St John’s and Castlewellan share under-14 spoils
St John’s
3-09 v 4-06 Castlewellan Mon 4th
June
|
Both St John’s
and Castlewellan brought a lot of
determination and endeavour to this
contest and it was fair that both should
take a share of the spoils.
St John’s
might be the more pleased, and may
regard this as a league point won as
they trailed 2-4 to 0-4 at the break.
The game started at a fairly low tempo with Castlewellan
being first to register with a pointed
free after a couple of minutes. Five
minutes in, Chris McKay pointed a free
in reply after Kevin Keenan had been
fouled. Castlewellan pointed again
before they added a goal. This was the
type of goal that has been making the
headlines of late, like Donegal’s winner
against
Armagh and Dublin’s score against Meath
– a high ball dropped into the square.
The ball ended up in the net and the
keeper on his back. In all three cases
the goal stood!
The shooting was poor from both teams after that with both
sides registering a number of wides and
only one point apiece over the next
fifteen minutes. Neil Magorrian caught
the eye in the heart of the
St John’s defence with some sharp
interceptions and tigerish tackling.
Eventually Darren Burns got a good point
for St John’s after he broke forward and played a one-two with Philip Brennan. But the
last couple of scores went to the
visitors, a point and a goal scored on
the third rebound after Chris Feenan had
pulled off two good saves. So it was
that Castlewellan led by six (2-4 to
0-4) at the turnaround.
It seemed that no sooner that the referee had thrown the ball
in for the restart that
St John’s had turned the tables on their
visitors. Martin Keenan pointed, then
goaled and when Kevin Keenan netted the
lead was transferred. And they were
still returning to their seats in the
executive boxes…
St John’s
had chances to extend their lead before
Castlewellan drew level.
Then they might have had a goal but their final shot was
deflected wide for a “45”. And what a
goal it would have been as Darren Burns,
Philip Brennan, Hugh Flanagan and Martin
Keenan combined to create the chance for
Kevin Keenan.
St John’s might have gone three ahead
but in no time they were three behind as
Castlewellan got a goal. They added a
point. Lesser teams might have folded,
but for St John’s it was time for
cornerbacks Joe Milligan and Jamie Artt
to step forward and be counted. Along
with Neil Magorrian they suffocated any
further Castlewellan attacks. And they
provided a platform, along with Ryan
Gordon and Joshua Wells at midfield from
which St John’s pressed forward at every
opportunity.
St John’s first reply came when Joshua
Wells played a line ball across to Kevin
Keenan; he set up his brother Martin
with a chance which he pointed. A little
but not yet enough – and although they
continued to press they were given a
mountain to climb when Castlewellan
netted a soft goal when a long ball
bounced into the net. But St John’s did
not allow their heads to drop – far from
it, they pushed on regardless. Chris
McKay pointed a free, Martin Keenan saw
a goal chance cleared off the line after
receiving a pass from Rory Doyle and
then a breakthrough. Ryan Gordon’s low
free was deflected into the Castlewellan
net. With time running out St John’s
were back to within two points of the
visitors. And they got both necessary
scores, and all the players can take
credit in that. The fight-back was a
collective effort and it wouldn’t have
happened without everyone putting their
shoulder to the wheel. So it was that
the Johnnies had more reason to be
pleased as they came off the field with
a point won, and hard-won at that. But
all 30+ players came off the field with
credit for their contribution to a
quality game of under-14 football!
St John’s: Chris Feenan; Jamie Artt, Neil Magorrian, Joe
Milligan; Martin Keenan (1-3), Darren
Burns (0-2), Darren Morgan; Ryan Gordon
(1-0), Joshua Wells; Hugh Flanagan,
Chris McKay (0-3, 2f), Rory Doyle; Kevin
Keenan (1-1), Philip Brennan, John
Girvan. Subs: Conor Gilmore for John
Girvan, Conor Savage for Kevin Keenan,
Patrick Keenan, Michael Keenan, Patrick
Flynn, Neil Savage.
