Poor start costs the Johnnies dear
against St Michael’s
|
Poor start costs the Johnnies dear
against St Michael’s
St John’s
1-10 v 1-12 St Michael’s
Mon 23rd
Apr
A strong opening phase was enough for St Michael’s to secure
both points, ultimately by a two point
margin. For the majority of the game
St John’s gave as good as they got and
this provided for a very exciting and
watchable game.
Although St John’s
were first on the scoresheet, courtesy
of Conor Burns’ fine point from
distance, it was St Michael’s who had
the better start overall. They were in
control all over the park as they
knocked over three points in quick
succession. They continued to win the
individual battles as they added a goal
to their tally. Another couple of points
gave them a commanding 1-5 to 0-1
advantage after only two minutes. It was
looking bleak for the Johnnies.
But St John’s
then settled and began to steady the
ship. It was another ten minutes before
St Michael’s scored again when their
midfield Sweeney pointed a free from 40m
and from the of the field. In the
interim
St John’s
had fashioned a number of chances but
these either tailed off wide or dropped
short. There didn’t seem to be any real
venom in the
St John’s
attack.
St John’s might have goaled but the
Magheralin keeper stood up bravely in
the face of Aiden Kelly’s powerful shot.
Soon after St John’s got a couple of
points from the boots of Brian
Fitzpatrick and Damien Murray
respectively but St Michael’s retaliated
with a point of their own each time. The
last two scores of the half went to the
home side as John Fegan converted a free
and Aidan Kelly added another. This left
the interval score at 1-8 to 0-5 to the
visitors.
The second period started slowly but eventually saw St
Michael’s extend their lead.
St John’s then began to exert their
dominance around the centre of the
field. First they forced a series of 45s
than came to nothing. Then maintained
their control over midfield and were
rewarded with the next four scores.
Points by Conor Burns (free), John Fegan
(free) and Aidan Kelly reduced the
arrears but when Brian Fitzpatrick
netted it was back to being a one point
game.
St Michael’s were clearly rattled by the comeback and dropped
their full forward to midfield to help
out. He won a number of kickouts thanks
to his height and the visitors were able
to push forward for another point. This
was only their second score in the 20
minutes since the restart.
St John’s had no intention of lifting
the siege though and Damien Murray soon
pointed to bring it back to one again.
St Michael’s held on bravely for the
next five minutes. Eventually they got
another point on the break to relive the
pressure. Barry Russell fired over to
keep the pressure on but the equalizing
score would not come. Indeed the final
score of the game was to be another St
Michael’s point giving them a two point
win to secure the two league points.
St Michael’s will be happy to take those points back to
Magheralin, they will know that they
were hard won. St John’s were left to
rue an poor first quarter, that
ultimately cost them the game, but they
will surely take heart from the spirit
they displayed and dominance they held
in the second period.
St John’s: Darren McMullan; Declan
Burns, Jonathan Addis, Chris Malone;
Barry Russell (0-1), Conor Burns (0-2,
1f), Dodie Burns; Sean Kelly, Dan
Marmion; John Fegan (0-2, 2f), Aidan
Kelly (0-2), Joe Savage; Damien Murray
(0-2), Bert Hughes, Brian Fitzpatrick
(1-1). Sub used Stephen Magorrian for
Dodie Burns.
