Antrim SFC - Quarter Final
ST BRIGID’S 3-11
ST JOHN’S 1-16
At Hannahstown
ST BRIGID’S held their nerve to edge a thrilling and wind-affected encounter with St John’s after a dramatic second half in which the Johnnies were denied a levelling score by the swirling conditions.
The Biddies resolve was tested to the max when Paddy McBride looked to have the game set for extra time, only for the misfortune of the wind blowing his last gasp free wide of the posts and St Brigid's earned their get out of jail moment.
With the wind playing a significant role throughout, both sides struggled to settle during the opening exchanges, but it was St Brigid’s who eventually broke the deadlock when Ronan McGrady converted a free in the sixth minute.
JJ Higgins then fisted over to extend the Brigid’s advantage before St John’s finally found their rhythm.
McBride opened his account from a free in the ninth minute and added another two minutes later, with Bohill also finding the target as the Johnnies moved in front.
St Brigid’s responded with a score in the 13th minute before James Smith produced the game’s first major breakthrough two minutes later.
John Morgan powered forward on a driving run before finding Smith, who finished clinically to put St Brigid’s back in front.
The lead was short-lived, however, as St John’s were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute after Ronan Quinn was impeded upon shooting for the net.
Up stepped defender Conor McEvoy who made no mistake, sending an emphatic spot-kick into the top corner to restore the Johnnies’ advantage.
Conor Adams then struck a huge two-pointer in the 19th minute before McBride added a short free to leave St John’s in control.
But St Brigid’s responded in style.
McGrady struck for his sides second goal of the afternoon in the 23rd minute when he buried a low driving shot, while James Smith added a point two minutes later.
McGrady was then at the heart of the Brigid’s revival once again, firing over a two-pointer in the 28th minute before Higgins kept the scoreboard ticking.
Conor Hand responded with a score for St John’s before Patrick Finnegan struck a major goal on the stroke of half-time to ensure the Johnnies went into the interval with momentum.
The second half began with Ryan McNulty opening the scoring for St John's ensuring they would be in with a shout until the death, but St Brigid’s quickly settled and Paul Bradley produced a superb two-pointer from play in the 37th minute.
McBride continued to keep the scoreboard moving for St John’s, converting frees as the visitors looked to maintain their advantage.
The conditions continued to make life difficult for both attacks, but Conor Hand produced one of the scores of the evening in the 44th minute, sending over a superb 45 into the wind.
St Brigid’s maintained their distance through Niall Duffy, who registered his first score of the game as the final ten minutes were set to play out in dramatic fashion.
The Johnnies continued to apply pressure and McBride remained their principal source of scores.
He converted in the 53rd minute to bring St John’s back to within two points but the moment of contention came when the Johnnies thought that substitute Andy McGowan had found the net.
However, referee Brendan Toland's advantage had ended prior to the forward's strike at the net.
Another McBride free in the 56th minute reduced the gap to a single point and the final few minutes in the wind proved chaotic.
The closing stages were played at a frantic pace as St John’s searched for the score that would bring them level whilst the South Belfast outfit hoped to consolidate their lead.
It was McBride who was handed the opportunity in the final minute to level.
Stepping forward to take a free it looked destined to be heading for extra time.
But with the game hanging in the balance, the strong wind caught the effort and deflected it wide.
That proved to be the final opportunity as St Brigid’s secured a dramatic one-point victory and ensured their spot in the final four at the expense of the Johnnies.
