Bradley’s boys turn up heat in third title surge

NEWBRIDGE manager Paddy Bradley may have thought the gods had conspired against him when his side incurred three black cards and had a goal disallowed in yesterday’s Ulster intermediate football championship, but he had every reason to smile as his side romped to a handsome 2-20 to 2-7 triumph in the end.

The Derry champions endured a nervy first-half and trailed by 1-6 to 0-8 at the half-way stage, but goals from Mark McGrogan and Eamon Burke triggered a period of dominance that saw them streak clear of their opponents.

Dominant in midfield and with Danny Mulholland and Burke in full flight up front, Newbridge applied relentless pressure as the match progressed.

For Bradley and his side, this is a huge step forward in their bid to add the provincial title to the league and championship titles they have already gained in Derry.

However, there was disappointment for Antrim side Sarsfields when they lost to Cavan representatives Ballymahugh by 0-14 to 0-9 in the Ulster club junior football championship.

Sarsfields tended to rely too heavily on Kevin McKernan’s accurate free-taking as their prime source of scores and if Ballymahugh looked to James Kieran to hit the target from frees, then they also looked much more dangerous from open play.

Ballymahugh led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval and before the third quarter was out they had strode into a more commanding position at 0-9 to 0-6.

Sarsfields found the Ballymahugh defence difficult to breach and when the Cavan outfit stretched their lead to six points (0-13 to 0-7), there was simply no way back for their opponents.