Sat 18th September 2004 Downpatrick RGU Blitz

Many thanks to Downpatrick RGU for their invitation to take part in their 6th annual Under-10 tournament. And we must compliment the RGU club too on their excellent organization. Not only was there a good referee for all of the 30 games but there were 2 umpires and 2 linesmen at each game. On top of that they provided every one of the 250 children present with (a least one, sometimes three!) jumbo hotdogs.

Preliminary Round - The 12 teams (6 from East Down, 2 from South Down, 2 from Antrim and 2 from Tyrone) were first split into 4 groups of 3 teams. The overall winners from each of the preliminary groups would go through to Section A, the runners up to Section B and the third placed teams to Section C. St John’s were placed in a preliminary group with the hosts Downpatrick RGU and St John’s of Antrim. The games were 8 minutes each way – so each team could look forward to an hour and a half of football.

St John’s 0-01 v 0-02 Downpatrick
St John’s 1-03 v 1-01 St John’s (Antrim)
Downpatrick 1-03 v 1-00 St John’s (Antrim)

We took on Downpatrick in the first game. We started with the breeze behind us in the first half and honours were even in the opening exchanges, with both sides creating chances but not being able to manage the required finish. Then Downpatrick exerted a spell of pressure when they might have had a couple of goal if it wasn’t for the good work of Darren Morgan, Philip Brennan, Colm Kelly, Patrick Flynn and Michael Keenan

However, St John’s pressed forward with James Walsh and Kathleen Milligan looking lively and helping to move the ball forward and create chances. Niamh Flanagan was involved in this good play too and eventually a point from Conor Gilmore gave the Johnnies the slenderest of leads at the break.

St John’s were unable to make much progress against the stiff breeze in the second half and good work by Channan Savage, Amy Doyle and Patrick Keenan meant that Downpatrick’s chances were limited in spite of the possession they enjoyed. They got an equalizing point with 6½ minutes gone and pointed again in the second minute of injury time.

St John’s took to the field straight away to take on the challenge of our namesakes from Antrim. The Drumnaquoile Johnnies started playing into the wind and were soon pressing forward. Kevin Keenan saw a shot touched into the sidenetting before the resulting 45 was played to Philip Brennan who pointed. The Antrim lads then managed a couple of chances before an effort by Conor Gilmore came back off the goal post. The Antrim then netted and added a point soon after to give them a 1-01 to 0-01 interval lead.

Playing with the breeze it was the St John’s from Drumnaquoile who were clearly the better team. At the back Neil Savage was quick to intercept passes and William Kelly made a promising debut at U-10 level for such a young player. James Walsh, Philip Brennan and Colm Kelly were very secure in the half-back line and the two Conors, Savage and Gilmore were the dominant pairing at centrefield. This platform ensured that the Drumnaquoile team enjoyed the majority of possession. A goal by Kevin Keenan restored parity before Philip Brennan pointed. The skill and movement of Jerome Gordon and Aidan Morgan caused plenty of problems for the Belfast lads’ rearguard. The dominance was rewarded when Philip Brennan added an insurance point.

Section Preliminary Groups Section Winners
1 2 3 4
A Omagh Downpatrick Eglish Bosco Omagh
B Clonduff St John’s Down Castlewellan Carryduff Clonduff
C Saul St John’s Antrim Bryansford Rossa, Antrim Bryansford

Section B
St John’s 0-00 v 3-03 Carryduff
St John’s 0-01 v 4-02 Castlewellan
St John’s 1-02 v 4-01 Clonduff

If they hadn’t played so well against St. John’s of Antrim our St John’s would have been in the lower Section C, but as it was they faced the daunting prospect of three very tough games against Carryduff, Castlewellan and Clonduff. That’s not a bad line-up for the “second tier”!

St John’s continued to play good football in all three games but couldn’t compete with these big strong teams. You could nearly count the chances created on the fingers of one hand – we hit the upright against Carryduff and Philip Brennan knocked over a point against Castlewellan – but we got many admirers for the hard work done in defence closing down attackers, pressuring the opponent on the ball, blocking shots and for not letting our heads drop. Darren Morgan, Philip Brennan, Conor Savage, Conor Gilmore, Kevin Keenan, Patrick Flynn, Amy Doyle, Michael Keenan and Patrick Keenan all emerged with particular credit for their efforts when the opposition had the ball. Indeed we kept the opposition to six scores on less in each of the three games. Now that compares favourably with the result in our first game of the season. This was also against Castlewellan, way back in April, when we got a hiding 39 to 1. This illustrates the progress this young group of players have made this year.

Against Clonduff, who won the section, we continued with our excellent defensive work and also managed to press forward when the opportunity allowed. Having gone a goal down, St John’s rallied and Neil Savage was able to score a goal after good work by Kevin Keenan. We took the lead when Hugh Flanagan pointed, but Clonduff got another goal before the break. Although St John’s played with the breeze in the second period they were unable to press forward much. Clonduff pointed and added two goals before Philip Brennan pointed to complete the scoring for St John’s.

Challenge

St John’s 3-03 v 0-04 Clonduff B

You might think than 90 minutes of football would be enough for these young players, but not a bit of it. When approached by the Clonduff management to play another challenge game so that all of their squad could get a game the St John’s players jumped at the chance for another 20 minutes of football.

The Clonduff team were first on the scoreboard with a point but that was followed by a goal from Kevin Keenan. Clonduff then enjoyed a spell of pressure and contrived to hit the post three times. A point and a goal from Kevin Keenan and another goal from Michael Keenan put daylight between the sides. Clonduff rallied with a point after they had won a 45. Points from Kevin Keenan and Philip Brennan ensured that there would be no Clonduff revival. Nevertheless Clonduff, with the wind behind them, did manage another couple of points before the close.

I can’t close without paying a special compliment to our excellent goalkeepers - Darren Morgan (especially against Downpatrick), Hugh Flanagan, Patrick Keenan, Colm Kelly (against Castlewellan) and even Joe Milligan who guested for us in the challenge v Clonduff at the end of the day.

St John’s Squad: Hugh Flanagan (0-01), Patrick Flynn, Darren Morgan (captain), Colm Kelly, James Walsh, Philip Brennan (0-06), Kathleen Milligan, Conor Savage, Conor Gilmore (0-01), Patrick Keenan, Kevin Keenan (3-02), Michael Keenan (1-00), Niamh Flanagan, Amy Doyle, Channan Savage, Jerome Gordon, Neil Savage (1-00), William Kelly, Aidan Morgan, Joe Milligan.