Bergin brothers at the heart of Grange's opening round win but it's Fionn who shines brightest
Grangenolvin's Fionn Bergin tackles Athgarvan's Niall Murphy but it was what he did with the ball in front of the goals that really made Bergin stand out on Saturday evening
GRANGENOLVIN full-forward Fionn Bergin lit up Manguard Park with an outstanding display of shooting on Saturday evening as the Division 3 League Champions comfortably outscored Division 4 winners Athgarvan in Group A of the Tom Cross Transport Junior Football Championship.
Bergin, one of four brothers on the team, finished with 2-10 to his name and, despite the best efforts of his marker Jack Lee Parnell, no mean full-back himself, showed an ability with both left and right foot and from both play and placed balls that was a cut above what you’d expect to see at junior level.
This is no one-man team though; Grange were strong from one to fifteen despite a spirited effort from Athgarvan, as they fully justified their ranking as one of the teams to beat in the competition.
They got off to a flying start with a point from Wayne Dooley and three minutes in, Bergin got behind the defence and was fouled by Conor Cummins for a penalty which he dispatched himself with aplomb.
After that, Bergin and Athgarvan’s Jordan Nolan Mullally engaged in a kicking battle of their own, shooting five points apiece to make it 1-6 to 0-5 in the run-up to half-time, but it was another Bergin, Oran, who put daylight between the teams with two crucial scores before the break.
Both were family affairs. First, Fionn sent Oran clear for a point and then another brother, midfielder Conall won the resultant kick-out and Oran was on hand to apply the finish to the net and give Athgarvan a mountain to climb. Half-time: Grangenolvin 2-7 Athgarvan 0-5.
Nathan Doyle stretched the lead further on the resumption but the Sky Blues gave themselves a lifeline five minutes into the half when Derek Craddock fired an unstoppable effort across goalkeeper Conor McMahon to the top left hand corner to make it 2-8 to 1-5.
Fionn Bergin and Cian Doyle traded frees before Athgarvan substitute Cian Scanlon, the former Sarsfields player, slid the ball just wide at the far post after a defensive mix-up.
A goal then might have made things very interesting and although Doyle registered a fine ’45 on 43 minutes, Fionn Bergin took centre stage again. He pointed with his left foot and then with his right before slotting one over off the post from the right wing.
Then with eight minutes left the full-forward pounced for his second goal. Again, brother Conall was involved with the final pass for Fionn to finish past Evan Comerford in goal.
Doyle landed another free for Athgarvan and Nolan Mullally put a quieter second half behind him with a free before Grange substitute Tomás Cullen rounded off an eleven point opening round win for his side. They’ll take some stopping.
Footnote: it makes little sense for the County Board to go to the trouble of printing match programmes and announcing the teams before the throw-in if one of the clubs involved makes four changes to the team announced over the tannoy. I’m not sure who they think they’re fooling or to what perceived benefit.
