BRU NA BOINNE… 2-09
MOYFENRAGH… 0-10
If it aint broke don’t fix it. Using a cliche to defend the use of cliches is possibly the most Irish thing going. But it literally was a case of goals winning games as Bru Na Boinne got their Regional Football Championship challenge up and running in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Masterson Park, Ardcath, on Friday night.
Given the venue, it was entirely appropriate that Conor Harford of host club St Vincent’s – whose cousins Cian and Josh Harford are key men for Kilbride – was arguably the most impressive performer on show.
Mind you, Sean Emannuel (St Patrick’s, midfield) and the Bowden brothers of Duleek/Bellewstown, Tom at wing back and Alan on the ’40’ ran the imposing centre back close for that accreditation.
There couldn’t have been less, that is to say nothing, between the sides at the short whistle after what had basically been a shootout between Alan Bowden and Danny Dixon. The sides were deadlocked at 0-05 apiece.
When the same duo traded scores at the beginning of the second half, it had the feel of a game in which whoever got the first goal would’ve been very much in the box seat. Ultimately, it turned out as such but before that, Nicky Potterton, Adam Dowdall and James Connolly posted fine scores for Moyfenragh.
Bru Na Boinne’s half back line, though, – anchored by the aforementioned Harford – was the axis on which their entire operation pivoted and after Tom Bowden galloped forward and tested the authenticity of the crossbar, another hometown hero, Nigel Hand, tucked away the first goal of the evening.
To their credit, however, Tom Hanley’s charges countered at the other end almost immediately with Dixon pointing stylishly once again.
However, any hope of Moyfenragh momentum malfunctioned moments later as Bru got a rapid restart away to that man Harford and he instigated a move which culminated in Ben Loughran of St Mary’s raising the second green flag with thirteen minutes remaining.
Thereafter, Sean Emannuel demonstrated exactly why this writer thinks he is one of the most exciting prospects in the county when pulling off a mighty catch, charging through and splitting the posts.
At the other end, it was fitting that Dixon had the final say on a night when goals really did make the difference, as Boardsmill’s county senior of the past few seasons was has amalgam’s top performer throughout.
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