Saints go marching on

St Teresa's 1-7 Butlersbridge 0-8 Butlersbridge bowed out of this year's Ulster Club Junior Championship when they succumbed to Antrim champions, St. Teresa's, by two points 1-7 to 0-8 in Casement Park on Sunday. It was a disappointing performance from the Cavan champions and they never got to grips with their opponents. They were completely outclassed in the opening period, when they could only muster two points. With a Division Three league final against Laragh United next on the agenda, the Bridge will have to lift themselves considerably following this display. They simply had no answer to St. Teresa's livewire Philip Maguire, who dictated the game from start to finish. He was the fulcrum of every good move from the Belfast based team. The Bridge made a number of tactical switches at the beginning of the second half and while they did come more into the game they were fighting an uphill battle. They suffered a hammer blow 10 minutes into the second half when St. Teresa's grabbed the only goal of the game, which proved decisive. To their credit they battled on and held their opponents scoreless for the last 20 minutes. They were denied a penalty claim when full forward Noel McPhillips appeared to be fouled as he raced clear of the defence. That aside they never really created any clear goal chances. They coughed up a lot of possession and St. Teresa's punished them. The Antrim side were far more astute when it came to possession. With Maguire they always had an outlet and could turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye. They strung a number of passes together and at times the Bridge were chasing shadows. The Bridge never produced the type of football they have been playing all year and found it hard to get into their stride. Manager Phelim Plunkett will be disappointed with his attack as it never functioned as a unit. Time and again they lost possession when in good positions and scores went a-begging, which they could ill afford. After a shaky start their defence managed to get to grips with the St. Teresa's attack and Andy McConnell, Kieran Greenan and Stephen O'Hara all did well. St. Teresa's dictated the game from the throw-in and although they appeared to run out of steam in the closing stages, they had the nous to keep possession and run down the clock. Their defence kept a tight reign on the Bridge attack and curtailed their movement. Their manager Liam McGoldrick will be delighted with his team's performance and they now look forward to a semi-final clash with the Donegal champions Moville next Sunday. With Maguire pulling the strings in attack and full forward Pat Duggan proving a handful for the Bridge rearguard, they were always a threat. This encounter was going to be decided by the team getting the first goal and when the opportunity arose St. Teresa's took full advantage, and Duggan hammered home from close range when the Bridge defence failed to clear the ball. It took both teams a while to settle into the game and Michael Fitzpatrick went close for the Bridge from a free but it drifted wide of the left hand post. Quick thinking from Fitzpatrick saw them take the lead when he took a short 45 to Lorcan Mulvey, who fired over. Maguire won possession in the middle of the park and made ground before sending over. Moments later they were in front when Anton Taylor won a kickout and as the Bridge defence backed off, he fisted over. The Antrim champions were on top and Robbie Gallagher increased the lead when Maguire played him in he fired it over. Feargal Flanagan stemmed the flow when he tapped over for the Bridge. However, St. Teresa's were playing with confidence and Paul McGoldrick stretched their lead when he put over from a difficult angle. Lorcan Mulvey had a great chance for the Bridge just before the break when he got in behind the St. Teresa's defence but dragged his shot wide. The Bridge had a let-off when Maguire sent in a high ball and Duggan flicked it on only to see it crash off the crossbar. The Cavan side had a chance to cut the deficit to the minimum on the stroke of half time but lost possession and Duggan punished them when he sent over to put three between the sides at the break 0-5 to 0-2. Plunkett rang the changes at the interval with Padraig McGearty switching from centre-half-back to corner-back, Stephen O'Hara from corner back to centre-half-back and Kieran Greenan to half back. Mulvey played a great ball to Flanagan, who fired over but Gallagher replied for St. Teresa's with a free. Duggan brought a good save from Keith Gumley who managed to turned his shot on to the post. However, there was no reprieve moments later. Gumley made three excellent blocks in quick succession but the ball broke kindly for Duggan, who made no mistake with a low shot to the net. McGoldrick tacked on a point to put them firmly in control 1-7 to 0-3 with 20 minutes left. It's hard to believe but that was their final score of the game. Micheal Fitzpatrick sent over a free and McPhillips grabbed another as the Bridge began to find their feet. Fitzpatrick put over another free as the Cavan side began to make inroads on the St. Teresa's lead. Brian Greenan came close to grabbing the all important goal for the Bridge five minutes from time. A quick free from Fitzpatrick found Greenan racing through the middle and his blistering shot was just a shade too high and it went over for a point. The Bridge had a strong claim for a penalty waved away by referee Barry Cassidy. Fitzpatrick fed McPhillips and as he was about to shoot he appeared to be fouled but the referee gave the free the other way. McPhillips fired over to leave just two between the teams but St. Teresa's kept possession well in the closing stages to see them home on a scoreline of 1-7 to 0-8. Butlersbridge: Keith Gumley; Stephen O'Hara, Mark Shannon, Kieran Greenan; Andy McConnell, Padraig McGearty, Brian Greenan (0-1); Lorcan Mulvey (0-1), Killian Shannon; Feargal Flanagan (0-2), Micheal Fitzpatrick (0-2), Martin Fitzpatrick; Senin Flanagan, Noel McPhillips (0-2), Carlos Conlon; subs used Paul Murphy, Eamon Diver, and Darren Fitzpatrick. St. Teresa's: Ciaran Murtagh; Brian Curran, Colin Toal, Stephen O'Hara; Colm McGoldrick, Conor McGoldrick, Paul Johnston; Joe Rainey, Eamon Doherty; Anton Taylor (0-1), Philip Maguire (0-1), Robbie Gallagher (0-2), Paul McGoldrick (0-2), Patrick Duggan (1-1), Stephen McIlvenny, sub used Colm Sands. Referee Barry Cassidy, Derry.