Reidy and Baxter now struggling to win possession in midfield, Olafs pulled level again with nine minutes to play (0-7 to 0-7).
However, to their credit, Brigid?s upped the tempo once again and the superb Fitzgerald maintained his composure to point twice from placed balls and hand his team a two-point lead.
They would have sealed the win had replacement McGuinness not blasted wide from close range, although the substitute made amends moments later with a fisted point (0-10 to 0-7).
Olafs piled forward thereafter and struck the crossbar in injury-time, and they closed the gap with a point of their own.
But it was too little too late, and Brigid?s now know that if they win their remaining six matches they?ll be playing division four football next year.
SCORERS: St. Brigid?s: D Fitzgerald 0-6 (4f), B Muldoon, J Baxter, D Reidy, B McGuinness 0-1 each.
ST. BRIGID?S: K O?Donavan; M Furlong, S Downey, C Kelly; E Lynch, V Bruin, D Dempsey; J Baxter, D Reidy; C McFuil, D Fitzgerald, Michael Walsh; S McCarthy, B Muldoon, B Fogarty. Subs: B McGuinness for McFuil, L McCarthy for Walsh.
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