16 Players Turned up to St Margarets, 

St Brendan’s were comprehensively beaten, 

And John Tuffy lost the head. 

The End. 

Err, the above did not happen neither on Thursday the 25th nor Sunday the 28th. 

Buoyed up by their exciting 2-9 to 1-8 victory over St Sylvester’s in Longmeadows on the 25th, The St Brendan’s Football 2nd XV, in partnership with Stoneybatter Pride of Place, travelled to St Margarets, on the foot of the Dublin Airport Runway on April 28th , to face the local side in a bid to make it back-to-back victories on AFL10 North. 

With Ryanair and Aer Lingus taking off over our heads, the home side got the opening score with a point, But The Darkest Force got the momentum when a shot from James McGee had a shot saved for a 45, the 45 was whipped in and although punched clear by the St Margaret’s goalkeeper, only as far as Darragh ‘Cadillac’ O’Keeffe who fisted the ball into the back of the St Margaret’s net. 1-0 to 0-1. 

John ‘Tesla’ Tuffy got frustrated when Brian Hobbins and Ferdia ‘The Charity Worker’ Donohoe both took too much time on the ball and missed another goal opportunity, the home side Levelled matters after 16 minutes, another missed opportunity for St Brendan’s when O’Keeffe fisted the ball wide after a McGee shot fell short. 

Indeed, St Margaret’s had six points on the board when St Brendan’s got their first point on the board that’s to Brian Hobbins after a foul on Dylan ‘Not the Galwayman’ McHugh. 

Another Hobbins free in was converted after McGee got nutmegged when in a good position, Another Margarets point ensured it was the home side with the half time lead of 0-7 to 1-2. 

Yes, mundane stuff I know, but trust me, the second half is not like the first. 

The Home side opened the second half scoring with a point after an initial shot hit the upright and several hand passes later, the ball was over the bar. 

The Milltown Four Star James McGee sold a fantastic dummy his marker and take his shot over the bar. Brian Hobbins then made it a one-point game with a good point in which ‘The See Hayches’, Conor Hallissey, Conor Hayden and Conor Harris all involved in the build up with Harris supplying the final pass to Hobbins. 

The contest then got interesting when Darragh ‘Cadillac’ O’Keeffe after a Michael ‘The Plaque on The Wall’ Bruen produced a lopsided shot, but O’Keeffe was on hand to tidy up and kick over the bar. 

St Margaret’s retook the lead with a free in after a push in the back. McGee levelled matters again with a close range free in after a foul on Jack ‘The Relegater’ McCarron. 

A shot from Niall McDermott went into the square, The St Margarets full back got his leap to field the ball a pit Pete Tong and the ball went into the waiting arms of Brian Hobbins but went for placement rather than power and a wonderful opportunity missed. On the other side of the field, St Margarets took the point. 

A long shot from ‘Double J’ John Joyce was collected by O’Keeffe and broke the ball down to Hobbins and his shot went over the bar for another equalising score. That was O’Keeffe’s last contribution as John Tuffy put on Axel Muñoz as a sub, adding Chile to a long list of nationalities who have played for St Brendan’s in all codes. 

Hobbins miss a few minutes ago was quickly forgotten about when Muñoz played a super ground pass to Hobbins to side foot the ball into the back of the net for a St Brendan’s lead and suddenly the game has taken on a new life of its own, 2-7 to 0-11. 

9 minutes to go and The Darkest Force opened a three-point lead thanks to McGee point following a Damien Daly turnover. A turnover from Joyce in the middle third and a long pass from Harris, resulted in The Chile Hot Dog Axel Muñoz to produce a terrific catch and turn and bury the ball into the St Margaret’s net for a 5-point lead 3-8 to 0-12. 

The Home side then hit three points on the spin as the contest reached an exciting climax, but still left John Tuffy with a few anxious moments. But McGee steadied the ship with a crucial injury time point after another ground pass from Muñoz to Hobbins who picked up and pass to Mcgee with the point and ultimately the 2nds 2nd victory of AFL10 North which Tuffy was thrilled about as he left St Margaret’s with two precious league points in the boot of his Tesla. 

Next up and for the first time since 2015, The St Brendan's 2nds renew their rivalry with Rosmini Gaels on May 9th. 

Final Score from St Margaret’s St Brendan’s 3-9 St Margaret’s 0-15.