In
what
turned
out
to
be a
tense
and
frantic
game
of
football,
the
battlers
of
St
Josephs
eventually
condemned
St
Johns
to
their
first
defeat
of
the
season.
Leading
the
game
throughout
St
Josephs
had
star
midfielder
Anthony
Mageean
to
thank
for
laying
the
foundations
for
this
fine
win.
Mageean
plucked
seven
clean
balls
out
of
the
air
in
midfield
and
his
superb
tackling
broke
down
many
a St
Johns
attack.
At
halftime
St
Joes
were
leading
by
three
points.
Sean
O'Rourke's
goal
came
at a
crucial
time
and
further
points
from
Anthony
Mageean
(0-01),
Raymie
Melville
(0-01)
and
Benny
Cunningham
(0-02)
give
the
away
side
a
1-04
to
0-04
lead.
St
Johns
tried
their
hardest
to
work
their
way
back
in
to
the
game
in
the
2nd
half
but
despite
an
early
goal
they
couldnt
do
enough
to
get
firmly
back
in
to
contention.
St
Joes
upped
the
stakes
and
scores
from
super
sub
Stefan
Mason
(0-02),
Sean
O'Rourke
(0-03)
and
Raymie
Melville
(0-01)
brought
the
underdogs
to
glory.
In
what
was
ultimately
a
team
orientated
victory,
the
long
kick
outs
of
goalkeeper
Eamon
King
combined
with
the
defensive
nous
of
Kieran
Carville,
Conor
Miskelly
and
Donal
Brennan
meant
that
St
Johns
were
kept
at
bay
for
long
periods.
Anthony
Mageean
was
man
of
the
match
in
midfield
and
his
hard
won
possession
was
used
very
effectively
by
Sean
O'Rourke.
The
whole
forward
unit
worked
tremendously
hard
but
Raymie
Melville,
Paudie
Curry, Mark
Grant
and
Aodhan
Killen
must
be
singled
out
for
special
mention.
St
Josephs:
E.King,
D.Brennan,
K.Carville,
R.Smith,
C.McKee,
C.Miskelly,
P.Mageean,
A.Mageean
(0-01),
S.O'Rourke
(1-03),
M.Grant,
A.Killen,
P.Curry,
PJ
Conlon,
B.Cunningham
(0-02),
R.Melville
(0-02).
Sub:
S.Mason
(0-02).