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Junior Hurlers defeat St Oliver Plunketts's in Champo opener - Thu, 13 Apr 2006

St Brigid's 1-8 St Oliver Plunketts's 1-5

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St Brigid's 1-8 St Oliver Plunketts's 1-5

St Brigid's deservedly won this Championship encounter but were made work very hard for their victory due to a lapse in concentration with ten minutes of the game remaining. The game had a local derby edge with no quarter been given by both teams.

St Brigid's played with the aid of a 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 Oliver Plunkett'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 Oliver Plunkett'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 Aodhan McInerney was proving a handful for the St Oliver Plunkett's defence as his mazy runs carved open their defence. McInerney opened the scoring after Gerry Byrne broke down a high ball for McInerney to run onto and fire over the bar. McInerney soon followed up with another point with a well-taken point from the right wing. Oliver Plunkett's kept on battling but couldn't get a foothold in the game. St Brigid's midfield pairing of Gerry Byrne & Neil Plunkett were impressing with their high work-rate, never letting the St Oliver Plunkett's midfield settle.

Plunkett's opened their account after 12 minutes of play. Wing forward Ger O'Neill was coming into the game with his pace proving a thorn in the St Brigid's defence. O'Neill firing over from close range. Brigid's charged further ahead with two well-taken points. Seamus Lynam slotting over a 40 yard from the left wing and Neil Plunkett 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 Joe Jordan breaking through several challenges before picking out the unmarked Plunkett with a sublime 40-yard cross-field ball.

St Oliver Plunkett's soon responded but the St Brigid's solid back line was coping particularly well with the St Oliver Plunkett's forwards. St Brigid's half back line were launching attack upon attack with centre back Keith 'Naill Bar' O'Neill playing outstanding in his long awaited comeback game. O'Neill leading by example with his trademark karate style hard tackling & mazy runs through the centre of the St Oliver Plunkett's defence. St Brigid's forwards were very clinical and their movement spread-eagled the St Oliver Plunkett's defence at times when supplied with quality ball. Brigids knew St Oliver Plunkett's would fight back & they did. St Brigids defence was particularly outstanding with Kevin Burke, Fergal Philips & Cian O'Sullivan playing very well. Plunkett's registered two late scores to leave the minimun between the sides at the break. Would Brigids rue several missed chances from placed balls?

St Brigid's registered the decisive score of the second half after 4 minutes when Aodhan McInerney fired the ball to the net after beautifully cutting in from the left wing. Plunkett's were stunned as St Brigid's piled on the pressure. Seamus Lynam soon added to his tally when beautifully changing hands to strike over off his weak side. Joe Jordan laying the ball off to McInerney who drew the man before finding Lynam in the centre and he made no mistake. Brigids were now five points ahead & Plunketts were under severe pressure, they couldn't get the ball out of their own half. Gerry Byrne edged Brigids six points clear when braveful shipping several tackles before firing over. St Brigids held Plunkett's scoreless for 20 minutes of the second half until a high looping ball into the square decieved the Brigids defence & ended up in the net. Plunkett's were bouyed by this goal their midfield pairing began to get a foothold in the centre of the field and Brigid's needed to match Oliver Plunkett's renewed challenge. St Oliver Plunkett's within minutes reduced the St Brigid's lead to two points when Karl Walsh fired over a long range point. Walsh was proving dangerous with mazy piercing runs through the centre of the St Brigid's defence. These scores gave St Oliver Plunkett's renewed confidence as they piled on the pressure but St Brigid's really knuckled down to the task and were soon rewarded for their hard work as Aodhan McInerney capped a great performance by firing over from 14 yards to leave three points between the sides.

St Brigid's: Mickey Birmingham, Kevin Burke, Fergal Philips, Cian O'Sullivan, Brian Mulcahy, Keith O'Neill, Joe Jordan, Gerry Byrne, Neil Plunkett, Brian Condrum, Seamus Lynam, Conor Hayes, Aodhan McInerney, Paul Carter, Stephen Dunning

Scorers: Aodhan McInerney 1-3, Seamus Lynam 0-2, Neil Plunkett 0-1, Gerry Byrne, Joe Jordan 0-1 each
 
Subs:Dan Brady for Stephen Dunning, Paul Finley for Brian Condrum, Naill Davey for Conor Hayes, Owen Stephens for Paul Carter
 
Half Time: St Brigid's 0-4 St Oliver Plunketts's 0-3

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