Joes’ goals decisive as they make IFC decider
St Joseph’s 3-11 Hunterstown 0-11
ST Josephs are just one win away from a return to the Senior ranks after Conal O’Hanlon inspired them to a nine-point victory over Hunterstown which saw them book an Intermediate Championship Final meeting with Mattock Rangers.
Ultimately it was the Joes ability to take their goal chances that proved the difference as they struck three killer blows at vital times, while at the other end Hunterstown just couldn’t find a way past Mark Neary despite creating a series of opportunities.
Rovers will also rue the failure to take a series of point opportunities at a time when they were very much in command as they ended the half with eight wides and number of other chances that fell short.
The Joes will be first to admit that they rode their luck in the first half but they made their opponents pay with goals from Alan Quigley and Conal O’Hanlon either side of the break putting them in control on the scoreboard.
A very disciplined defending display in the final 25 minutes allowed them keep Hunterstown at bay and in the end they held out comfortably for victory.
Against a Joes side depleted by injuries, Hunterstown would have fancied their chances coming into the game but they made a disastrous start as a Conall Smyth point was followed by an Alan Quigley effort that drifted over the head of Alan Fedigan and into the net.
Rovers settled into the game and landed three points from Ryan Burns (2) and, Paul Carrie while they also had goal chances through Keith Brennan and Carrie, while Burns had a good call for a penalty turned down.
Hunterstown continued to dominate but after wasting further chances for goals and points, it wasn’t until the 24th minute that they finally got in front when a Richie Taaffe point made it 0-6 to 1-2.
It looked as if it might click into place at that stage, but instead it was the Joes who turned the game on its head, with Conal O’Hanlon taking centre stage.
The full-forward landed two frees to restore his side’s lead before he cut in along the endline to set up Quigley for a simple goal in injury-time.
For good measure he added another point just before the short whistle to make it 2-5 to 0-6 in his side’s favour.
Those scores seemed to knock the confidence out of the Hunterstown men but as they searched for inspiration after the restart, it was the Joes who struck to put the game beyond doubt.
Two splendid long range frees from O’Hanlon extended the gap before he got on the end of a Derek Mulligan pass to fist home a third goal for a 3-7 to 0-6 advantage.
Despite Hunterstown enjoying the majority of possession for the remainder of the game, there was never going to be any way back as they were met by a brick wall of Joes defenders.
They were unable to find the space to threaten the goal and when they did create chances in the closing stages, Mark Neary was there to deny them, and ensure his team made it safely through to the final. ST JOSEPHS: Mark Neary; Alan Lynch, David Mernagh, Stefan Potts; Ciaran McGuinness, Ben Mulligan, Adam O’Connor; Tomas Smyth, Killian Staunton; Jack Mulligan 0-1, Conall Smyth 0-2, Craig Doherty; Alan Quigley 2-2, Conal O’Hanlon 1-5, Derek Mulligan 0-1. Subs: Shane McQuillan for T Smyth.
HUNTERSTOWN: Alan Fedigan; Brian Matthews, David Finn, Paul Taaffe; Alan Landy, Muiris O’Sullivan, Brendan Lennon; Tony McKenna, Ryan Ward 0-1; Glen Matthews 0-1, Padraig Matthews 0-1, Richie Taaffe 0-1; Paul Carrie 0-1, Keith Brennan, Ryan Burns 0-6 (3f, 3 ‘45’). Subs: Ciaran Carrie for D Finn BC.
REFEREE: Paul Kneel.