St John's Notes 1st August 2007
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St John’s Notes 1st August
2007
Our minors advanced in the
A championship with a commanding win away to
Clan na Banna (1-05 v 3-14) last week. We are
now away to Saval in this evening’s quarter-final.
A poor start cost our senior
footballers the game against St Michael’s
at home to St Michael’s on Monday past.
They found themselves ten points adrift before
they got going, but they were able to pick themselves
up and produce an inspired fight-back. They
got to within touching distance and may have
come out on top but for a crucial few minutes.
Had we converted a penalty the margin would
have been down to the minimum – instead
St Michael’s next score was a goal and
that was enough to see them home although their
win wasn’t as comfortable as the scoreline
(1-09 v 3-10) might suggest. Our game away to
Drumaness on Friday followed a similar pattern.
Drumaness got off to a good to a good start
but the margin was reduced to two points at
the break. St John’s applied more pressure
in the second half and Drumaness had to dig
deep in their experience to hold onto their
100% record. We were at home to Aughlisnafin
on Monday and have only one league game left
- at home to Aghaderg on a date to be arranged.
We have a bye in the opening round of the championship,
which is scheduled for Tuesday 14th August,
before taking on Bright in the quarter-final.
Saturday was a busy day at
the club with our under-10s, under-12s and under-16s
all in action. Our under-10s went to Drumaness
to play in a Go Games blitz with Dundrum, Bryansford
and host Drumaness. These teams produced a good
morning’s football between them with the
Johnnies recording victories in four of their
six games and emerging with a lot of credit
from all their games. The under-10s have an
extra session this Saturday when they take on
opposition from County Antrim.
Our under-12s went to the Clonduff
tournament where they won through from their
group and advanced as far as the semi-final
where they went down to Burren. We were back
in action on Sunday when we entertained Liatroim.
There was a lot of good football on display
from both sides, with a lot of well worked openings.
Unfortunately a number of our lads had forgot
their shooting boots while Liatroim’s
chances were all too often goal chances in spite
of the good work by Patrick Keenan in nets.
Our under-16s saw their championship
ambitions ended by St Joseph’s in Dundrum.
The team struggled in the first half but found
a better rhythm in the second period but the
home side came out on top in the end (1-16 v
1-05). Our under-16s were back in league action
yesterday (Tuesday) when they travelled to Bright).
Our under-14s were in league action last Thursday
going down away to Bredagh. They face the same
opposition on Saturday in the A championship
quarter-final and will be hoping for an improved
performance and a better outcome.
Our reserves were away to Darragh
Cross on Sunday and will be away again to Castlewellan
this Sunday. That is the last scheduled fixture
but postponed games against Liatroim, Bryansford
and Dundrum are still to be rearranged.
Similarly our Ladies Footballers
are waiting to see when their postponed fixtures
against Rostrevor (away), Ardglass (home) and
Teconnaught (away) will be rescheduled. They
are also looking forward to the championship
Our camogs next game is their
last league game. We will be away to Newry Shamrocks
next Wednesday. Given that we have won all but
one of our league games we have definitely done
well as a team promoted to a higher division.
This also gives us confidence ahead of the championship.
The opening round of the championship is being
played this evening but we have a bye. We will
play either Liatroim or Mayobridge on Sunday
19th August.
The Football Development Working
Group met again yesterday (Tuesday). They hope
to hold a workshop or open evening soon and
it is important that this is as well attended
by members, especially players, as possible.
Watch this space for further details. The management
committee meet again on Monday 6th at 9.00pm.
Pep Keenan (4377 8712) now
has rain-jackets, tracksuit tops and club rugby
shirts in stock
Last Thursday’s lucky
numbers were. There were 13, 14, 15 and 25.
There was only one £10 winner and the
jackpot stands at £1,850.
We will be hosting an Intermediate
championship double header when Darragh Cross
play Banbridge (1.00pm) and Saval take on Kilclief
(2.30pm) on Sunday 12th August.
Don’t forget the Blaeberry
Sunday walk up Slieve Croob on Sunday for anyone
who wants to stretch their legs.
