Antrim SFC: St Brigid’s set up Dunloy date as quarter-final picture becomes clearer

Holders Cargin are also through to the last eight as group winners and will meet Aghagallon in what is a repeat of the thrilling 2022 final

Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC: St Brigid’s 1-25 Aghagallon 3-9

St Brigid’s sealed their place in the Antrim SFC quarter-finals with a facile 10-point win over Aghagallon in horrendous conditions in Glenavy on Saturday afternoon.

Only a freak set of results would have denied the south Belfast men a place in the knockout stages, but it was a surprise result in the remaining Group Four fixture that aided Aghagallon’s cause.

St Paul’s stunned Ahoghill in Creggan to record a 2-20 to 3-3 win to make sure they avoid the relegation play-offs.

Despite losing to Ahoghill in the first round, Aghagallon progress to the last eight thanks to their superior scoring difference with three teams finishing on two points.

For St Brigid’s, though, they laid down a huge marker going into the quarter-finals and a mouth-watering clash with Dunloy.

Ruairi O’Neill’s side won the toss and opted to play with the elements in the first half and kicked three two-pointers in the opening 30 minutes.

Indeed, their first score was a two-pointer as Ronan Boyle’s bounced in front of Aghagallon goalkeeper Thomas Mallon and over the bar.

By the fifth minute, St Brigid’s led by five with JJ Higgins and Paul Bradley (two) adding scores.

St Mary’s were really struggling to win primary possession in the first quarter with Antrim star Joe Finnegan bossing the midfield exchanges.

Such was their dominance that Aghagallon didn’t register a shot at the posts until the eighth minute and they wouldn’t score for the first 23 minutes.

By that stage, St Brigid’s had built up a commanding lead with Bradley accurate from frees and play.

They could have been further ahead with both Bradley and Joe Finnegan firing wide with the goal at their mercy.

It proved to be Adam Loughran who hit the game’s first goal from the penalty spot moments after Conor King made a stunning goal-line clearance to deny the Aghagallon attacker.

The raiding Ciaran Maginnis was fouled and Loughran tucked the penalty beyond the reach of Declan Heery for his side’s opening score.

St Brigid’s hit back with a classy two-pointer from James Smith before Bradley hit the net with a fine finish after a greta ball over the top from Shay Campbell to leave his side 1-13 to 1-0 ahead.

Loughran also plundered his side’s only point of a dire first half, but O’Neill’s men were relentless and replied with four unanswered points before half-time, including two in injury-time from their in-form attacking duo of Bradley and Smith.

Whatever words of encouragement Pete McGrath delivered to his players at half-time seemed to work as they outscored St Brigid’s 2-8 to 0-8 in the second half.

However, they were also pulled for a three-up breach twice with Bradley converting the frees on both occasions while both their goals in the second half came late on with the game long settled as a contest.

Still, there was cause for optimism for St Mary’s as they look towards a quarter-final clash with champions Cargin.

Midfield duo Eunan Walsh and Jack Lenehan (free) scored two-pointers early in the half as the conditions worsened.

Campbell hit a remarkable two-pointer for St Brigid’s into the teeth of a strong wind as Aghagallon’s momentum was swiftly halted.

Smith brought his tally to 0-6 from play while Reuben Carleton converted an excellent two-point free from the ground.

Antrim star Ruairi McCann plundered a late goal for Aghagallon, but they were fortunate to finish with 14 men on the pitch as Stevie Devlin avoided a black card for hauling down substitute Ryan Tweedy, who converted the free.

Aghagallon sub Conor Magill rattled the St Brigid’s net in stoppage-time to leave the margin at 10 points at full-time. What could have been their final performance of the season ended up being a prelude to a rematch with Cargin in what is a repeat of the 2022, which was won by the Toome men after extra-time.

Ronan Devlin’s men defeated Dunloy 1-20 to 2-13 in Portglenone to finish top of Group One with

St Brigid’s scorers: Paul Bradley 1-9 (0-6fs), James Smith 0-6 (1tp), Ronan Boyle 0-2 (1tp), Shay Campbell 0-2 (1tp), Reuben Carleton 0-2 (1tpf), Ryan Tweedy 0-2 (0-2fs), John Morgan 0-1, JJ Higgins 0-1, Paddy Finnegan 0-1.

Aghagallon scorers: Adam Loughran 1-1 (1-0 pen), Ruairi McCann 1-0, Conor Magill 1-0, Eunan Walsh 0-2 (1tp), Jack Lenehan 0-3 (1tpf), Jonny Hannon 0-2 (1tpf), Marc McAfee 0-1.