Silverbridge Harps GAC

Seniors   Silverbridge Harps 0-9   St Patricks 1-6

The championship encounter between neighbours Silverbridge and Cullyhanna was always going to be a tight, intense affair and so it turned out to be on Sunday afternoon in Crossmaglen.
With a place in the semi-final the prize both teams were going to strive hard to ensure they marched on, and while this did not make for wonderful football the tension lasted until the final whistle. The Bridge played with the wind in the first half and were first to score with a Ciaran Conlon point, but Cullyhanna had the next four scores, one of them a goal to give them a healthy lead. Two points each from Damian McCann and Ciaran Conlon as the half ended left the narrowest of margins between the teams at the break with Cullyhanna holding the advantage.
The Bridge won the first break of the new half and Ciaran Conlon equalised from a free, but the Cullyhanna men drew away again with two frees and a point from play. The Bridge backs had a good game and kept the team in with a shout. Miceal Reel defended his goals well and Peter McCreesh worked hard with Anthony Mallie tackling well. Time was almost running out when Damian McCann brought the teams level again and on the final whistle there was still nothing to divide them and we must go through it all again next week. The replay has been set for next Saturday at 6 pm in Crossmaglen, but check the papers later in the week in case the time changes.

Minors

The minors made a gallant effort to overcome a convincing Crossmaglen side, but bowed out of the Championship last Thursday night. The team had played some very good football to get to the semi-final, but they have in effect a small squad and must call on U 16 players to make up the numbers.
They had a nervous start to the match but the first attack was theirs. Unfortunately, that first shot went wide and then Crossmaglen were awarded a penalty on their first foray. Their conversion was pointed but the next period of the game was theirs with two goals in succession and six points with only a Niall Treanor pointed free in reply. The Bridge lads began to find their way in the latter period of the half, winning the breaking ball and playing with determination and grit. Points from Niall Treanor, Fergal Campbell and Eugene Byrne narrowed the deficit but at the break they were still behind by 2-8 to 0-7.
Cross got away again when play resumed and opened with a point. Ruairi Griffin pointed in reply to keep the Bridge in with a chance. Cross then had a player dismissed for a second yellow card offence, and the Bridge played the extra man in defence. This plan worked well as the backs denied the Cross forwards the chance to score and fed the ball up the field to our forwards, but unfortunately four wides were all the Bridge could claim at this stage and these misses made the difference at the end. The Bridge pressure did pay off when Thomas McKenna’s goal left only four points between the teams. The Cross lads, however, went quickly down the field and might have had a goal but for the woodwork, and they won enough ball to score another two points.  Then Fergal Campbell, who had been plugging away throughout the game, found the back of the net and hopes rose again. Cross’s last score of the evening was a pointed free but when the Bridge came back up the field they netted again only to be denied the score for a square ball infringement. Their final attempt might also have been in the net but the Cross defence sent it just wide for a 45.
At the final whistle the Bridge lost by four points on a score line of 2-12 to 2-8, but they showed great character to claw their way back after a shaky start and, but for their many wides might have progressed to the next round. Throughout the game we saw some great fielding, good runs up the field, fine points and goals taken as the opportunity presented and for this the whole team deserves nothing but praise.
Congratulations to the Crossmaglen lads for their part in a great game of football and we wish them success in the final.
Team: Kieran McCann, Conall Quinn, Paudie Cummiskey, Colm Hughes, Liam Finnegan, Paul Hughes, Christopher Murphy, Vince Mackin, Gerard McGarvey, Fergal Campbell (1-2), Niall Quinn, Niall Treanor (0-4), Eugene Byrne (0-1), Ruairi Griffin (0-1), Thomas McKenna (1-0) and sub. Cathal Lambe.

U 10

Training for the U 10s will be at 6-45 pm on Tuesday evening.

Underage Managers

There will be a meeting of the underage managers at 9 pm on Tuesday night in the clubrooms.

Lotto

Last week’s numbers were 11, 13, 15 and 19. Although the jackpot was not won there were twenty-two match three winners. The jackpot has risen to £19,800 or €29,700 for this week’s draw.

Half time Winner

The winner of the draw for £100, which was held at half time in the championship match between Crossmaglen and Mullaghbawn on Sunday, was Michael McCoy of Dromintee.

Weekend Entertainment

Friday:  Wee Bar:  Usual traditional music session.
Clubrooms: Senior Citizens.
Saturday: Gabby Hoey in the Wee Bar.
Resource Centre:  Christy Moore Concert Friday 27th October at 8 pm.
Tickets, costing £30, for the Christy Moore concert may be purchased at the Resource centre between 10 am and 12 noon and 7 to 9 pm Monday to Friday or online at www.ticketmaster.ie.

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