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Junior Hurlers versus St Brendans in Championship - Sun, 8 Aug 2004

St Brigids 1-11 St Brendans 1-5

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Back Row (Left to Right): Noel Kidd, Ciaran Byrne, JD Mulcahy, Colm O'Brien, Seamus Lynam, William Corbett, John Dunning, Neil Plunkett

Front Row: Tim O'Leary, Brian Mulcahy, Aidan O'Leary, David Brookes, Stephen Cassidy, David Smith, Brian Hanley, Stephen Kelly

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St Brigids Junior Hurlers continued their rich vain of form as they deservedly won this hard-hitting championship encounter against a very physical St Brendans side. St Brendans had to win the game to survive in the championship but St Brigids didn't want to surrender their current position in the championship group. It was the last chance saloon for St Brendans with this being the final game of the group stages of the championship. St Brigids fully deserved to win the match as they showed real determination and character to defeat a skilful St Brendans side. St Brigids showed great hunger, never letting St Brendans settle on the ball.

St Brendans won the toss and decided to play with the aid of a strong wind but it was St Brigids who started very well and within ten minutes they had opened up a five-point gap. St Brigids were always first to the ball and the St Brendans backs were finding the St Brigids forwards tough to mark. The St Brigids first touch was crisp which always gave them the extra second to look up and pick out a free man. The impressive David Smith opened the scoring for St Brigids as he beautifully pointed from the left wing after some great defensive work from Willa Corbett. Within minutes, St Brigids struck for goal as Neil Plunkett rifled the ball to the net. The goal was just deserts for the great defensive work from Ali Waters and John Dunning. John Dunning blocking down St Brendans danger man John Foley and Ali Waters picking up the loose ball to supply Stephen Kelly who broke through several tackles to supply Plunkett who finished the ball to the net with his usual calmness. Plunkett was causing major problems for the St Brendans defence.  St Brendans made several position changes at this stage. This didn't deter Plunkett as he added another point to his tally from the right wing. Willa Corbett supplying a lovely cross-field ball to the on running Plunkett.  St Brendans responded with a beautiful individual point from midfielder Tony Buckley.  St Brendans were beginning to get a foot hold in the game especially wing forward John Foley who's pace was a major cause for concern. St Brendans drew even closer to St Brigids with the aid of a goal from Alex Roche who whipped on the ball from close range to give St Brigids keeper Tim O Leary no chance.

St Brendans tails were up and they added a further point to level the match through wing forward John Foley. It was at this stage that St Brigids suffered a major setback when full forward Plunkett was forced off through injury. This spurred on St Brigids as they knew that they would have to work even harder with their main target man being injured. St Brigids rallied with Stephen Kelly pointing after a great mazy run through the St Brendans defence. Midfield was a real battlefield with no quarter been given by both sides. Fred Lynam & Vinnie Bruen with their inspirational fielding and electric running were driving St Brigids forward. They added a further point through skilful corner forward Aidan O Leary who was proving a torn in the St Brendans defence. St Brendans responded with two pointed frees to level the match up before half time.

St Brendans came out fighting after the break to edge ahead by a point. The point coming from danger man John Foley. It was at this stage that the St Brigids management acted; they gave star centre back John Dunning the marking job of John Foley. Dunnings switch yielded immediate dividends with John Foley unable to break free from his markers shackles. St Brigids responded and moved up another gear with wing forward David Smith proving deadly accurate from both play and placed balls. Smith rifled over three long-range points punishing St Brendans for lack of discipline in midfield. St Brigids hammered home their advantage with Aidan O Leary scoring a great individual point after turning his man inside out to point from the tightest of angles on the right. Smith capped a great performance when slotting over from the left wing to end St Brendans hopes. St Brigids were dominating all over of the field and pressed home their advantage with further points from Stephen Kelly and Aidan O Leary. The two points a result of great work from Stephen Dunning and Keith O Neill. St Brigids ended the match six points to the good and now advance to the final stages of the championship.

St Brigids: Tim O'Leary, JD Mulcahy, Colm O Brien, David Brookes, William Corbett, John Dunning, Brian Mulcahy, Vinnie Bruen, Ali Waters, David Smith, Seamus Lynam, Stephen Kelly, Brian Hanley, Neil Plunkett, Aidan O Leary
 
Scorers: David Smith 0-5, Neil Plunkett 1-1, Aidan O Leay 0-3 and Stephen Kelly 0-2
 
Subs Used: Keith O Neill, Stephen Dunning
 
Half Time: St Brigids 1-4 St Brendans 1-4

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