Without a Football game since they overcame St. Michaels in the opening round of the Championship ,way back on May 11th, the Brian Dillons Junior (A) Footballers showed no ill- effects from their long lay off with an impressive , 2-15 to 1-10, victory over Passage in the City Division Junior (1) Football League, which was played in Passage, on Tuesday evening, 16th July, 2013.

                  Despite having to lineout without six players who played in the Championship game against St.Michaels, the team on duty against Passage performed impressively, particularly in the second half when they were playing against a stiffish breeze.  Brian Dillons were three points to the good after four minutes play but ,Passage had their deficit cut to the minimum after thirteen minutes..0-3 to 0-2. Martin Corbett and John Horgan stretched the Brian Dillons lead with two excellent points from play which pushed them ahead ,0-5 to 0-2, after eighteen minutes.  Passage responded with two points of their own to leave them trailing ,0-5 to 0-4, after twenty one minutes. Further points from John Horgan and Chris Daly restored the three point cushion for Brian Dillons but, Passage got through the excellent Dillons defence to level the game with an opportunist goal after twenty five minutes.  Things were looking bleak for Brian Dillons at this stage as they had to play into the stiff breeze in the second half.  However, they were handed a lifeline when their hard working corner forward, Mark Buckley, was hauled down in the square as he was about to pull the trigger with three minutes left in the opening half, and a penalty kick was awarded. Regular penalty taker, Cillian Brosnan, who did not start the game but was brought on, in goal, midway through the first half when "keeper Tom  Holohan went off injured, came up the field to firmly plant the ball in the Passage net to leave Brian Dillons leading,1-7 to 1-4, at the interval.

         Passage had the first score of the second half when they pointed a free after two minutes and things were looking ominous for Brian Dillons as they were now playing against a fairly strong breeze. However, a powerful second half performance propelled Brian Dillons to an impressive victory. With mid-fielders, Darren McGrath and Chris Daly, gaining a definite advantage at midfield and Cian McCarthy and Martin Corbett excelling in the half -back line, the Brian Dillons forwards were been given a plentiful supply  and the points flowed. The game was finally put beyond Passage , after twenty five minutes of the second half, when the ever dangerous Dave O"Leary goaled, to put Brian Dillons ahead by 2-13 to 1-8. Two further points had Dillons leading by 2-15 to 1-8 at the end of normal time and in the two minutes of additional time, Passage added two points of their own to leave the full-time score reading, Brian Dillons, 2-15; Passage, 1-10;

         With the Championship quarter-final against Bishopstown coming up on next Saturday week, 27th July, the Brian Dillons  team will have another useful workout on Monday evening next, 22nd , July, when they face Nemo Rangers in another League encounter, out in Trabeg (7.30pm.)  Scorers for Brian Dillons against Passage were; John Horgan, 0-8 (0-6 frees);Dave O"Leary,1-2; Cillian Brosnan, 1-0 (penalty); Martin Corbett, Darren McGrath, Chris Daly, Shane Maher, and Mark Buckley, 0-1 each.