St. John’s GAC Notes For 19th August 2018. The Lilywhites were fastest out of the blocks and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead within the first ten minutes with Peter Fitzpatrick to the fore amongst the scorers. St John’s were briefly level when John Clarke pointed, but that was the only time the scoreboard showed parity at one a-piece. The scoreboard didn’t not fully reflect Ballymartin’s dominance of the early exchanges as they also fired five wides in the time it took them to get those four points.
St John’s won a 45 when Eoin Moag’s shot was blocked by Ballymartin full back and captain Mark Wheelan. Marty Keenan took the 45 to John Clarke who played Conor Morgan in for a point. Chris McKay caught the kick-out and worked the ball back into the mix. St John’s won a free which John Clarke stroked over to reduce the margin to the minimum, 0-4 v 0-3. However Cathal Doyle doubled Ballymartin’s advantage soon after.
There was a whiff on a goal chance for St John’s when Chris McKay played a sideline ball in towards the square but the Ballymartin defence ensure that the ball was cleared away. Harry McMullan reduced the margin again when his shot was touched over the bar by the keeper Colin Trainor.
Ballymartin dominated the last ten minutes as they had done the first ten, with four points in a row. A free from Conor Morgan left the scoreline 0-09 v 0-05 at the interval, and with St John’s having much to do. However, they must have known that there was much more in the tank.
Ballymartin extended their lead after the interval with a couple of points from Ryan McCulla and Peter Fitzpatrick from a free. They then suffered a set-back as their influential centre-fielder Austin Crawford was black-carded for brining Eoin Moag to the ground. This dismissal upset their rhythm for they did score again for another ten minutes, and only added another three points in total in the remaining twenty-five minutes.
Not that St John’s were shooting the lights out. Twelve minutes of the second period had elapsed before they scored when Eoin Moag created an opportunity for John Clarke. Cathal O’Connor pushed forward from corner-back to score the next point and to set an example for the forwards. That example wasn’t imitated.
The side then traded wides; three for Ballymartin, two for the Johnnies before Clarke and Marty Keenan combined for Conor Morgan to point. This reduced the margin to a single score but substitute Conor Fitzpatrick pointed for Ballymartin from the next attack.
St John’s redoubled their efforts for the final minutes. They notched up three scores between the 24th and 29th minutes, from Conor Morgan (a free), John Clarke and Marty Keenan to reduce the margin to the minimum. They also missed a scoreable free and had another poor wide during that purple patch – chances that might have changed the complexion of the game had they been taken.
As it was the margin was back to the minimum but Rory Quinn got the next point for the Lilywhites. John Clarke pointed a free as “at least five minutes of additional time” was announced, but Ballymartin were in no mood to be reeled in. The Johnnies could not sustain their burst and the last scores of the game went to Ryan Mc Culla and Noel Kerr to assure Ballymartin of a place in the quarter-finals. That destination is still open to St John’s but they will have to travel through the back door to get there.
St John’s: Darren Morgan; Cathal O’Connor (0-1), Aodhan Morgan, Mark Grant; Joe Savage, Ryan Flanagan, Conor Branniff; Harry McMullan (0-1), Ryan Gibney; Eoin Moag, Conor Morgan (0-4, 2f), Chris McKay; Marty Keenan (0-1), John Clarke (0-5, 2f), Conor Flanagan. Subs Gavin Grant for Conor Branniff (ht), Ciaran Magorrian for Joe Savage, Conor Gilmore for Chris McKay, Darren McMullan, Jonny Addis, Sam Walsh, Hugh Flanagan, Joe Milligan, Michael McMullan, Jamie McKevitt, Darren Savage, Ciaran McCann
Ballymartin: Colin Trainor; Michael Higgins, Mark Wheelan, James Doran; Ethan Smith, Adrian Doran, Noel Kerr (0-1); John Caldwell, Austin Crawford; Ryan McCulla (0-2), Peter Fitzpatrick (0-7, 0-4f), Sean Hughes; Cathal Doyle (0-2), Rory Philips, Michael Cunningham (0-1). Subs Sean Harper for Ethan Smith, Conor Fitzpatrick (0-1) for Rory Philips (blood), Conor Fitzpatrick for John Caldwell (bc), Rory Quinn (0-1) for Rory Philips.
St John’s Club Notes.
Walking Group: Drumee Lanes & Hen Mountain
Our walking group had two outings last week. On Wednesday evening (15th August) we went for a dander along the Drumee Lanes between Castlewellan and Newcastle. The network of footpaths here allows each visit to be different from the last and so we put together yet another different combination. They all give great views to the Mournes and the sea but this time it was enhanced by a rainbow arcing from the mountains to the sea.
On Saturday (18th August) we went to the Mournes for a short climb up Hen mountain. This may not be the biggest of hills but it is a mighty place to be nonetheless with rocky crags to play on.
Our next walk will be along the coastal path at Dundrum on Wednesday 29th August (leaving St John’s at 7.00pm and the NT car park at the edge of Dundrum at 7.15).
Contact Kevin McGlynn on 078 3596 0804 or kevin.mcglynn62@gmail.com if you are interested in coming along.
Wed 29th August Dundrum Coastal Path
Sat 8th Sept Quoile – Jaynes shore to Mound of Down
Sat 29th Sept Annalong Valley
Sat 6th Oct Audleystown / Castleward
Saturday walks – meet at the club and be ready to leave at 9.00am.
Mid-week walks – meet at the club and be ready to leave at 7.00pm, or at the start of the walk 15/20/25 minutes later.
Walk may change at short notice depending on weather etc.
Contact Kevin McGlynn on 078 3596 0804 for further details.
Lotto numbers were 2, 6, 21, 26. 1 £10 winner: Tom Crawford. Jackpot is £4,000. Do the club lotto online by visiting
https://www.klubfunder.com/
Save the date. The club will be running ‘Star in their Eyes’ on Saturday 17th November. Anyone interested please contact Cormac McMullan on 07871373381
