Carnaross 1-17 St. Brigid's 2-10

Carnaross concluded the group stages of the 2017 Junior Championship with a final round victory against St. Brigid's. The venue was switched last minute from a waterlogged Millbrook surface to a desolate Moylagh pitch as all of the Moylagh officials were busy watching their own club play against St. Vincent's. Carnaross dominated proceedings but a plucky Brigids side twice rose from the dead refusing to lie down making for an exciting encounter.

The dark, gloomy evening was in stark contrast to the tropical conditions the men from Carnaross had grown accustomed to of late, but nevertheless they stormed into an early lead. John L McGee set the tone early-on when he rounded his man only to see his thundering effort rebound off the post. The movement of the full forward line of Shane Casserly, Charles Brogan and John L McGee was causing all sorts of problems for their opponents with expert deliveries from the Kerry convert Cillian Comaskey and Galway Races-fanatic Cian O'Reilly. McGee pointed twice with either foot from acute angles displaying great intent and energy. Casserly's suspect daytime excursions to the beach stood to him as he fisted over and won numerous frees early on.

The on-form Stephen Flattery kicked an audacious point from distance after Niall McDonnell provided him with yet another assist. McDonnell took over the free kicking duties from the unavailable Frank O'Reilly and displayed all the credentials of a county footballer as he nonchalantly kicked over 5 frees throughout the course of the 60 minutes, both from the ground and out of the hands. A slick counter attack move involving a series of hand passes put Flattery through on goal where he ably rounded the keeper only to be unceremoniously hauled to the ground. Thankfully Flattery didn't step up for the penalty taking duties this time and McGee duly converted from 12 yards. Cian O'Reilly's welcome return to action was capped by a first half salvo that included a right footed effort from play doubled with a left footed free. Charles Brogan also got his name on the scoresheet after blasting over one of his trademark points. During this barnstorming 20 minute period Carnaross had established a 1-9 to 0-2 lead.

However St. Brigid's displayed great resolve in re-establishing this contest. 2 converted frees were quickly followed by a goal where they utilised their numerical advantage expertly after Carnaross had committed men forward in a foiled attack. Suddenly the rain-soaked Ballinacree supporters began to voice their support and two more points followed for the Brigids ensuring they scored 1-4 without reply. Carnaross needed a score to settle themselves before the break and up stepped the captain for the day, McDonnell, who drove at the opposition and split the posts expertly to leave 4 points in it at half time, 1-10 to 1-6. 

The second half began with the maroon and saffron men asserting their dominance once more with McGee continuing his fine form to stretch the lead further. Cian O'Reilly managed to land the ball over the black spot, on his now preferred left side, despite being under serious pressure. Further frees from Niall McDonnell stretched the lead out again before he began to dominate proceedings launching over one expertly taken effort and one somewhat questionable score. The lead now stood at 1-16 to 1-8 and the game looked dead and buried but the heart and belief the Brigid's side displayed was admirable once more, as they clawed the game back to a single score with 5 minutes to go, 1-16 to 2-10.

The setting began to resemble less of a football pitch and more of a swimming pool as a result of the torrential rain, which suited certain Carnaross defenders. Carnaross upped the intensity physically as Cillian Comaskey, the Brogans and substitute Cormac O'Reilly began to make their presence felt. Dedicated clubman Liam Day was unlucky to see his punched effort rebound off the post before St. Brigid's responded with their own goal-bound effort that struck the crossbar. Some resolute defending by all 6 defenders ensured St. Brigid's remained at bay while the Carnaross forwards were presented with the opportunity to kill out the game. Liam Day was felled near the sideline where McDonnell placed the ball on the ground and gracefully guided the ball over the black spot and Carnaross into the quarter finals.

Brigid's left the field despondent knowing that they face into a relegation battle despite giving a tremendous account of themselves. Carnaross were relieved to get over the line after their strenuous warm- weather training sessions over the weekend and look forward to the knockout stages of the Junior Championship for the third successive year.

Carnaross: Conor Kenny; Aidan Lynch, Tomás Plunkett, Liam Brogan; Thomas Nugent, Ian Donoghue, Cian Gillic; Cillian Comaskey, Michael Brogan; Niall McDonnell (0-8, 0-5fs), Cian O'Reilly(0-3, 0-1f), Stephen Flattery (0-1); Shane Casserly (0-1), Charles Brogan (0-1), John L McGee (1-3, 1-0 pen); Subs: Cormac O'Reilly for Stephen Flattery; Liam Day for Shane Casserly;

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