Saints continue their march

St Brigid's 1-15, Clonkill 0-14

St. Brigid's kept their push for a return to Senior B status with this well merited four-point win against Clonkill, in the Intermediate Hurling Championship at Killucan on Friday evening last.

On an almost perfect evening for hurling and on a well-appointed pitch, both teams served up a very entertaining hour of hurling with the result in the balance right up to the final quarter and the lead exchanging hands on numerous occasions, but the turning point was 35th minute goal from St Brigid's Mickey Geraghty. That score ultimately was the main difference between the sides and guided the Dalystown men to a victory that puts them on the cusp of qualification for the knock-out stages, while for Clonkill it was what might have been.

The early exchanges were tame enough with both teams struggling for continuity and the opening quarter was honours even at three apiece: Mickey Geraghty, a Conor Slevin beauty from play and a 65’ got the Saints motoring, while two Oisin Murray frees and an opportunist strike from Niall Folan gave the Loughegar men reason to cheer as the game fluctuated from end to end. Two more Slevin frees established a two-point cushion for Brigid's before Murray pulled one back from a dead ball, but Slevin then added two mores placed ball as the gap moved out to three in what was a very free-laden part of the game.

In truth, it was not very pleasing on the eye and mitigated against any sort of cohesive hurling. Just before the break, though Clonkill had one of their best spells and after a wonderful score from Mickey Heffernan from long-range, Christopher Austin pointed a long-range free to see the gap at the minimum at half-time, with St Brigid's leading by 0-7 to 0-6. So, it was still very much all to play for.

INSURANCE

Murray levelled matters moments into the second half with another free after a superb catch from Niall Folan was rewarded, before Saints goalie Paddy Carroll (from a monster free) and Oisin Dowdall from play for Clonkill saw the sides level on eight points apiece. Slevin, with his best yet from a huge distance, and Murray from another free, kept the pattern of the game flowing and even, but on 35 minutes a wonderful team move involving Niall Cully, Sam Duncan and Slevin in particular saw Mickey Geraghty finish an unstoppable shot to the net for the opening goal.

As things transpired, that Geraghty strike proved a game defining score. Slevin added a free and Evan Gorman pushed the gap out to five with an excellent strike as Brigid's had a purple patch at the most opportune of times. Murray and Austin, from frees, narrowed the gap for the Green and Golds, but Brigid's were defending heroically at this stage and not allowing momentum to swing back again. The Dalystown side added points from sub Conal Dunne and a free and a marvellous strike from play by the imperious Conor Slevin, while Ciaran Nooney (with the score of the game), Murray (with his first from play) and sub Oisin Dowdall, from an acute angle, kept Clonkill in touch.

But the insurance score came from Brigid's substitute Brian Slevin, who picked off a beauty after a wonderful catch and pass by Sam Duncan. That proved the last score and the final hurrah as the Saints held on for the win and the precious championship points.

Scorers - St. Brigid's: Conor Slevin 0-10 (6 frees; 1 '65’), Mickey Geraghty 1-1, Evan Gorman, Conal Dunne, Paddy Carroll (free) and Brian Slevin 0-1 each.

Clonkill: Oisin Murray 0-7 (6 frees), Christopher Austin (2 frees) and Oisin Dowdall 0-2 each, Ciaran Nooney, Mickey Heffernan and Niall Folan 0-1 each.

St. Brigid's: Paddy Carroll, Kieran Geraghty, Seamus Faulkner, Cormac Eighan, Christopher Daly, Joe Hyland, Conor Gavin, Niall Cully, Sean Deegan, Conor Slevin, Sam Duncan, Aaron O’Brien, Evan Gorman, Alan Farrell and Mickey Geraghty. Subs: Conal Dunne for Faulkner (17 mins), Eddie Whelehan for Farrell (HT), Brian Slevin for Daly (41 mins), Eoin Gallagher for Mickey Geraghty (61 mins).

Clonkill: Paul Kelleghan, Eoin Egerton, John Fagan, Ciaran Egerton, Ciaran Nooney, Christopher Austin, Brian Gaffney, Robbie Cleary, Evan Scally, Michael Heffernan, Phillip Dowdall, Ciaran Morrisson, Niall Folan, Oisin Murray and Cillian Doyle. Subs: Oisin Dowdall for Cleary (32 mins), Alex Smyth for Morrisson (55 mins).

Referee: Alfie Devine (Castlepollard).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Man of the match

Conor Slevin (St Brigid’s).

Austin, Murray and Heffernan were best for Clonkill while Hyland, The Geraghty brothers, Cully and Sam Duncan stood out for the Saints. However, Conor Slevin was superb from play and placed balls and his 10-point tally gets him the nod here.