Unlucky Saul fail to show as Bredagh power to win

10 August 2016

BREDAGH booked their place in the quarter-finals of the IFC with a competent display against a subdued Saul side at St Patrick’s Park, Newcastle, on Thursday night.

Bredagh’s game plan worked a treat on the night and their early ball into a roving full forward line kept the Saul defence on their toes throughout the 60 minutes.

Saul, on the other hand, failed to get a decent supply of ball into danger men Philip Traynor and Ciaran Harney and they struggled to breach a resolute full back line.

The impressive Donal Hughes opened the scoring for Bredagh with a point from play in the fourth minute, but Traynor quickly brought the sides level with a similar score.

Cathail Arnold and Alan Davidson swapped scores before the game took a dramatic twist in the 12th minute.

A Joe Shields effort seemed destined for a point, but the ball took a wicked dip and beat Saul goalkeeper Conor Marron before hitting the back of the net to give Bredagh a 1-2 to 0-2 lead.

Bredagh seized the moment and points from Davidson (0-2) and Kevin Dornan eased Jody Gormley’s side into a 1-5 to 0-2 lead by the 20th minute.

Saul gave themselves a good shake and came storming back with consecutive points from Cathail Arnold (0-2), Caolan Magee and Ciaran Harney to move within two points of Bredagh.

The last word of the half went to Donal Hughes who pointed his side into a 1-6 to 0-6 lead at the break.

Saul were handed a glorious chance to bring the scores level when they were awarded a penalty in the first minute of the second half, but Traynor’s well struck penalty was sensationally saved by Jack Duffin

Donal Hughes and Ciaran Harney then exchanged points before the accurate Brian Rice and Davidson pointed Bredagh into a 1-9 to 0-7 lead after 40 minutes.

Cathail Arnold kept Saul ticking over with a converted free, but two Davidson scores gave Bredagh a 1-11 to 0-8 lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Saul just couldn’t get their A game going and all they had to show for their efforts was a converted Ciaran Harney free.

Bredagh surged further ahead with a point from Donal Hughes, but Saul responded with points from Ciaran Harney and Traynor to leave four points in it entering the final few minutes.

Saul’s challenge finally petered out as Davidson grabbed the final score to leave Bredagh worthy winners.

Bredagh: J Duffin, O Costello, D O’Hara, K Dornan (0-1), M Magee, E Costello, T McElroy, C Hughes, J Shields (1-0), M Robinson, A Davidson (0-7), C Toland, D Hughes (0-4), B Rice (0-1), C Francis. Subs: N Mulholland for Toland, R McKegney for Dornan, N Kelly for Shields, H Deazley for D Hughes.

Saul: C Marron, R Fitzsimons, P Baker, M Magill, T Magennis, C Byrne, L Harney, P Laverty, A King, M McGrady, C Arnold (0-4), T Russell, C Magee (0-1), P Traynor (0-2), C Harney (0-4). Subs: D Arnold for Russell, S Burns for Fitzsimons.

Bredagh 1-13

Saul 0-11

TROCAIRE IFC

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