Reds do a number on outclassed Saints

Turin 2-18, St Brigid's 0-7

By Paul Doolin

In Cusack Park on Saturday evening last, Turin laid down their intentions for 2025 with this whopping 17-point drubbing of St Brigid’s, and on this display, they are destined to fulfil those aspirations.

From minute one to 60 they collectively worked their socks off, and in truth could have won by any scoreline they wished as a very timid Brigid’s challenge lacked the intensity needed. Some heroic and last ditch defending did deny Turin at times, but they were relentless. A proud club, St Brigid’s tried their best, but Turin were simply on another level and picked off some of the finest scores seen in Cusack Park in many a long day from all ranges and angles, while Brigid’s struggle greatly and will need serious remedial action immediately if they want to have any say in championship 2025.

Turin started as they meant to go and took the game to their opponents from the outset with points from Ray Aughey and a Sean Leech free, although they did squander some better chance before a needlessly conceded penalty was smashed to the net by Leech to open a clear gap. Alan Aughey and Conor Leech added points before a brilliant flick from the former after a brilliant run by Sean Leech saw Turin score a second major and even at this early stage the writing looked on the wall.

A full 22 minutes had elapsed before Brigid’s got their opening score from a Mikie Mullen free and Finbar Coyne doubled that tally with a stunning long-range effort but that was as good as it got Turin finished the first half with a wet sail with two outstanding points from Daragh Smith, a Sean Leech free and a beauty from Ray Aughey from almost on the sideline. After a fine effort, Turin led by 2-8 to 0-2 at the short whistle.

Brigid’s Goalie Paddy Carroll pointed a monster free to open the second half but it was mere respite as Turin started to shoot for fun, or so it seemed, as Declan McGrath with a howitzer from distance and two magnificent Sean Leech strikes extended their lead. Both scores were worth the admission money on their own. Sub Brian Brophy pointed a free, but Ray Aughey negated that almost immediately with a free at the other end.

Chris Daly then scored a fine point for the Saints which Turin sub Khassim Carey cancelled out with his first touch of the game, and from a huge distance. Smith added a long-range free; Conor Leech got his second of the game from way out; brother Sean added to his tally with an exquisite strike, and sub Carey added his second with aplomb from a very acute angle as the game began to peter out as a contest. Brophy, from a free, and another sub Eddie Whelehan took the bare look off the score with late points for Brigid’s, but Sean Leech added the coup de grace as was befitting his display with a long-range free in added time that cemented a superb win for Turin, and a black day for the Dalystown saints.

Scorers - Turin: Sean Leech 1-6 (3 frees), Alan Aughey 1-2, Daragh Smith 0-3 (1 free), Conor Leech, Ray Aughey (1 free) and Khassim Carey 0-2 each, Declan McGrath 0-1.

St Brigid’s: Brian Brophy 0-2 (2 frees), Paddy Carroll (free), Chris Daly, Finbar Coyne, Mikie Mullen (free) and Eddie Whelehan 0-1 each.

Teams

Turin: Eoin Aughey, Sean Scally, Luke Gardiner, Peter Finch, Craig Neville, Danny McGrath, Daragh Smith, Declan McGrath, Ciaran Kiernan, Sean Leech, Oisin Lestrange, P.J.O’Neill, Conor Leech, Alan Aughey and Ray Aughey. Subs: Khassim Carey for Ray Aughey (46 mins), Jack Geoghegan for Declan McGrath (49 mins), Michael Carey for Scally (55 mins), Jack Penrose for Lestrange (56 mins), Chris Sleator for Conor Leech (58 mins).

St Brigid’s: Paddy Carroll, Danny Hyland, Seamus Faulkner, Cormac Eighan, Sean Deegan, Joe Hyland, Chris Daly, Billy Arthur, Conal Dunne, Finbar Coyne, Ryan Judge, Eoghan Gallagher, Mikie Mullen, Dylan Coyne and Michael Geraghty subs: Aonghus Cody for Dylan Coyne (25 mins), Brian Brophy for Gallagher (29 mins), Dan O’Sullivan for Mullen (H/T), Finian Carroll for Faulkner (54 mins).

Referee: Robbie Cornally, St Oliver Plunkett's.