Dromara chase St John’s
all the way: St John’s 1-11 v 1-10 Aghaderg
Fri 13th June
St John’s unblemished record was put
in severe danger by an able and determined Dromara
side and it only survived by the narrowest of
margins.
St John’s got off to a fabulous start
with a goal in the opening minute stemming from
the throw in. Indeed they had the ball in the
net twice. They netted first when young Flanagan
wriggled his way through the Dromara defence
to net from 3 metres out. But the ref had already
blown for a foul, and a penalty, as he was held
by two Dromara defenders. Eugene O’Boyle
stepped and drove the penalty to the keeper’s
left to give St John’s the perfect start.
But Dromara were unfazed by this upset and
were soon probing for chances themselves and
were rewarded with a brace of pointed frees.
Damien Murray increased St John’s lead
but this was negated when the visitors’
rampaging half-back pointed. St John’s
took the next two scores with Ryan Gibney’s
free from wide on the right being followed by
a point for Ryan Flanagan. Dromara struck back
with two well worked points but wouldn’t
score again for another fifteen minutes.
St John’s had their best period in the
last ten minutes before the turnaround as they
notched up four unanswered points. Mickey Flynn
pointed after the ball had been worked well
down the right wing, Conor Flanagan pointed
after receiving a great pass from Conor Burns
and Damien Murray scored before Ryan Gibney
sent over another free. Even though Dromara
pointed a free for the final score of the half
St John’s looked to be in control at 1-7
to 0-6 and having seen off, apparently, the
early challenge of their neighbours.
DJ Kane must have sneaked into the Dromara
half-time huddle with another “inspirational
speech” for they started the second half
on fire. A pointed free reduced the margin before
the visitors started to create a few goal chances.
Each time the St John’s defence were able
to turnover possession and smuggle the ball
away. A Brian Fitzpatrick pointed offered some
breathing space but Dromara were back on the
attack straight away. A shot at goal went wide
before a high dropping ball from the left fooled
the goalkeeper and landed in the goals. They
had a chance to level but their effort went
wide. Gerard McAnulty pointed after St John’s
had turned over possession but the team had
to work very hard to create that opportunity.
Colm Kelly pointed another free for the visitors
to bring the margin back to the minimum. Ryan
Gibney replied with another free but then we
went for ten minutes without a score. St John’s
fired a couple of wides during that spell but
it was the visitors who looked the more likely
scorers at this time and the St John’s
backs must take a great deal of collective credit
for their stubbornness during this phase. Indeed
that defensive stubbornness saw them home in
the end.
With so much defensive work being done it was
inevitable that a number of frees would be conceded.
Colm Kelly pointed two frees before the close
but between those Ryan Gibney scored the point
that ultimately saw St John’s maintain
their 100% record, but only by the narrowest
margin and by the skin of their teeth.
The half time entertainment was provided by
the some of the under-14s practicing their skills
before the championship. Michael Keenan outshot
Darren Morgan and Kevin Keenan.
St John’s: Darren McMullan; Declan Burns,
Dan Marmion, Conor Burns; Donal Burns, Ronan
Kelly, Mickey Flynn (0-1); Joe Savage, Ryan
Gibney (0-4, 3f); Eugene O’Boyle (1-0,
1-0f), Gerard McAnulty (0-1), Ryan Flanagan
(0-1); Conor Flanagan (0-1), Damien Murray (0-2),
Brian Fitzpatrick (0-1) used: Sean Kelly for
Eugene O’Boyle.
