ACFL Div 2
St John’s 2-11 Saul 2-09
The Seniors played their opening ACFL Division 2 game last Monday night when they hosted Saul at Pairc Naomh Eoin writes Eugene O’Boyle.
John Clarke impressed on his competitive debut, top scoring with a tally of 1-7. It was just as well that he did as only four other Johnnies registered on the scoresheet. Saul started best in wintry conditions, helped by a bitter northerly wind. They were two points up before John Clarke replied and had increased their advantage with another pair of points within the first ten minutes.
Then Barry Russell won possession around the middle and laid the ball off to Chris McKay who delivered a long low pass for Clarke to collect. The former An Riocht man still had plenty to do but did it well and finished low to the back of the net. Parity was restored.
Saul pushed ahead but a free from Clarke cancelled that and a point from Barry Russell put the home side ahead. The balance which initially was in Saul’s favour seemed to be turning for St John’s. Midfielders traded score before a couple of pointed frees from Clarke gave St John’s a three point advantage at the turnaround, 1-07 to 0-07.
Another Clarke free added to the advantage after the restart but Saul got one in reply. St John’s fired a couple of wides when they seemed to be having the upper hand and paid for that when the next score raised a green flag for Saul. The sides were level again as we approached the midpoint of the second half.
Marty Keenan was sprung from the bench and St John’s didn’t have to wait long for him to make an impact as he also raised a green flag. Conor Flanagan started the move by winning possession. McKay fed Anthony Doran who saw Keenan free and delivered an inviting pass. Keenan accepted the invitation and fired forcefully to the net. But Saul would not lie down. Their next attack yielded another goal as their midfielder fisted to the net. With ten minutes to play the sides were tied on 2-08 apiece.
A Gilmore free nudged the Johnnies ahead but that lead was short lived. But try as they might that was to be Saul’s last score and pointed frees from Clarke and Gilmore meant that the Johnnies got their 2015 league campaign off to a winning start.
St John’s team: Darren McMullan; Cathal O’Connor, Harry McMullan, Darren Savage; Jonny Addis, Conor Flanagan, Aodhan Morgan; Chris McKay (0-1), Ray Addis; Barry Russell (0-1), Hugh Flanagan, Conor Branniff; Anthony Doran, John Clarke (1-7, 5f), Conor Gilmore (0-2, 2f). Subs used Mary Keenan (1-0) for Darren Savage, Joe Milligan for Ray Addis.
The Seniors then made it two wins from two with a 3-10 to 1-14 win away to Carryduff on Friday evening. St John’s led 2-4 to 0-9 at the half time whistle and held on in the second half to secure the points. Scorers: Barry Russell 2-1, Hugh Flanagan 1-0, John Clarke 0-3 (0-2f), Conor Gilmore 0-2 (0-2f), Anthony Doran 0-2, Chris McKay 0-1 and Marty Keenan 0-1.
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