ACFL Division 4: Dundrum 2-10  St Johns 0-11

An understrength Dundrum team made hard work of defeating a mediocre St Johns outfit in a rather dull and uninspiring Division 4 game on Monday evening.

St Johns started the better knocking over two scores early on. They gained a lot of possession in the opening stages but their wayward shooting cost them dearly.

It took a staggering 21 minutes for the homeside to register. The score arrived through Kieran Byrne and was followed up by three on the trot from Kieran Walsh, Neil John McLoughlin and Chris Hogg. St Johns finished the half stronger though and whacked over two well worked points to draw the sides level at the break.

After some stern words at halftime from the Dundrum management, the homesters came out for the second half with a renewed sense of urgency. Despite not being in top gear they had far too much in reserve for the Johnnies who despite their efforts never looked like getting anything from the game.

St Johns took advantage of Dundrum's failure to adapt to the half time reshuffle when they converted four times in the first five minutes of the second half. Conor McCombe and Dan Marmion sailed over the pick of the scores. This give Damien King's men a four point lead.

Once Kieran Walsh settled the Dundrum pack with a well taken free on 38 minutes St Johns seemed to lose their focus. This allowed Marty Melville to goal for Dundrum when he got his fist to a Kieran Walsh pass. Chris Hogg followed up with a free before Walsh netted from the penalty spot to seal the Duns superiority.

With ten minutes remaining the Johnnies sent over a couple of frees which was added to by Brian Fitzpatrick's first of the night. This put them within a points grasp of the Duns.

However, a strong finish from the homeside saw Chris Hogg (0-02), Neil John McLaughlin and Kieran Walsh point to secure the two points for John McShane's charges.

Overall this was a very poor game. The standard of football was nothing to write home about and both team's league positions seem to truly reflect their currentt footballing ability.

Dundrum had a solid performance from Colm King in goal. The shot stopper made some excellent catches and his kickouts made good distance. John Hurley was as dependable as ever at full back, plucking numerous balls out of the air in and around the house. Marty McKibbin also proved his pedigree as a corner back with some telling interceptions.

The half back line of Melville, McComiskey and McKibben sniffed out much of the Johnnies threat and assisted the able pairing of Walsh and McLoughlin in midfield. Chris Hogg and Marc Cunningham were the pick of an industrious forward line.

St Johns have struggled this year and only Darren McMullan, Ollie Burns, Dan Marmion and Brian Fitzpatrick showed any glimpse of carrying the Johnnies cause further.

Both these derby foes look likely to be plying their trade in the doldrums of Division 4 for another year at least. Going on this result though, it looks like Dundrum may have a better chance of escaping it's clutches in the future.

Dundrum: C.King, M.Rooney, J.Hurley, M.McKibbin, M.Melville (1-00), N.McComiskey, J.McKibben, K.Walsh (1-03, 1 Pen + 3 Frees), N.McLoughlin (0-02), M.Cunningham, P.Doran, C.Hogg (0-04, 3 Frees), C.McShane, B.Walsh, K.Byrne (0-01). Subs: P.Shields, S.McGrattan, M.Murray