St John's advance to second final: St John's 4-06 v 1-04 Liatroim Sun 26th Aug
St John’s advanced to their second
consecutive championship final with a comfortable
win over neighbours Liatroim on Sunday. There
was a large crowd at Pairc Naomh Eoin despite
the competing attraction of Kerry v Dublin
on the telly and the team rewarded them for
their support as they were never behind against
their neighbours before running out comfortable
winners. St John’s led from the start
and were never really troubled but a dip in
the second half performance will give Eoin
Walsh some cause for concern between now and
next Sunday’s final.
St John’s got off to a great start
with a goal from Caroline Ward. She was in
good form for she added another brace of points
after Shileen McDonald also pointed to give
a commanding lead within the first quarter.
Orlaith McMullan added another goal on twenty
minutes after Martina Cunningham had seized
onto a weak clearance. St John’s also
defended well, none more so Ann Cunningham,
and restricted Liatroim to a single score
in the first half. Orlaith McMullan and Caroline
Ward added further points to set up a 2-5
to 1-0 lead at the break.
The sides traded wides after the restart
before St John’s netted again. Shileen
McDonald did most of the work but her pass
inside to Orlaith McMullan was well fielded
and then she fisted home as the defenders
converged on her. With the game “in
the bag” so to speak St John’s
eased off and Liatroim were able to take advantage
of this and made more inroads. Shéalean
Savage, Kelly-Anne McCullough and Laura Smyth
all had to be on their toes in defence to
restrict Liatroim to three points. During
that time Grainne McCann hit the goal post
while Shileen McDonald and Caroline Ward both
pointed. Caroline Ward added a goal to round
off her performance but the last score went
to Liatroim. It would have been a goal but
it was touched over by the alert Sinead Lennon,
but it was the Johnnies who, like Kerry, maintained
their hopes of back to back championships.
St John’s: Sinead Lennon; Ann Cunningham,
Shéalean Savage, Kelly-Anne McCullough,
Laura Smyth; Grainne McCann, Siobhan McGeown,
Shileen McDonald (0-2); Caroline Ward (2-3),
Martina Cunningham, Anita Murphy, Orlaith
McMullan (2-1). Subs used: Emma Reilly for
Anita Murphy, Anita Murphy for Grainne McCann.
