Naomh Brid scrape through in good contest with Pettigo in Junior Championship

The gap between the neighbours was the closest it has ever been after a very entertaining contest in Pettigo on Saturday evening.

Naomh Brid were the better side but Pettigo refused to throw in the towel. Gearoid Gallagher had the first score of the second half after 12 seconds to put the visitors 1-9 to 0-4 ahead but by the 50th minute the margin was down to three points and there were a couple of misses for the home side at this stage.

Callum Gallagher showed his experience to find his midfield partner Gearoid Gallagher to edge Naomh Brid four ahead. But Pettigo had a two pointer effort off target before Donal Gallagher and an Aaron McGrory free stretched the lead to six with 57 minutes gone.

But again Pettigo hit back with Sean Maher pointing a free and Darren Lynch scrambling home a goal in added time to bring the game to boiling point. There was the normal last minute scuffle and both sides were reduced to 14, Johnny McManus getting a second yellow (after being unlucky to get his first early in the game) and Liam Duffy shown red.

The margin was down to two but there was no more time as referee Mark McGlinchey sounded the final whistle with over five minutes of added time played.

It was an absorbing second half and Naomh Brid were mightily relieved to get the two points to remain on target for the knock-out stages. They were much the better side in the opening half after Pettigo had opened the scoring with points from Johnny McManus and John Carrigan (free).

An Aaron McGrory two point free was followed by a well-taken goal from Jack O'Hara. Ryan O'Leary added a point before McGrory hit another two point free. John Carrigan pointed a free for the home side but Callum Gallagher hit another two point free from outside the 45m line. Carrigan was unlucky not to get a two point free himself, the ball touched as it went over while McGrory had the last point of the first half for a 1-8 to 0-4 lead.

The second half, however, was a much closer affair with Pettigo really competitive and turning a lot of ball over. Four frees from Carrigan and two from Shaun Robinson had them just three behind at 1-10 to 0-10, but Naomh Brid were able to steady the ship.

There are some really good signs for Pettigo in this performance and it comes after a good league season also. 

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Pettigo scorers: John Carrigeen 0-7,7f; Darren Lynch 1-0; Shaun Robinson 0-2,2f; Sean Maher (f), Johnny McManus 0-1 each.

Naomh Brid scorers: Aaron McGrory 0-7,2f,2tpf; Jack O'Hara 1-0; Callum Gallagher (tpf), Gearoid Gallagher 0-2 each; Ryan O'Leary, Donal Gallagher 0-1 each.

Pettigo: Adam McBarron; Eoghan Cross, Lorcan McCaughey, Oisin Lynch; Johnny McManus, Kevin Kane, Darren Lynch; Paul Robinson, Sean Maher; Jarlath Leonard, John Carrigeen, Kieran McGee; Shaun Robinson, Conor Honney, Ciaran Cassidy.

Subs: Callum McGrath for Honney (45); Ollie McCaughey for Cross (54); Caolan Colton for Leonard (60).

Naomh Brid: Stephen Doherty; Callum Doherty Kennedy, Damien Cleary, Patrick Gormley; Gary McCafferty, Donal Gallagher, Liam Duffy; Gearoid Gallagher, Callum Gallagher; Oisin Brogan, Aaron McGrory, Ryan O'Leary; Eoin Rush, Darren Russell, Jack O'Hara.

Referee: Mark McGlinchey (MacCumhaill's)