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Junior 3 Footballers defeat Whitehall to win League Title - Sun, 28 Nov 2004

Well to Noel, Sean, Paddy and all involved. Great win against a very phyiscal Whitehall side. Well done lads, 2 League Titles & a Championship in 2 years. Well done, 4 teams in the top 6 Adult Divisions

League Champions

Captain Fantanstic Alan Hughes lifts the Cup aloft. 

St Brigids 0-7 Whitehall Colmcilles 0-5

Back Row (Left to Right): Noel Cassidy, Eoin McLoughin, Kevin Bonfil, Rory McGowan, Alan Beirne, Ciaran Brennan, Eoin McGiure, Naill Ryan, Alan Hughes, William Corbett, Donal Donnelly, Brian Kevlehan, Tim Groake, Paddy Duffy.

Front Row: Tony Hughes, Seamus Smith, Eoin O?Sullivan, Paul Whiity, Brian Smyth, Joe Twomey, Seamus Lynam, Stephen Moore, Fergal Delaney, Colin Freeman, Sean Cunningham

St Brigids 0-7 Whitehall Colmcilles 0-5

St Brigids survived a second half comeback in this hum dinger of a tie with Whitehall Colmcilles to win the League Title and secure promotion for the second successive year. Both teams ended their League Campaigns with unbeaten records and their most recent clash ended in a drawn game. The tension could be sensed all round the ground. It was the league decider, the St Brigids players knew what had to be done. They should have beaten Whitehall in the drawn encounter and they weren't going to make the same mistake this time round. Both teams enjoyed periods of dominance with both sets of forwards proving a handful for their respective defending opponents. The opening quarter of the game was tension filled with both teams eager not to make any mistakes.
 
The pitch was very heavy and the game was never going to be a high scoring affair with both defences very effective. Brigids knew they were in for a tough afternoon from the outset as Whitehall came out of the blocks very quickly, dominating the opening minutes of the game but failing to score. The St Brigids defence were acting very well as a unit. Whenever a Whitehall man had the ball, he was surrounded by at least two St Brigids players. Kevin Bonfil and Fred Lynam were struggling to win possession in midfield in the opening quarter but they soon sprang to life. Bonfil & Lynam began to break the ball instead of trying to the catch the greasy ball. The St Brigids halfbacks & half forwards began to win the breaks and soon fired over the opening score of the game. Whitty running on to a beautifully lofted cross-field pass from Joe Twomey. Corner forward Whitty, impressively turning his man to fire over from 30 yards. Brigids were now finding their stride and began to dominate. Whitehall were under severe pressure and soon trailed by two points. Joe Twomey firing over after some fine work in midfield from Kevin Bonfil. Bonfil, dispossessing his man and finding Towmey free on the wing. Twomey sprinting into space and pointing from close range.

Whitehall were lucky not to be further behind but some uncharacteristic wides from the St Brigids forwards left the door open for Whitehall. Whitehall duly responded as they began to get a stranglehold on midfield. Whitehall finally opened their account when danger-man Mick Kennedy pointed from the left wing. Kennedy was a constant threat with his well-timed angled runs. Kennedy, running onto a ball in the right corner & holding off the challenges of several players before pointing. Kennedy was a thorn in the St Brigids side in the previous encounter but fullback John Duffy was marshalling Kennedy very well. The half ended with one point between the sides. Brigids knew they could play better and would have to hammer home their advantage if they were to lift the cup.

Whitehall levelled up the game within minutes of the throw-in as mid-fielder Eric Timbo pointed from the tightest of angles. Whitehall's confidence was on the up and they were using their physical strength to their advantage. Whitehall were flowing forward but the St Brigids defence stood firm with Brian Smyth & Tony Hughes outstanding. Whitehall failed to capitalise on their period of dominance and it was day that every score would really count. St Brigids responded within minutes as the team upped their performance level. Kevin Bonfil & Seamus Lynam began to assert their influence in midfield. The St Brigids management made several positional switches at this stage moving Alan Beirne to the forty & Stephen Moore to full forward. The switches worked a treat as Brigids fired over two unanswered points. Substitute, Rory McGowan pointing from close range after some fine work from corner forward Paul Whitty. Whitty, holding off his man to feed McGowan, who had the simplest of tasks to give Brigids the lead again.

Stephen Moore extended St Brigids advantage with a fine individual effort. Moore, turning fullback Naill Mulholland, to fire over from the tightest of angles on the left wing. Whitehall responded immediately with two fine scores and the game was level with less than ten minutes remaining. The tension could be felt all around the ground. Brigids, found another gear to lead by a point with 3 minutes remaining. Stephen Moore linking up well with Eoin McGuire to leave Brigids leading by the minimum. Whitehall were not to be out done as they equalised with a fine point from corner forward Alex Hanley. The game seemed destined to go to extra time but one last effort from St Brigids sealed the League Title. Alan Beirne pointing from distance after sprinting through the centre of the Whitehall defence.  Beirne added another point to bring the cup back to Russell Park.

St Brigids: Donal Donnelly, Brian Smyth, John Duffy, Tony Hughes, Collie Freeman, Al Hughes, Joe Twomey, Kev Bonfil, Seamus Lynam, Eoin O Sullivan, Stephen Moore, Aidan McGuire,Willa Corbett, Al Beirnie, Paul Whitty

Scorers: Al Beirnie, Stephen Moore 0-2 each, Paul Whitty 0-1, Rory McGowan, Joe Twomey 0-1 each

Sub Used: Rory McGowan, Ciaran Brennan, Seamus Smith

Half Time: St Brigids 0-2 Whitehall 0-1

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