Bredagh hurlers upset the odds in SHC

Bredagh hurlers upset the odds in SHC

11 September 2024

THE only time that it really counts for a team to be in front is at the final whistle.

Liatroim Fontenoys led this Morgan Fuels Down Senior Hurling Championship tie in Cherryvale from Pearse Óg McCrickard’s point in the first minute until the 60th minute when a goal from substitute Ryan Curran put Bredagh ahead for the first time. 

The south Belfast club then held out for a victory few would have anticipated beforehand. 

In many ways they deserved it, despite shooting 11 wides, a number of which were from very favourable positions. 

Liatroim, though, were the architects of their own downfall and Déaglán Murphy’s red card in the 16th minute following an altercation with an umpire certainly contributed to handing Bredagh the initiative at a time when they seemed a little lost.

The loss of Murphy’s brother, Tiarnán, to injury just before the break, after scoring two goals, was also a body blow while the concession of too many needless frees particularly during the second half ultimately proved costly.

But that probably takes away from Bredagh’s achievement. They grew in confidence after the red card and used possession very well. 

They also conceded frees, but almost all were around the midfield area and more difficult to convert.

Liatroim started the game as favourites and got off to a good start when Pearse Óg McCrickard pointed and then was dragged to the ground in the fourth minute.  Déaglán Murphy converted the resultant penalty. 

Although Bredagh hit back to make it 1-2 to 0-4 by the tenth minute, with some fine points from Dónal Hughes, Ben Christie, Tiarnán Sheehan and Jarlath McCollum, Tiarnán Murphy’s goal in the 13th minute opened a gap and points from the McCrickard brothers made it 2-4 to 0-4.

The red card incident came a couple of minutes later but initially didn’t seem to break the Fontenoys’ momentum. 

PJ McComiskey and Pearse Óg McCrickard (free) both raised white flags from distance and Tiarnán Murphy broke the cover for a 23rd minute goal. At 3-6 to 0-5 Liatroim seemed to be pushing on.

Bredagh though were coming more into the game and a goal from Jarlath McCollum lifted them. Points from McCollum, Ciarán McMullan, Eoin Kennedy and Niall McFarland saw them finish the half strongly to trail by just 3-9 to 1-11 at the turnover.

While the vast majority of the first half scores came from open play, those in the second half were principally from frees and a scoring battle ensued between Pearse Óg McCrickard, who hit eight points, seven from frees, and Bredagh’s 

free-takers Ben Christie (five) and Tiarnán Sheehan (two).

In the midst of that Dónal Hughes added a 40th minute goal to bring the teams level. 

McCrickard kept edging his side ahead by a point or two with Christie responding. Liatroim though looked to be close to safety when Chris Kelly-McEvoy and DJ Farrell chipped in with points that opened a gap of three points with five minutes remaining.

Bredagh had been guilty of some bad shooting at times, but points from Eoin Kennedy and a Christie free closed the gap once more at the start of added time.

That’s when sub Ryan Curran, just on the pitch seven minutes, struck for their third goal.

Pearse Óg hit back with a point, his 12th of the day, and there was a late scare in front of the Bredagh goal before referee Conal Coulter blew for full-time. 

Bredagh: I Galway, E Maguire, L Smyth, L Hogan (0-1), M Woods (capt), N McFarland (0-1), T Sheehan (0-3, 2f), M Patterson, D Hughes (1-2), R McCamphill, C McMullan (0-1), J McCollum (1-2), B Christie (0-8, 5f), E Kennedy (0-2), O McFlynn (0-1f).

Subs: C Blaney for E Maguire (33), D Hanrahan for R McCamphill (46), M Lavery for O McFlynn (50), R Curran (1-0) for J McCollum (53).

Liatroim: J McAleenan, R McCrickard, W McCartan, C Kelly-McEvoy (0-1), PJ McComiskey (0-1), P Davidson, C Leneghan, Déaglán Murphy (1-0 pen), C Lynch, C McCrickard (0-3), E McCrickard (0-1), DJ Farrell (0-2), T Murphy (2-0), P Óg McCrickard (0-12, 9f), Daire Murphy.

Subs: J McCrickard for T Murphy (28), J Morehead for R McCrickard (47).

Referee: C Coulter.

Bredagh 3-21

Liatroim Fontenoys 3-20

MORGAN FUELS DOWN SHC