Bride’s begin life in the top grade with win

ST BRIDE’S GERALDINES 4-6 2-9

FOLLOWING their promotion from the Intermediate Championship last year St Bride’s started off life in the Senior competition with a deserved win against Geraldines In McGeough Park on Sunday morning.

In fine conditions, both teams provided an exciting game of football which ebbed and flowed with St. Brides coming from behind to win with a goal in the last five minutes of play.

Gers got off to a flying start, scoring 2-2 without reply with goals from Ciara O’Connor and Grainne Finnegan and points from O’Connor and Roisin Soraghan. They were unlucky not to go further ahead as Finnegan had another goal bound effort well saved by Brides goalkeeper, Sarah Kieran.

It took nine minutes for the Brides to register their first score when Emma McArdle took the ball from the left corner, advancing along the end line towards goal and finding the back of the net from a narrow angle.

This stirred the Brides into action and they added two further points without reply in the next five minutes to close the gap to a goal, with both scores coming from Championship debutante Aoife Reilly.

The next ten minutes saw play move end to end with defences dominating and the half ended on a score of 2-4 to 1-4 in favour of Geraldines, with the teams adding two points each - Sandra Lynch and Fionnuala Cafferty scoring for the Geraldines and the McArdle sisters Bronagh and Emma replying for the Brides in the final five minutes.

Geraldines got off to a good start again in the second half scoring three points without reply in the opening five minutes, with Ciara O’Connor, Sandra Lynch and Emma Gartlan getting on the scoresheet.

The Brides, however, were not giving in despite the six point deficit and worked hard to remain in the game.

Their appetite and enthusiasm gained its reward as they gained a foothold in the game, with Ruth Hanna dominating in defence and Kate Wynne and Tara McEnteggart taking a grip of midfield. She had support from Karen Gogarty who dropped from full forward and the McArdle sisters who tormented the Geraldines backline.

The game turned on its head mid-way through the second half, with Bronagh McArdle getting through the Geraldines defence and smashing the ball to the net. From the resultant kick out, the Brides again won possession and sister Emma showed she had equal ability crashing her effort to the net, bringing the sides level for the first time.

Geraldines dug in and forged a two point lead on twenty minutes with scores from Lorna Moriarty and Emma Gartlan, but as the game continued to flow the Brides hauled back the deficit by the twenty fifth minute, with Bronagh McArdle converting a free and Kate Wynne advancing forward from midfield to draw the teams level for a second time.

The Brides were now playing with confidence with Kate Wynne again being in the thick of it as she played in Bronagh McArdle who unerringly found the back of the net again, giving the Brides the lead for the first time with three minutes remaining.

The Geraldines, knowing a goal was required, applied pressure in the closing stages, but the Brides protected their goal doggedly and emerged deserved winners in their first Senior Championship encounter.

GERALDINES: Alannah Finn, Sinead O’Keefe, Ciara Power (Katie Todd), Eilis Hand, Abbi O’Connor, Jade Reddy, Megan Scully, Helen Ryan, Gemma McCrave, Emma Gartlan 0-2, Ciara O’Connor 1-2, Grainne Finnegan 1-0 (Maebh O’Hagan), Fionnuala Cafferty 0-1, Sandra Lynch 0-2 (Lorna Moriarty 0-1), Roisin Soraghan 0-1 (Victoria Prendergast)

ST BRIDES: Sarah Kieran, Caitriona Sweeney, Ruth Hanna, Rebecca Hilliard, Daragh Hoey, Caoimhe Hoey, Sarah McArdle, Kate Wynne 0-1, Tara McEnteggart, Phyllis Coyle, Niamh Belton, Aoife Reilly 0-2, Bronagh McArdle 2-2, Karen Gogarty, Emma McArdle 2-1. Subs; Nel Meegan, Niamh Sweeney and Niamh Mackin.