O'Toole's 1-17 St Brigid's 0-15:A GOAL right on the stroke of half-time from Danny Webster proved crucial for O'Toole's as they advanced to the final of the Dublin Senior hurling championship last night.

The Ayrfield men were up against a Brigid’s team who were hoping to add a third Northside scalp having previously beaten Craobh Chiarain and St Vincent’s in their other two outings. O’Toole’s were forced to play out the final 15 minutes without full back, Michael Cunningham, after he was sent of for a challenge on Dublin under-21 star Daire Plunkett.

But Brigid’s failed to make any significant headway despite a promising opening. A score from Liam Ryan opened up a double-scores lead before Brigid’s rattled off four points without reply with Paddy McAvinue scoring two frees. With John O’Loughlin also prominent for Brigid’s they stayed in front until the 25th minute when Peadar Carton equalised.

Brigid’s, however, had a golden chance just before the break when Stephen Callinan’s ball over the top sent Kieran Kellett in the clear but McLoughlin pulled off a terrific save. It was to prove a crucial intervention as in the last action of the half, Peadar Carton broke through the middle before offloading to Webster who duly placed his shot into the far bottom corner to leave his team up 1-10 to 0-9 up at the break.

And although playing with the extra man for the last quarter, Brigid’s were unable to make any significant impact as O’Toole’s held firm at the back.

O’ TOOLES: B McLoughlin; M Cunningham, R Walker, P Brennan; J Bastow, K Ryan, G O’Meara; M Carton (0-1, free), A Morris (0-8, six frees); Peadar Carton (0-1), G Morris (0-2), D Webster (1-2), P O’Donoghue; L Ryan (0-2), Paddy Carton (0-1).

ST BRIGIDS: A Nolan; M Cussen, C Kenny, S Brady; C Ryan, A McEnerney, A O’Leary; C Doyle (0-1), D Plunkett; P McAvinue (0-8, (5 frees), J O’Loughlin (0-4), B McEnerney; K Kellett (0-1), S Callinan, J Winter. Subs: P Rohan for Callinab (47 mins), C O’Mahony (0-1) for Kellet (49 mins).