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Junior A Footballers Back in Promotion Race with Win Over Kilmacud Crokes - Tue, 7 Oct 2008

St Brigids 1-8 Kilmacud Crokes 0-8

Our Junior A Footballers travelled to Silver Pk with a severely depleted squad due to injuries and players on Holidays. Things got so bad that Keith "Nail Bar" O'Keill had to tog in goal. The lads faced an unbeaten Crokes team full of confidence and ex senior stars including Cian O'Sullivan who captained their Senior's to Championship success in 2004. If Crokes won this game, they won the league but a win for our lads kept them in the promotion race.

Even though the lads were limited in numbers, it didn't mean they lacked quality. Eleven of the starting team from their Championship Final win over St Annes started. Playing down the hill and with the wind, the lads started with true intensity with Conor Hayes floating over a point from the left wing. Straight from the kickout, Brian Kelly drove through the heart of the Crokes defence to feed Donal Fahy who finished the ball to the top right hand corner. Crokes fought back well with two points from Ex-Monaghan Senior Pauric McDonald.

The lads then put the foot down as their pace and quick off loading caused major problems for the Crokes defence. Five unanswered points saw the lads stretch their lead to 1-6 to 0-2 after twenty five minutes. The lads continued to pile forward and a high ball was fumbled by the Crokes goalkeeper, Neil Plunkett finished the ball to the net but it was ruled out for a square ball. Dodgy decision for definite. Crokes grabbed a late point to leave the scores 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.

Brigids were in no mood to let this match slip as their rampant play in the first half made Crokes to bring on three subs in the first half. Crokes changed their tactics in the second half. They tried to reduce the Brigids forwards space by playing with seven defenders. This tactic worked for the first ten minutes of the half but it didn't help them up the other end as Cian McCaffrey, John Dunning & Keith Fox broke down attack after attack.

Crokes managed to reduce their defecit to five after 12 minutes of play but Brigids responded immediately through Ian Craven. Brigids then counter acted Crokes seven men defence by bringing back Mark Hanley in front of the Crokes two man full forward line, cutting their supply totally. This ploy gave the Brigids forward more room which they duly took advantage of. John Dunning drove forward and offloaded to Alan Beirne who fed Donal Fahy who fed Brian Kelly who with the goal at his mercy was dragged down for a penalty. Ian Craven stood up to take the penalty.

His penalty was more like a back pass as it rolled into the keepers hands. The keeper resulting clearance was fielded by Brian Kelly who pointed from distance. This left six between the sides with less than six minutes remaining. Kelly was soon unable to play on so he was moved to full forward from midfield. Crokes responded with three late point but the lads were full value for their win. Promotion is still there for the lads as they have beaten both Clontarf and Crokes who still have to play each other.

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