Bredagh are just champion

Bredagh are just champion

5 September 2012

A GOAL five minutes from time by Gearoid Murray gave Bredagh victory over Clonduff in this JHC final in Ballela on Sunday.

This was Bredagh’s second title in three years and shows the great strides being made by the club in the small ball game. They had a very strong half back line of Paudie Gallagher, Conal Hughes and Paul Kelly with Liam McCollum prominent at full back.

Donal Hughes and Niall Irwin just shaded midfield over a battling Clonduff pair of Paul McCusker and Aidan Quinn. Star of the Bredagh attack was dual player Ian Galway.

He scored a goal and six points of his side’s total with all his points coming from frees. But his day of joy was spoiled when he was sent off midway through the second half which put his side under severe pressure in the final quarter.

The sides were level at 0-4 each after five minutes. John Murphy pointed two Clonduff frees with Lorcan McMullan and Ian Galway from a free replying for Bredagh.

Murphy edged Clonduff ahead with another pointed free, but with nine minutes gone Bredagh took the lead when a long range free by Ian Galway deceived the Clonduff defenders and ‘keeper and went all the way to the net.

Lorcan McMullan added a Bredagh point, but three John Murphy pointed frees kept the losers in touch entering the ten minutes before half-time. Bredagh again put on a spurt and two Paul Kelly points and one each from Donal Hughes and Malachy Scullin steered them into a five points lead. However, two pointed frees by John Murphy brought Clonduff back into the game, but Bredagh led by 1-9 to 0-9 at half-time,

Although the accurate Murphy pointed a Clonduff free three minutes into the second half, it was Bredagh who moved up a gear and Ian Galway pointed three frees while Niall Irwin lobbed over a point as they led by 1-13 to 0-10 midway through the half.

Clonduff however refused to be overcome and following a free by John Murphy James Lynch sent to the net.

Following the dismissal of Bredagh’s Ian Galway the losers came more into the game. Niall Irwin pointed to give Bredagh a four points lead, but Clonduff produced a brilliant finish.

Two pointed frees by John Murphy and one each from play by Ryan Brannigan and Shane Murray had the side’s level with seven minutes left for play.

Then came the match winning goal from Gearoid Murray as Bredagh regained the lead and in a nail biting finish they restricted Clonduff to a pointed free by John Murphy to hold out for victory.

Bredagh: J. Anderson, J. Murray, L. McCollum, W. Gilmore, P. Gallagher, C. Hughes, P. Kelly (0-2), N. Irwin (0-2), D. Hughes (0-1), G. Murray (1-0), M. Scullin ((0-1), E, Trainor (capt), L. McMullan (0-2), I. Galway (1-6 frees), A. Donaghy. Subs: J. O’Leary for A. Donaghy (37); M. Woods for G. Murray (59).

Clonduff: P. Brannigan, S. Quinn, D. Nugent, S. Downey, S. Murnin, P. Matthews, F. Quinn, A. Quinn, P. McCusker, M. Downey, S. Murray (0-1), J. Murphy (0-12 frees), J. Lynch (1-0), C. Smith, R. Brannigan (0-2).

Subs: L. McParland for A. Quinn (ht), C. Young for P. McCusker (40).

Bredagh 2-14

Clonduff 1-15

JHC FINAL