SILVERBRIDGE 1-13 MIDDLETOWN 2-08
SILVERBRIDGE will count themselves lucky to still be in the Armagh Intermediate Championship after a hard fought victory over Middletown, in Granemore, on Friday.
With 15 minutes to play, Middletown led by seven points, 2-8 to 0-7. However, a late fightback triggered by a 47th minute goal saw them home by two points.
Silverbridge full forward Damien McCann acknowledged the importance of the goal in the game.
"It just came for us at the right time, maybe it was a little bit lucky but we kept plugging away and got our scores," said McCann.
"Fair play to Middletown, they are doing well in Division Three and really gave us a game today, it was in the open in the final couple of minutes, but we are just glad to be back to fight another day."
Ciaran Conlon scored his first of four points in the third minute, hitting a shot over from an acute angle.
However, Martin Maguire soon began to control midfield for Middletown and the resulting ball into the forward line yielded three points, two for David Carvill and another for Martin Moan.
Silverbridge were reliant on Damien McCann and Ciaran Conlon for scores and they levelled matters with a point each. Martin Moan added another before the first goal of the game, which came to Middletown.
Niall Geoghegan's 45' was palmed down by David Carvill, into the hands of Martin Maguire who finished into the net.
The goal jolted Silverbridge into life, and the impressive Damien McCann landed over another three frees to leave a point in the game. David Carvill had the final say of the half though, to leave Middletown two ahead at the break.
Middletown continued their good form after the break, with two points in quick succession, from Barney McCann and David Carvill. Conlon replied for Silverbridge but Middletown struck almost immediately, Conor McCann bursting through the 'Bridge defence, passing to David Carvill who coolly slotted the ball home to give Middletown a seven point lead.
Middletown failed to score for the remainder of the game, while Silverbridge got back into the game with a goal in the 47th minute. McCann's shot bounced across goal and McKenna reacted quickest to lash into the net.
It was the break Silverbridge needed, and they never looked back as they kicked an impressive six unanswered points in the last nine minutes, to finish with a flurry.
SILVERBRIDGE: C Reel, A Markey, C Reel, C Campbell, C Lambe, S Murphy, B Bellew, C McEvoy, A Hearty, T McKenna (1-0), G McGarvey, R Griffin, C Conlon, (0-4 D McCann and (0-9) B Hearty.
MIDDLETOWN: D Mallon, A McArdle, D McBride, K McKernan, P Gaffney, N Geoghegan, M Grimes, M Maguire (1-0), R Gaffney, M Moan (0-2), C McCann, C Carvill, B McCann (0-2), P McBride and D Carvill (1-4).