Burren minors close out game well at St
John’s -
St John’s
2-06 v 3-09 Burren Wed 6th
June
|
St John’s and Burren played out a great
game of football in the sunshine last
Wednesday. Both teams are to be
commended for their skill levels and
application which made this a thoroughly
enjoyable game. Indeed it was
neck-and-neck for all but the final
quarter with St John’s enjoying a 2-4 to
1-4 advantage at the interval.
The visitors, and league leaders, were
first on the mark with a pointed free
but it only took a few minutes to
establish that these sides were well
matched.
St John’s
missed a free before Gerard McAnulty
restored parity. On the next attack the
same player was driving through with a
goal chance when he was tumbled to the
ground. He netted the resultant penalty
giving the Burren keeper no chance as
his shot clipped the inside of the left
post on its way in.
A good point from distance reduced the
arrears for Burren but then they got a
goal as well. Their first shot was saved
but the rebound fell kindly for the
forward and he made no mistake with his
second chance. A free from Ryan Gibney
brought the sides level again as we
completed the first quarter. But then a
lovely move started by Shane Rice and
involving Gerard McAnulty sent Conor
Flanagan in to drive a low shot across
the keeper for the Johnnies second goal.
Conor soon added another point from a
free.
The balance of possession started to
turn in Burren’s favour as they strived
to bring themselves back into the game.
That was when
St John’s defenders showed their mettle,
crowding out attackers, blocking down
shots and tackling well. They restricted
Burren to two points whilst Gerard
McAnulty got another one for the
Johnnies to leave the score 2-4 to 1-4
at the break.
You could be forgiven for thinking that
Burren must have restarted with renewed
determination and dominated the second
period but that would only be half true.
They certainly started in determined
mood with two pointed frees in five
minutes to restore parity. But they
found that the Johnnies were in equally
determined mood as a pointed free from
Ryan Gibney and a fisted over from Conor
Flanagan showed.
Both sides attacked and defended in
equal measure but it was Burren who were
getting the scores. Two 20m frees
restored parity, another point nosed
them ahead. Then a goal from the
visiting full-forward put daylight
between the teams. When a free from Ryan
Gibney came back off the upright Burren
surged forward and pointed it seemed
that the game was up for the valiant
Johnnies. A goal from a penalty
confirmed that and for the last five
minutes Burren dominated and closed out
the game with confidence to continue
their 100% run.
St John’s: Harry McMullan; Sammy
Truesdale, David Milling, Cormac
McMullan; Conor Marmion, John McMullan,
Stevie Trainor; Joe Savage, Ryan Gibney
(0-2, 2f); Conor Braniff, Gerard
Brannigan, Ryan Flanagan; Gerard
McAnulty (1-2, 1-1f), Shane Rice, Conor
Flanagan(1-2, 1f). Subs used: Damien
Mackin for Gerard Brannigan; John
McClean.
