Bright continue to look for win

Bright continue to look for win

8 June 2022

BRIGHT continue to search for their first victory in Division 3 after they slumped to a nine-point defeat against fellow relegation contenders Atticall on Friday evening.

The hosts will be disappointed to have lost in the fashion they did considering they were ahead by a point at the interval and in with a great chance to record a much needed win. 

However, it was all downhill from here with Bright only managing to split the posts once during the second half in contrast to an Atticall side who added two goals and a further five points.

Playing conditions were ideal at the Bright grounds as referee Gavin Corrigan began proceedings and it was the hosts who kicked over first through Sam Dinu after the away side fired off target.

Atticall’s James Rogers replied promptly but Bright edged out in front once more through a converted Lee Murphy free.

Bright’s Cormac McLoughlin had a notable first half, managing to maintain possession under pressure before picking suitable passes to begin phases of attacks.

Dinu added another point for his side but Bright did have to withstand pressure as Atticall won numerous turnovers and squeezed the hosts back into their own half.

However, it did take Atticall three attempts to find their reply as Tom Gilroy registered a point from play after his team-mates fired two efforts wide, consecutively.

Bright ‘keeper Pearse McCarthy kicked over a ‘45 but he would soon come under pressure at his own net with Atticall full forward Daniel Sloan cracking the crossbar moments later.

To avoid confusion, the visitors had two forwards in the starting line-up named Daniel Sloan, with the players taking the number 14 and 15 shirts, respectively.

Aidan Sloan added the next score for the away side as the clock hit the 15 minute mark but yet again Bright would reply with a point of their own through Marc Burke, although he arguably could have went for goal as a quick counter-attack resulted in a three on one scenario.

Bright custodian McCarthy kicked over another ’45 before Atticall’s corner forward Daniel Sloan replied with a long ranged point.

A scrappy five minutes followed with both sides losing possession until a neat Gareth George to Riain Burns and back to George again move, saw Bright extend their lead with another point.

With not long to go until the break Bright held a three point lead, however, they would concede a sucker-punch as the dangerous corner forward Sloan added the first goal for the visitors.

Sloan followed this up with a point to take the lead but to their credit, Bright answered this with a goal from forward Cillian Burns before Sloan knocked over the final point of the first half as the whistle was blown.

Half-time: Bright 1-7 Atticall 1-6 .

What followed was a half to forget for the home side as they failed to replicate the same level of performance they had produced in the opening 30 minutes.

Atticall’s Rogers and Aidan Sloan (twice) pointed before team-mate and full forward Daniel Sloan found the back of the net after his side overturned possession from a short kick out. 

The game was won in the middle of the park where Atticall continuously retained possession from every second ball. Rian Cunningham added another score for the away side before substitute Ryan Sloan struck low beneath ‘keeper McCarthy for Atticall’s third goal of the contest.

The visitor’s final point of the match came from Cunningham before Lee Murphy converted a free for Bright’s only score of the half.

Atticall threatened a fourth goal in the final piece of action, although Aidan Sloan saw his effort crash off the crossbar before full forward Daniel Sloan smacked the post with his rebound.

Bright: P McCarthy (0-2, 2 ’45); C Laird, C Byrne, N Strange; O McEvoy, C McLoughlin, D Burns; M Burke (0-1), C Toner; S Dinu (0-2), G George (0-1), L Murphy (0-2, 2f); B Mageean, C Burns (1-0), R Burns.

Subs used: A McEvoy for S Dinu (48), C Byrne for R McLeigh (24)

Atticall: J Rice; J Sloan, N Keenan, W Murnion; R McCann, J Donnan, E McAlinden; T Gilroy (0-1), B Gilroy; J Rogers (0-2), R Cunningham (0-2), A Sloan (0-3); C Morgan, D Sloan (1-0), D Sloan (1-3).

Subs used: R Sloan (1-0) for C Morgan (37), M Rice for E McAlinden (50)

Yellow cards: J Rogers

Referee: Gavin Corrigan (Castlewellan)