St John’s edge Dromara in mid-table clash
|
Dromara 1-08 v 0-17
St John’s
Fri 23rd June
Only one point from play in the second half is a statistic
that Dromara could well do without as
they came up second against a free
scoring
St John’s side in this mid-table clash. Only three of
St John’s’ scores came from placed ball
and that tells a lot about how this game
shaped up.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested with Dromara
opening the scoring after four minutes
only for Dan Marmion to cancel this out
with a point from distance. Dromara’s
centre half back then put them ahead
again after a bursting run down the
right but it wasn’t long before Brian
Fitzpatrick restored parity. John Fegan
pointed a free for the visitors after
nine minutes to give the Johnnies a lead
that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Barry Russell added another score when his shot bounced in
front of the keeper and over the bar.
Dromara pegged one back but didn’t
trouble the umpires again until the
dying seconds of the half. Credit is due
to good defending particularly from
Declan Burns and Dodie Burns while Chris
Malone and Jonathon Addis gave
performances that belied their youth. St
John’s added a further four scores
before the interval – John Fegan pointed
from wide on the right after collected a
free from Dan Marmion, Damien Murray
fisted over after beating full back and
goalkeeper in a foot race after a
probing pass, with John Fegan (again)
and Barry Russell completing the
scoring. This left the visitors ahead by
double scores 0-8 to 0-4 at the break.
St John’s remained in the driving seat
when the teams returned with four
unanswered points. The first two were
from frees, the third was another
massive effort from Dan Marmion, the
fourth was put over by Ciaran McCann,
but enormous credit must go to Damien
Murray whose clever over head flick set
up the opportunity.
We were halfway through the second period before Dromara
scored with a pointed a free from close
in to the goals but Barry Russell and
Conor Burns sent a couple over for the
visitors. Dromara replied with two frees
but Brian Fitzpatrick replied. Dromara
got a goal with three minutes of
regulation time left but when Barry
Russell pointed again there was still
two major scores between the sides, and
both sides seemed to recognise that the
game was over. Both sides pointed in the
time that had been added fro an injury
to Mickey Flynn, but it couldn’t alter
the fact that local bragging right lay
with
St John’s on this occasion anyhow.
St John’s: Darren McMullan; Chris Malone, Declan Burns,
Jonathan Addis; Dodie Burns, Conor Burns
(0-3, 1f), Ollie Ward; Dan Marmion
(0-2), Ronan Kelly; Ciaran McCann (0-1),
Mickey Flynn, Barry Russell (0-4); John
Fegan (0-4, 2f), Damien Murray (0-1),
Brian Fitzpatrick (0-2). Sub Declan
Brennan for Mickey Flynn).
