St John’s Notes - 11th October 2006
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St John’s Notes 11th
Oct
St John’s have won the camogie
championship for the first time after an
inspiring performance against
Ballygalget in Sunday’s final at
Kilclief. It took the team a while to
settle as Ballygalget got the majority
of the early scores and still held a
narrow lead at the break. But the
Johnnies put on an outstanding display
in the second half to run out as
comfortable and deserving winners by
5-09 to 2-02. Birthday girl Laura Smyth
was delighted to pick up the
championship trophy. This team have been
setting the standards all year and fully
deserved their reception back at the
crowded clubhouse. Their season isn’t
over yet as they are chasing the double
and have a playoff for the league title
against Liatroim in a few weeks time.
Our FUNdamental training sessions came
to an end recently with the last drills
for the under-12s, under-10s and
under-8s. All those present were
presented with a Go Games football so
that they can continue to practice their
skills over the winter recess. The
footballs were sponsored by NDOLA Dog
Grooming and Kennels and by Spa Pallet
Services. The under-12s will hopefully
have a game or two as well to bring down
the curtain on their season.
As activity on the field winds down it
is time to turn our attention to
cultural aspects of Scor and Scór
na nÓg. Dancing continues in the
clubrooms on Mondays at 8.00pm, with one
eye on the East Down semi-finals on 29th
October and 5th November.
Pep Keenan (4377 8712) has received a
delivery of shorts for 5-6 and 7-8 age
groups. She will also be running a
Christmas club between now and the end
of the year.
A sum of money was found in the
clubrooms a couple of weekends ago – if
you think that it might be yours contact
Jennifer Savage (4377 1411).
Lottery numbers for Wednesday 27th
September were 1, 2, 12 and 20 and there
was 1 £10 winner. On 5th
October the numbers were 17, 22, 24 and
27. There were no winners and the
jackpot now stands at £1,400.
There will be a Poker Night in the
clubrooms this Friday (13th).
Championship Glory for
St John’s
Camogs
St John’s
5-09 v 2-02 Ballygalget at
Kilclief Sun 8th Oct
St John’s produced some excellent
camogie, especially at the start of the
second period, to bring the Junior
Championship back to Drumnaquoile. They
were deserving victors, both for their
performance on the day and for the
standards they have set all year.
Ballygalget produced a brave challenge
and looked the more likely winners in
the first quarter. The Ards girls still
had their noses in front at the
turnaround but the tide had already
turned. At the Ben Dearg club in
Kilclief they look out across the mouth
of Strangford Lough and they know how
powerfully the tide can run. So it was
at the start of the second period when
St John’s
flooded balls into the Ballygalget
defensive zone. That tide couldn’t be
resisted, although the Ballygalget girls
battled bravely.
Ballygalget netted for the first score
of the game but Caroline Ward quickly
equalised. Her first shot was parried by
the Ballygalget keeper but Caroline
reacted quickest and wasn’t to be denied
with her second effort.
St John’s
fired a couple of wides but Ballygalget
showed greater accuracy with a second
goal and the first point of the game.
Sinead Walsh pointed a free from
distance to reduce the arrears but a
well taken Ballygalget free restore the
margin to four points. That left the
score at 2-2 to 1-1 halfway through the
opening period and, although there were
no obvious signs of the change to come,
this was to be the last score for
Ballygalget.
It was almost ten minutes before St
John’s troubled the scorer again but
they knocked over three points before
the interval to reduce the margin to one
point (2-2 to 1-4). The scorers were
Bronagh McCullough, Caroline Ward and
Sheáleen Savage.
St John’s carried on from where they
left at the opening of the second
period; if anything they upped their
tempo after receiving Eoin Walsh’s words
of wisdom. Grainne McCann got the
equalising point before Caroline Ward
put
St John’s
one point ahead. Then three goals in
quick succession ended the game as a
contest – with Martina Cunningham,
Grainne McCann and Sheáleen Savage
respectively applying the finishing
touches. Grainne McCann pointed again to
leave the scoreline reading 4-7 to 2-2 –
what a turnaround in ten minutes!
But Ballygalget weren’t finished just
yet. But their rally came to nothing
thanks to hungry defending by Anne
Cunningham, Sinead Walsh, Laura Smyth
and Kelly-Anne McCullough. Nobody showed
their bravery more than goalkeeper
Sinead Lennon who pulled off a point
blank save to save what seemed to be a
certain goal. A major score at that
stage might have revitalised the Ards
girls and put some doubt into the minds
of the Johnnies. Sinead Lennon ensured
that this scenario did not materialize.
The defenders in front of her showed the
same determination. Sinead’s puck-outs
were also very good throughout the game.
St John’s
weathered the storm without conceding
and saw the game out with points from
Caroline Ward and Orlaith McMullan and
another goal from Grainne McCann to put
the icing on the cake.
The final whistle was greeted with
jubilation from the large
St John’s
section of the crowd and it was smiles
all round as captain Laura Smyth was
presented with the trophy. [It was also
a great birthday present for Laura – I
can’t disclose which one, but she’ll not
be lining out for the minors again!]
This camogie team have been setting the
standards for the rest to follow all
year – and continued to do so as they
brought the championship title back to
St John’s for the first time. Let’s hope
that it is contagious!
St John’s: Sinead Lennon; Anne
Cunningham, Sinead Walsh (0-1, 1f),
Laura Smyth (capt), Kelly-Anne
McCullough; Martina Cunningham (1-0),
Grainne McCann (2-1), Sileen McDonald;
Sheáleen Savage (1-2), Orlaith McMullan
(0-1), Bronagh McCullough (0-1),
Caroline Ward (1-3, 1f). Subs Siobhan
McGeown for Martina Cunningham, Aishling
McMullan for Kelly-Anne McCullough,
Eimer Brennan for Bronagh McCullough,
Anita Murphy, Julie Brown, Aishling
Savage, Stella Smith, Sinead McMullan.
