St. John’s 2-08 v 3-04 Leitrim Sat 11th Sept 2004
League Final at Ardglass

This story starts way back in the cold dark days of January and February when the squad started training in the muck and gutters at Annsborough and Bann Road playing fields. It was clear from the outset that there were great depths of talent and footballing ability in this squad. But this potential would have amounted to nothing were it not for the consistently high attendance at training on Friday evenings, week in and week out.

St John’s went into this game facing their third tough game in seven days. On the Sunday before they travelled to Kilclief, last year’s league winners, for their last group game needing to get a win to book a place in the play-offs. St John’s did win – thanks to a storming second half comeback. Then on Tuesday they played Kilclief again in a semi-final at Loughinisland, while Leitrim got a bye.

Now on Saturday St John’s would have to ignore the tiredness, the aches and the bruises suffered in the great battles against Kilclief to take on championship winners Leitrim in the league final. And this was against the background of the two reverses inflicted by Leitrim earlier in the year, by 7-08 to 3-03 on a wet and windy evening at Leitrim and by 3-08 to 2-04 on an even wetter and windier afternoon at Kilcoo in the championship semi-final. It was dry today, and sun shone, but a near gale gusted across the field – would the outcome be any different.

As before Leitrim started the brighter, their first effort dropped short to the safe hands of Chris Feenan, but they soon had a couple of points. But the full back line of Ryan Gordon, Harry McMullan and Neil Magorrian quickly got on top of their forwards, and earned a lot of credit for keeping close tabs on those forwards throughout the game, with Neil Magorrian in particular getting in a couple of good blocks. Also Darren Savage and Daniel McKay began to get to grips with their midfield opponents and, assisted by Martin Keenan and Chris McKay around the middle of the field, changed the shape of the game. For the rest of the first half St John’s were in control. Conor Morgan and Joe Milligan at half-backs were first out to meet any ball that come over the halfway line and passed the ball cleverly to set up the next St John’s attack. With Darren Burns dropping back cleverly to help with build up play, and with Hugh Flanagan and Joshua Wells moving well into space it wasn’t long until St John’s were sending forward attack after attack.

The first three shots went wide, then a goal-bound shot was tipped wide for a 45. Eventually the pressure was rewarded when Darren Burns pointed after receiving a short free from Chris McKay. St John’s continued to play terrific football, with great interplay and moving the ball quickly to create many chances, as the Leitrim midfielders and defenders chased shadows. St John’s had another effort turned wide for a 45 before Conor Morgan pointed a free from about 23m to bring the teams level. Then Daniel McKay won the ball from the Leitrim kick-out and played in Christopher McKay who pointed to give the lead to the Johnnies.

Then good work by Hugh Flanagan and Philip Brennan set up Ruairi McGlynn for a goal on 21 minutes. The lively Philip Brennan then had a goal bound shot charged down before Darren Burns pointed to stretch the lead to 5 points. St. John’s continued to dominate and played but couldn’t stretch their lead; instead they shot 3 wides in succession.

Then in the drying minutes of the game Leitrim managed to push forward and their giant midfielder Ryan McAleenan got a goal very much against the run of play. That left St John’s 1-04 to 1-02 ahead but the margin was scant reward from their excellent football and application. Indeed, there was a feeling amongst the crowd that the lead would be too little. Surely Leitrim would up their performance in the second period, and St John’s would hardly be able to repeat their excellence.

The worst fears seemed to be realized at the beginning of the second period. Leitrim seized the initiative and pressed forward. Their first effort went wide, when it might have had a goal. But in the third minute they pushed through again and netted to take the lead. That was followed by a further point to stretch their lead.

Philip Brennan pulled a point back. But then disaster struck as Leitrim got a lucky third goal as a high shot, possibly held up by the strong gusty wind, dropped under the crossbar. A cruel blow – maybe Lady Luck wasn’t going to be on our side – St John’s had given Leitrim a football lesson in the first period but now, with nine minutes gone in the second period they were 4 points adrift. Things got worse again as Leitrim pointed again.

But this team had already overturned 8 point and 7 point deficits this week. St John’s stuck to their task – Ryan, Harry and Neil got on top of their forwards again. Joe, Conor and Martin were a wall at half-back and Darren Savage was a constant thorn in Leitrim’s side. The midfielders and forwards continued to move and pass the ball well, and to push Leitrim onto the back foot. But although St John’s pressed forward it started to look like the scores wouldn’t come. They shot a wide before Ruairi McGlynn, who had won so many balls into the forward line, pointed. After that Chris McKay hit the upright, before the Johnnies shot another couple of wides, and a goalmouth scramble came to nothing. Maybe it wouldn’t be our day.

Then Joshua Wells pointed to bring the gap back to 3 points with 10 minutes to play.
Harry McMullan and Daniel McKay switched and this brought renewed energy to centrefield. But even though there was 10 minutes to play St John’s began trying too hard to get a goal, and were guilty of over complicating their play. As a result they only managed two shots in the next 5 minutes, a wide and a free that dropped tamely to the defender on the goal-line when a point was there for the taking. Eventually Harry McMullan pointed. Only two points in it now, but we were heading into injury time. Would they regret not taking points earlier?

As full-time approached Leitrim were re-invigorated by a desire to do the double and managed to push forward again too, only to shoot wide under pressure from Ryan Gordon.

Two minutes into stoppage time Chris McKay won a loose ball about the 45m line and played the ball onto Philip Brennan who found Ruairi McGlynn running through the middle. He caught the high ball as he had already done so many times before and sidestepped his marker before firing low into the corner of the net under the advancing goalkeeper. The roar from the touchline was deafening.

Agonizingly there was enough time left for Leitrim to get the ball up the field again – but that came to nothing as Chris Feenan rushed out from the square to pip the attacker to the ball. Normal service was restored as St John’s mounted another attack. They shot wide but when Leitrim took the kick-out the referee blew for full time. St John’s Under-12s were East Down Football League Champions – and its nothing less that this panel deserve – and a great credit to their mentors, Mickey, Bernard and Martin.

St John’s Team: Christopher Feenan; Ryan Gordon, Harry McMullan, Neil Magorrian; Joe Milligan, Conor Morgan, Martin Keenan; Darren Savage, Daniel McKay; Joshua Wells, Christopher McKay, Hugh Flanagan; Ruairi McGlynn, Darren Burns, Philip Brennan.
Anthony Doran, Jamie Artt, Siobhan McCann, Kevin Keenan, Conor Savage, Michael Keenan, Conor Gilmore, Patrick Keenan

St John’s Scorers: Ruairi McGlynn 2-01, Darren Burns 0-02, Conor Morgan 0-01 (1f), Chris McKay 0-01, Philip Brennan 0-01, Joshua Wells 0-01, Harry McMullan 0-01.

Goals Points Scores Wides/Saves 45s
St John’s First 1 4 5 7 2
Second 1 4 5 7 0
TOTAL 2 8 10 14 2
Leitrim First 1 2 3 4 0
Second 2 2 4 5 0
TOTAL 3 4 7 11 0