Brigid’s return to top flight with victory over Setanta

Tue, 14th October 2014

St Brigid’s senior hurlers secured an immediate return to AHL 1 after a 12-month absence following their 1-18 to 1-14 win over Setanta last Saturday evening in Russell Park.

Played in glorious autumnal sunshine in front of a large home crowd, Brigid's signalled their intent early on with excellent points from captain Daire Plunkett and corner-forward Dara Doyle.

However, Setanta who are fighting to retain their AHL 2 status and reduced the margin to five points by the break, 0-12 to 0-07.

The key moment of the game arrived just after the break as Doyle broke onto a fine cross-field pass from Dave Smyth before rifling the sliotar into the far top corner of the net. This gave the home side a comfortable nine-point lead and while the Ballymun men once again clawed their way back

into proceedings time was not on their side and it was Brigid’s who ran out four-point winners.

It was fine way for outgoing manager Ger Ryan to end his Brigid’s tenure after a disappointing Championship exit to Faughs in September.

ST BRIGID’S: Alan Nolan, Mick Cussen, Seán Brady, Brendan McEnerney, Aodhán McEnerney, Mark Kavanagh (0-01), Ciarán Dolan (0-01), Daire Plunkett (0-03), C Doyle, P Winters (0-03), Pat Rohan (0-01), Paddy McAvinue (0-05), Dara Doyle (1-2), John O’Loughlin (0-2), Dave Smyth. Subs used: Ruairi Dunbar for Pat Rohan, Brendan Lyng for Dave Smyth, Luke Purtill for Dara Doyle, Ciarán Kellett for Paddy McAvinue.