18 September 2009
A late rally which yielded four unanswered points, saw Portglenone book a place in the final of the Senior Football Championship as they overcame luckless St Brigid’s at Casement Park in Wednesday evening’s semi-final.
St Brigid’s, who were appearing in their first semi-final, seemed destined to make it to the September 26th decider when they opened up a three point lead with just eight minutes left on the clock, but Portglenone’s late surge, which ended with former Saffrons star Kevin Madden hitting the winning point, gave Portglenone a 1-9 to 0-11 win and set up a second final meeting in three years against champions St Gall’s.
St Brigid’s had the better of things for most of the game but their tendency to overplay the ball, and reluctance to shoot for simple scores, was to cost them dearly. They took an early lead before Madden, who was making his first start for his team in four years, fired in the only goal of the game to put the Casements 1-2 to 0-4 in front, but St Brigid’s responded well and they hit back to level matters by half-time.
The third quarter saw the Belfast team regain control and when they went three points ahead midway through the second half they seemed destined for that final place in ten days time.
They should have had a penalty in the forty-seventh minute when corner-forward Rory O’Neill was hauled down in the ‘square’, but to everyone’s amazement play was waved on and Portglenone began their fightback. With Antrim midfield star Niall McKeever having an increasing influence on the game they hit back with a point from corner-forward Gerard McAleese and when corner-back Mark McAleese popped up to hit the equaliser the tide had well and truly turned.
St Brigid’s early control and gone and as Portglenone players throughout the field improving by the minute the fairytale comeback was complete when Madden scored the winning point.
In the final, which is to be played under floodlights on Saturday 26th of September, Portglenone will meet reigning champions St Gall's in a repeat of the 2007 final.
Three early goals helped St Gall's to a comfortable 3-8 to 0-11 win over Cargin in Sunday night's other semi-final at Casement Park.
Rory Gallagher scored a fourth minute opener and CJ McGourty grabbed another three minutes later before Kevin Niblock converted a penalty on 18 minutes to all but wrap up the victory.
Cargin were much better in the second-half and with Ciaran Close causing the St Gall’s defence lots of problems they closed the gap to five at one stage. However they had left themselves too much to do and the Saints finished strongly to book their place in yet another final.
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