Bride’s gearing up for big day

ST BRIDES HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 3-16 0-9

ST Brides are within touching distance of the Division 2 league title after an excellent performance saw them remain top of the table with just one game remaining, while at the same time dashing Hunterstown’s hopes.

The Knockbridge men face Nh Fionnbarra away in the final outing in a winner takes all contest. The Brides know that a draw will be good enough to earn promotion but should the Finbarrs come out on top, they will snatch the title.

The Brides showed little signs of nerves in this encounter as a whirlwind start saw them lead by 1-7 to no score at the end of the first quarter with the goal coming from Sean Marry.

Hunterstown finally got off the mark but they suffered another setback in first half injury time as Andrew Smyth added a second goal to make it 2-10 to 0-3 at the break.

There was no way back for Rovers at that stage and the Brides had little difficulty in completing the win, as Michael Keane fired in a third goal at the start of the final quarter.

ST BRIDES: Darren Breen; Ronan Bailey, Cillian Kirk, Padraic Mackin; Michael Keane, Andrew Smyth, Laurence Steen; Paddy Reilly, Mark Hoey; James Costello, Aaron Hoey, Sean Brennan; Sean Marry, Kevin Hearty, Emmet Kirk. Subs: Conaill Devin for E Kirk, Aaron Devin for K Hearty, David Kettle for C Kirk, Stephen Kettle for A Smyth, Alan Dunne for S Brennan.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Niall Carrie; Martin Lennon, Paul Taaffe, Richie Cunningham; Paddy Taaffe, Brian Mathews, Richard Taaffe (0-1; Brendan Lennon, David Finn (0-1; Robert McNiece, Keith Brennan (0-2, 1f, Paddy Mooney; Alan Landy, Ryan Ward (0-3, Glen Mathews (01. Subs: Niall Taaffe (0-1 for R McNiece, Shane Dowdall for R Cunningham, Ciaran Carrie for P Taaffe.