Minor footballers secure semi-final spot after win over Mayfield.

A quality second half performance delivers Bride Rovers minor footballers another win and a place in championship semi-final.

We were away to Mayfield for our third game of the Minor Football Championship where a win would put us top of our group. With a few players injured and away, we were fielding a different team to previous rounds. The lads were told that there was to be no excuse and that we were there to deliver a performance and take the win.

We started well and settled into the game with some early points and our first goal. We then stepped off the gas and left our opponents have too much room in contested ball and they punished us with some good points and two goals. We were failing to win our own kickouts and were struggling to keep them out. When we got on the ball, we were better going forward and took another few points and two more goals, which left us three points down at half-time on a scoreline of 3-8 to 3-5.

At half time, we made two changes and reminded the lads that we needed to attack the ball more, pass faster, and work harder to win turnovers in the tackle and the breaking ball. Full credit to the lads as they were much tighter and aggressive in the early stages and had it back level inside 5 minutes with a great two-pointer and another from a free. We really shut down their kick outs and were winning the dirty ball better. When we did, we played a very good passing game mainly because the lads were running harder for each other and everyone was contributing well. We pushed on, kicking great points and another two goals. There was a better workman-like attitude in the second half from everyone including the four subs who played a part in holding our opponents to just two points in the second half.

We ran out winners on a scoreline of Bride Rovers 5-13 to Mayfield 3-10

Team and Panel
Adam Kelleher
Jamie Walsh
Ronan Barry
Eanna Lyons
Gearoid O Connell
Cathal Barry
Oliver Harris
Cormac Barry
Sean Dowling
Jack Lynch
Conor O Riordan (Captain)
Finn O Driscoll
Jack Mannix
Rudi Garab
Garry Quirke

Subs
Mark Hynes for Eanna
Darragh Farrell for Garry
James Larkin for Jamie
Con Mc Cormack for Finn.

Our next game is Minor Hurling Championship next Wednesday 27th at home v Lisgoold