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Junior Hurlers defeat St Marks in tough Championship clash - Wed, 1 Jun 2005

St Brigid's 1-13 St Mark's 2-8

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St Brigid's 1-13 St Mark's 2-8

St Brigid's deservedly won this Championship encounter but were made work very hard for their victory. The game had a championship edge due to the fact that St Brigid's had lost to a last minute St Mark's goal in last years Championship but they weren't going to make the same mistake this time round. St Mark's were vying for top spot in the Championship Group table but if beaten by St Brigid's, St Brigid's would be the only team in the group unbeaten after five games.

St Mark's played with the aid of a very stiff breeze in the first half and knew that they would have to build up a sizeable lead if they were to cope with the St Brigid's onslaught in the second half but this did not materialise as St Brigid's started strongly looking the sharper of the two teams. St Brigid's were first to the sliotar and were winning the majority of the breaks in the midfield sector. St Brigid's punished St Mark's for their lack of discipline & lack of positioning on the field. St Brigid's fired over two quick points to lead by two after eight minutes. Corner forward Declan Maloney was proving a handful for the St Mark's defence as his mazy runs carved open their defence. Maloney opened the scoring after Gerry Byrne broke down a high ball for Maloney to run onto and fire over the bar. Maloney soon followed up with another point with a well-taken point from the right wing. Mark's kept on battling but couldn't get a foothold in the game. St Brigid's midfield pairing of David Smith & Neil Plunkett were impressing with their high work-rate, never letting the St Mark's midfield settle. Brigid's charged further ahead with two well-taken points. David Smith slotting over a 60 yard from the left wing and Declan Maloney scoring the point of the game breaking through several tackle to slot over from 25 yards out on the right wing. The build up play was excellent with John Hanley breaking through several challenges before picking out the unmarked Maloney with a sublime 40-yard cross-field ball.

St Mark's were stunned as St Brigid's piled on the pressure. The St Brigid's solid back line was coping particularly well with the St Mark's forwards. St Brigid's half back line were launching attack upon attack with centre back Oran McCann playing outstanding in his long awaited comeback game. McCann leading by example with his trademark runs through the centre of the St Mark's defence. St Brigid's forwards were very clinical and their movement spread-eagled the St Mark's defence at times when supplied with quality ball. Brigid's added further scores through Morgan Fitzsimon's. Fitzsimon's punishing several mistakes in the St Mark's defence to add three more points to an already impressive tally.  Fitzsimon's firing the ball over the bar after fielding the sliotar on the 20-yard line and breaking two challenges before slotting over. Brigid's added further to their lead when David Smith slotted over from distance. St Mark's opened their account after 28 minutes of play through corner forward John Tobin. St Brigid's led 0-8 to 0-1 at half time but they knew St Mark's would fight back & they did. St Brigids defence was particularly outstanding with Andy Kavanagh & Brian Mulcahy playing very well.

St Brigid's registered the first score of the second half after 2 minutes when Keith 'Nail Bar' O Neill fired the ball to the back of the net after pouncing on a high ball that broke in the square. St Mark's responded immediately as their midfield began to get a foothold in the centre of the field and Brigid's needed to match Mark's renewed challenge. St Mark's within minutes reduced the St Brigid's lead further when Karl Walsh fired over two points. Walsh was proving dangerous with mazy piercing runs through the centre of the St Brigid's defence. These scores gave St Mark's renewed confidence as they piled on the pressure resulting in 2-4 in a fifteen minute spell to lead by 2 points but St Brigid's really knuckled down to the task and were soon rewarded for their hard work as substitute & big ball specialist Declan Cahill fired over from 14 yards to leave the minimum between the sides. Substitute Pat O Callaghan added another point after some slick running from centre-back Oran McCann. The substitutes further strengthening the team especially the versatile Pat O Callaghan. St Brigid's were on the up now as St Mark's wilted under the pressure. The score of the game came next as centre back Oran McCann sprinted 50 yards through the St Mark;s defence to slot over from 21 yards.

Declan Maloney capped a great performance by tagging on two further points to seal St Mark's faith. St Mark's responded with a late point but they were no-match for an young & improving St Brigid's side.

St Brigid's: Tim O'Leary, Andy Kavanagh, David Brooks, Willa Corbett, Brian Mulcahy, Oran McCann, John Hanley, David Smith, Neil Plunkett, Gerry Byrne, Seamus Lynam, Morgan Fitzsimons, Declan Maloney, Keith O'Neill, Noel Kidd

Scorers: Declan Maloney 0-5, Morgan Fitzsimons 0-3, Keith O Neill 1-0, Pat O Callaghan, Declan Cahill, Oran McCann, Neil Plunkett, David Smith 0-1 each
 
Subs: Declan Cahill for Keith O'Neill, Pat O Callaghan for Noel Kidd
 
Half Time: St Brigid's 0-8 St Mark's 0-1

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