Bride’s stay on top

ST BRIDES OLIVER PLUNKETTS 3-11 0-7

ST BRIDE’S maintained their lead in the Division 2 League with this comprehensive win in Mell on Wednesday night.

Their eighth victory on the bounce leaves keeps them in the driving seat at the top of the table, albeit with a game more played than Naomh Fionnbarra who sit two points behind in third.

Both teams started the game slowly and could only manage nine points between them in what was a disjointed opening half.

With Sean Marry and Kevin Hearty in good scoring form up front, St Bride’s led by double scores at the interval, 0-6 to 0-3.

Despite the fact that this was the second game in less than 24 hours for some of the Bride’s contingent, owing to their Division 3 commitments, they showed no signs of tiredness and moved up a number of gears in the second half.

In fact they dominated proceedings after the break, scoring a handsome three goals and five points, to just four points in reply from Plunketts.

Louth defender Patrick Reilly came off the bench to score two goals, while Cathal McKenna also hit the net for the visitors as the hosts struggled to gain any kind of foothold in the second period.

With two games remaining the Bride’s know they will secure promotion with maximum points, but they still have to face second and third-placed sides Hunterstown Rovers and Naomh Fionnbarra in their final two games. The latter still hold a game in hand over David Reilly’s side, where a win would draw them level with the current league leaders.

ST BRIDES: Darren Breen; Padraic Mackin, Daryl Bailey, Laurence Steen; Michael Keane, Andrew Smyth, Conor Deane; Mark Hoey, Alan Dunne; Sean Brennan (0-1), Kevin Hearty 0-3, Shane Devin; Sean Marry 0-4, Cathal McKenna 1-2, Ciaran Deane. Subs: Gareth Hall for C McKenna, Patrick Reilly 2-1 for C Deane, James Costelloe for S Devin.

OLIVER PLUNKETTS: Luke Higgins; Barry Reynolds, Frank Daly, Cillian Matthews; Gary Keogh, James Quinn, Kevin Keogh; Robbie Brodigan, Sean Brassil; Conor Early, Gerard Haran, Niall Murtagh; David McTaggart, Rory Taaffe, Trevor Walsh.