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St. Brigids 2-11 v Crosserlough 2-9
Antrim champions St. Brigids making their first appearance in the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament were two point winners in this intriguing quarter final and now progress to face St. Michaels next Saturday in the semi final. Although perhaps the slightly better team on the day, St. Brigids will have to make improvements defensively if they are to progress further in the tournament as Crosserlough on numerous occasions cut them open only to show a lack of composure in the final third. The imposing Finnegan twins dominated midfield for St. Brigids providing a constant supply of long direct ball into their talented forward line, where man of the match Peter Webb in particular shone. Two scores from James Smith and one from Peter Lavery gave St. Brigids an early lead but Crosserlough were on top at this stage and will look back on the numerous easy chances they missed. Jamie Smith finally got their scoring underway after fifteen minutes but St. Brigids held a 0-4 to 0-3 lead when the first goal of the game arrived, Ethan Carleton converting the rebound after Anthony Smith had saved superbly from Peter Lavery. Points from Crosserlough’s James and Jamie Smith were cancelled out by two from St. Brigids Webb and Smith to leave the half time score 1-06 to 0-05.
Shane McVeety opened the second half scoring for Crosserlough before Webb and Lavery replied. Then the game turned in the Cavan boys favour when two goals put them into the lead for the first time, one a scrambled effort from James Smith and the other a well finished effort from McVeety. St. Brigids went back in front with points from James Smith and Webb who’s influence was growing in the game tirelessly working across the half forward line winning and intelligently using possession. Two superb efforts from Darren Galligan put Crosserlough back in front as the game entered the final few minutes. But cometh the hour, cometh the man with Webb yet again taking centre stage instigating a move which resulted in a penalty which he converted expertly to the bottom right hand corner and immediately after winning and converting a forty yard free. As Crosserlough sought the goal they needed in injury time an effort from substitute Patrick Lynch went over the bar leaving a relieved St. Brigids through to the semi-final where they will face Donegal champions St. Michaels next Saturday.
St. Brigids: Ruairi Lynch, Frank McCormick, Paul Stoors, Oran Boyle, Daire McGarvey, Brogan Austin, Gerard Kervick, Joseph Finnegan (capt), Patrick Finnegan, Peter Webb, John Blayney, Phelim Lennon, Peter Lavery, James Smith, Ethan Carleton
Subs: Mattie Loan for Austin
Crosserlough: Anthony Smith, Gavin Brady, Patrick O’Reilly, Connor Byrd, Brogan Kotze, Connor Reihill (capt), Eddie Devereaux Gilsennan, Owen Smith, Thomas Keaney, Shane McVeety (1-1 1f), Stephen Smith (0-1), James Smith (1-1), Jamie Smith (0-2), Darren Galligan (0-2), Sean Briody (0-1)
Subs: Connor Lee for Byrd, Peter Smith for Briody, Patrick Lynch (0-1) for Brady
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