Championship advance for St John’s: St John’s 1-08 v 0-06 Bright - Sun 26th Aug
St John’s advanced in the championship
at the expense of third division Bright at
a sunny Darragh Cross on Sunday. The game
was close right up to the final minutes but
that was largely due to the inefficiency of
the St John’s forward division.
Bright got off to the better start first
forcing a “45” and then opening
the scoring with a well taken point. However,
St John’s replied with a goal that was
to set them up for victory. Darren McMullan
won the race for a long ball through from
midfield and his shot seemed to have squeezed
between the goalkeeper and his near post but
it rebounded back into play where Conor Braniff
was following up to secure the three-pointer.
Bright pushed for superiority but St John’s
defence held firm and they only managed a
couple of wides – indeed they didn’t
score again for over 25 minutes. St John’s
were coming more into the game and were beginning
to apply more pressure so it was no surprise
when Brian Fitzpatrick pointed. The only surprise
was now long it took for St John’s to
register their next score as they fired a
series of wides or saw efforts drop short
to the keeper. The next score was a point
from the boot of Barry Russell. But such was
the profligate nature of the St John’s
attack that when Bright pointed their second
free of the half it meant that there was just
a major score between the sides. Damien Murray
added another point but St John’s could
have had three more in the first half. As
it was they had to be content with a 1-3 to
0-2 advantage.
Whatever was said at the break didn’t
improve the St John’s forwards accuracy
for they fired four wides in as many minutes
after the restart before Brian Fitzpatrick
pointed. Bright replied with a point on their
first attack – demonstrating an efficiency
that St John’s could but envy. The Johnnies
might then have added a goal but their good
build-up came to nothing. Bright pushed forward
again and followed up with two points in quick
succession to reduce the margin to two as
we went into the final quarter. It was beginning
to look ominous for the Johnnies.
The Johnnies rallied though and created another
goal chance but the Bright keeper was equal
to the final effort. Darren McMullan pointed
the resultant “45” and Brian Fitzpatrick
pointed as well to give St John’s some
breathing space. Just as well as Bright went
on the offensive again and had a couple of
goal chances themselves. The first was a real
goalmouth scramble that was eventually cleared
and then Ciaran McCann was called upon to
make a good save.
Relieved, St John’s pushed forward
again with both Barry Russell and Darren McMullan,
from free about 40m out, putting points on
the board for St John’s. Bright finished
the scoring with a pointed 13m free in the
dying minutes but it was a case of too little
too late as St John’s go into the hat
for the next round. If it had been a game
of “forwards v back” for the Johnnies
it would have been the backs who would have
progressed!
St John’s: Ciaran McCann, John McMullan,
Mickey Flynn, Stephen Magorrian; Cathal O’Connor,
Conor Burns, Dodie Burns; Sean Kelly, Dan
Marmion; Barry Russell (0-2), Ryan Gibney,
Damien Murray (0-1); Conor Braniff (1-0),
Darren McMullan (0-2, 1 “45”,
1f), Brian Fitzpatrick (0-3). Subs: Conor
McCombe for Stephen Magorrian, John Fegan
for Conor McCombe, Joe Savage, Jimmy Lavery,
Sean Clarke, Eoin McKinney.
