Brigid’s power way in second half to defeat Jude’s in SHC

DUBLIN SHC 'A' GROUP 2

ST BRIGID'S 1-30 ST JUDE'S 2-12

A strong second half display saw St Brigid's progress to the last-eight following this victory in Saturday evening's Dublin SHC 'A' Group 2 clash at Parnell Park.

Jude's led by a point, 2-9 to 0-14, at half-time but the Russell Park men were by far the better side in the second period all over the park to run out 15-point victors.

Brigid's reward is a quarter-final duel with fellow northsiders Na Fianna, who made easy work of their victory over O'Toole's in the curtain-raiser.

Brigid's were rocked by a third minute goal when wing-back Eoin McLoughlin's 50-metre delivery accelerated up off the ground and deceived keeper Alan Nolan.

However, in Eoin Dunne Brigid's had a player in form and his clever use of possession and accuracy soon had his side in front, 0-7 to 1-2, with wing-back Mark Kavanagh also contributing two fine points.

But Jude's got back in front again in the 17th minute when Diarmuid McLoughlin fired low to the net after good approach play by Fionn O Riain Broin to lead2-2 to 0-7.

A John Carty point extened Jude's lead to two points before scores from Paul Winters, the influential Daire Plunkett from halfway, and Dunne edged Brigid's back into the lead, 0-10 to 2-3 with ten minutes remaining in the half.

As the game moved into added time in the opening half points from O Riain (free) and Diarmuid McLoughlin had Jude's three points up but there was still enough time for Cian O'Sullivan, who scored 0-5 from play overall, and Winters (free) to reduce the margin to the minimum, 2-9 to 0-14, by the break.

Brigid's began the second half with intent and hit six unanswered points inside 12 minutes.

Their defence were on top, first to the ball, while Plunkett, Dunne and Keith Mullally were dictating the tempo around the middle-third.

Brigid's goal arrived 12 minutes from time when the tireless Mullally blasted the sliotar to the net past Stephen Larkin to make it 1-21 to 2-11 and immediately sub Luke Purtill stretched that advantage further with a point.

The Dublin 15 side concluded the game strongly in the last ten minutes with scores from Dunne, following a clever flick pass from Kevin Callaghan, Plunkett, Callaghan from halfway, Mullally, a brace of Winters frees, O'Sullivan and fittingly Dunne to run out commanding winners.

SCORERS - St Brigid's: P Winters 0-10 (0-7f), E Dunne 0-6, C O'Sullivan 0-5, K Mullally 1-2, D Plunkett, M Kavanagh 0-2 each, K Callaghan, L Purtill, C Kellett 0-1 each. St Jude's: F O Riain Broin 0-4 (0-4f), D McLoughlin 1-1, E McLoughlin 1-0, D Sutcliffe, J Carty, K Lahiff 0-2 each, S O'Brien 0-1.

ST BRIGID'S: A Nolan; E McKeague, A Dunphy, J O'Neill; D Ryan, D Plunkett, M Kavanagh; K Mullally, C Kellett; C Doyle, E Dunne, P Winters; J McGuirk, K Callaghan, C O'Sullivan. Subs: L Purtill for Doyle (41), S Dunphy for Mullally (57), J O'Connell for Callaghan (60), D Fraine for Ryan (62).

ST JUDE'S: S Larkin; A O'Donovan, A O'Beirne, C Hogan; E Grant, M Maguire, E McLoughlin; K Treacy, J Carty; K Lahiff, L Sexton, D Sutcliffe; D McLoughlin, S O'Brien, N Mangan. Subs: F O Riain Broin for Grant (10), L Hayes for Hogan (42), A Connolly for Sexton (45).

REF: D Aston (Nh Mearnóg).