Mullen’s accuracy helps St Brigid’s secure narrow victory

St Brigid's 0-20, Castletown Geoghegan 1-16

Following an enthralling battle between these two evenly matched teams on Friday evening last in Castletown Geoghegan, St Brigid’s came away with a one-point victory from this Intermediate Hurling championship round three clash. The titanic nature of this struggle is underlined by the fact that the two sides were level on no less than eleven occasions over the hour.

A win of this nature will surely please Dermot Faulkner and his management team following defeats to Southern Gaels and Turin respectively, whereas this was the first defeat for the black and ambers after victories against Clonkill and Southern Gaels.

The match opened with a pointed free for each team in the opening two minutes, with Mikie Mullen (St Brigid’s) replying to Sean Jackson’s effort for Castletown Geoghegan. Adam Clarke scored the first point from play in the second minute for Castletown Geoghegan, and this was swiftly followed by an excellent point from play by Michael Geraghty for the Dalystown outfit. This score resulted from an excellent passage of interplay involving Chris Daly, Finbar Coyne and Seamus Faulkner, with Faulkner feeding the sliotar to Geraghty to score.

Further points were exchanged between the fifth and 12th minutes, leaving the score level at 0-5 each. These included points from play by Adam Cassidy and Neal Kirby (Castletown Geoghegan) and Chris Daly and Finbar Coyne (St Brigid’s). It was at this stage that St Brigid’s hit a purple patch, scoring three unanswered points from the 14th to the 18th minute. Finbar Coyne, at centre forward, was very much to the fore of all that was good about St Brigid’s play. He scored his team’s seventh point, and his second, following a powerful solo run and accurate shot from 40 metres out.

This period of superiority for St Brigid’s also included a penalty awarded to them on 15 minutes following a foul by Ryan Boyne on Eddie Whelehan in the large parallelogram. Mikie Mullen’s penalty, whilst struck with power down the centre of the goal, was saved by goalkeeper Eoin Glennon, and eventually cleared.

On 19 minutes, Castletown Geoghegan brought themselves right back into the game with a hard-earned goal by Adam Cassidy, leaving the sides level again at 1-5 to 0-8. Cassidy slotted the ball to the net despite resilient defending by Dan O’Sullivan and the St Brigid’s rearguard, after a handpass by Paddy Carroll was intercepted. Quality points from play were exchanged by Neal Kirby and Finbar Coyne to leave the teams level yet again after 21 minutes.

Castletown then scored three unanswered points to lead by 1-9 to 0-9 after 27 minutes. These included a point from play by Neal Kirby following an excellent advantage played by referee, Sean Carroll. Mikie Mullen (St Brigid’s) finished the first half scoring with a point from play in the 28th minute, leaving the half-time score: Castletown Geoghegan 1-9, St Brigid’s 0-10.

The second half opened with both teams scoring three points each to leave Castletown Geoghegan two points in front at 1-12 to 0-13. In the seventh minute, St Brigid’s were making great progress up the field through quality passing and support running from Sean Deegan, Mikie Mullen and Niall Cully. However, no scoring opportunity ensued due to great defending by Eoin Kiernan who flicked the ball off Niall Cully’s hurl' for a line ball.

Castletown Geoghegan remained in front until the 15th minute of the second half. Padraig Kane was adjudged to have taken too many steps whilst in possession, and Mikie Mullen pointed the resultant free to leave the teams level at 1-13 to 0-16. St Brigid’s then took the lead in the 16th minute of the second half following a monstrous free by their netminder, Paddy Carroll, from his own 50 metre line. The influential Mick Heeney responded almost immediately from play for Castletown Geoghegan. Further points from Mikie Mullen, Adam Cassidy, Kieran Geraghty and Mick Heeney (all from play) left the game all square after 58 minutes - Castletown Geoghegan 1-16, St Brigid’s 0-19.

Following a foul on Finbar Coyne in the 28th minute, Mikie Mullen converted the free to put St Brigid’s a point in front. In a nervous finish to the match, Castletown Geoghegan were presented with two opportunities to equalise from frees. In both cases, Sean Jackson was unable to convert two difficult opportunities, and St Brigid’s held on for an important victory for their championship aspirations.

There were impressive performances for both teams. Mick Heeney, Neal Kirby and Adam Cassidy shone for the Castletown Geoghegan men in a very narrow defeat. For St Brigid’s, notable performers included Joe Hyland and Chris Daly in defence; Conor Slevin and Niall Cully, both industrious in midfield; whilst Finbar Coyne and especially Mikie Mullen contributed significantly on the scoreboard in attack.

Scorers - St Brigid’s: Mikie Mullen 0-10 (0-7 frees); Finbar Coyne 0-3; Conor Slevin 0-2; Paddy Carroll 0-1 (free); Chris Daly 0-1; Niall Cully 0-1; Kieran Geraghty and Michael Geraghty 0-1 each.

Castletown Geoghegan: Adam Cassidy 1-3; Sean Jackson 0-6 (0-4 frees; 0-1 ’65); Neal Kirby 0-4; Mick Heeney 0-2; Adam Clarke 0-1.

Castletown Geoghegan: Eoin Glennon; Paul O'Sullivan; Ryan Boyne; Alan Conlon; Shane Doran; Padraig Kane; Eoin Kiernan; Fergal O'Brien; Mick Heeney; Neale Pierson; Sean Jackson; Neal Kirby; Andrew Conway; Adam Clarke; Adam Cassidy. Subs: Dylan Drake for Adam Clarke (52), Eanna Maxwell for Adam Cassidy (58).

St Brigid’s: Paddy Carroll; Connall Dunne; Dan O'Sullivan; Billy Arthur; Sean Deegan; Joe Hyland; Chris Daly; Conor Slevin; Niall Cully; Mikie Mullen; Finbar Coyne; Kieran Geraghty; Michael Geraghty; Seamus Faulkner; Eddie Whelehan Subs: Ryan Judge for Eddie Whelehan (38); Aonghus Cody for Seamus Faulkner (58), Brian Brophy for Ciaran Geraghty (60+1).