Second defeat for St John's Seniors: St John’s 0-07 v 1-10 Drumaness
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Wed 19th
Apr
A strong final third put a respectable face on the scoreline
as Drumaness proved to be the more
economical in taking their scores. With
some of the key players excused duty
before their All-Ireland final with St
Malachy’s school this threatened to be a
tough encounter for the Johnnies and so
it proved.
Drumaness dominated the opening period and tested the mettle
of the St John’s rearguard. Cornerbacks
Cormac McMullan and John McMullan proved
to be up to the task while Matthew
McMullan grew in stature as the game
progressed. Conor Marmion and Sean
O’Neill were all too often pressed into
defensive duties as well, but along with
Joe Savage, they were able to move the
ball upfield to the forwards. Drumaness
were three points to the good before St
John’s registered their first real shot
but the Drumaness keeper was equal to
the shot from John Fegan. A good
defensive block by John McMullan then
inspired the team for a while but they
could only manage to shoot a series of
wides. Had some of these chances been
converted the closing stages might have
been even more exciting. As it was
Drumaness reasserted themselves in
possession but were restricted to one
score, though that was a goal to leave
the visitors 1-3 to 0-0 to the good at
the turnaround.
Drumaness again started brighter in the second period
brighter and had knocked over another
four points within the first eight
minutes. This was all before St John’s
could mount a foray beyond the visitors
forty-five. When they did, they fired a
couple of wides, one of which could very
easily have resulted in a green flag.
Drumaness pointed a free before Ciaran
McCann got St John’s’ opening score half
way through the opening period. This
score was as good as any on the even as
Matthew McMullan and Ben McCartan worked
the ball out of defence and fed Ryan
Gibney who played the scorer in. Ciaran
McCann still had plenty to do, but he
split the posts with aplomb.
St John’s had found their scoring touch – better late than
never. John Fegan fired over the next
couple of points, the first from a free
before the goalie showed sharp reflexes
to stop a goal-bound shot from Michael
Walsh. Ryan Gibney pointed another free
and the Johnnies began to look
rejuvenated. When Shane Rice pointed the
spectators began to think that had
earlier chances been taken they might be
witnessing a grandstand finish. As it
was the game was up and the sides traded
scores before the final whistle.
Drumaness pointed a couple of frees and
Ryan Gibney also knocked over a pair of
frees with his accomplished left-foot.
St John’s will take hope from the spirit
and character they showed in the last
quarter, but will know that they need to
sustain that level in their remaining
games.
St John’s: Joe Lennon; John McMullan, Matthew McMullan,
Cormac McMullan; Shane Rice (0-1), Joe
Savage; Conor Marmion, Sean O’Neill;
Michael Walsh, Ben McCartan, John Fegan
(0-2); Ciaran McCann (0-1), Ryan Gibney
(0-3, all frees).
