Joe’s in promotion hunt
ST JOSEPHS NA PIARSAIGH 1-15 0-11
THE Joes collected two valuable League points in their quest for a play-off promotion place from Division 2 when they came the through against Na Piarsaigh on a scoreline of 1-15 to 0-11.
Scores were hard to come by early on, but Na Piarsaigh, who are fighting for survival, edged in front by 0-4 to 0-3 on 23 minutes.
However, the final six minutes of the half saw the Joes hit five unanswered points, while some fine goalkeeping from Damian McCrink denied them a goal.
It was 0-8 to 0-4 at half-time and the Joes continued where they left off after the break with a couple of Conall Smyth points.
Na Piarsaigh replied with a 20m free from the boot of Robbie Murphy. Mark Larkin was on target from a 40m free for Na Piarsaigh before Craig Doherty setup O’Hanlon for a superb long range effort before O’Hanlon landed a 40m free to leave the score at 0-12 to 0-6 on 45 minutes.
In a sweeping move by the Joes, Conal O’Hanlon found Peter Brennan who finished to the net with a superb strike from an acute angle although Na Piarsaigh narrowed the gap with points from Mark Larkin and David Boyle. Both goalkeepers again excelled in the closing minutes with McCrink denying Conal O’Hanlon with a point blank save and Robert Sansom brilliantly deflecting Robbie McCartneys’ rasping shot over the crossbar.
The Joes added points from an Alan Quigley 45 and a 40m free with a final point from the excellent Conall Smyth. Na Piarsaigh finished the scoring with a final point from Mark Larkin.
ST JOSEPHS: Robert Sansom; Alan Lynch, Bernard Mulligan, Stefan Potts; David Mernagh, Killian Staunton, David Kieran; Adam O’Connor, Peter Brennan 1-0; Craig Doherty 0-1, Daire Smyth, Jack Mulligan; Alan Quigley 0-2; Conal O’Hanlon 0-6, Conal Smyth 0-6.
NA PIARSAIGH: Damien McCrink; Joe Woods, Conall Shields, Stephen McGuinness; Ciaran Murphy, Ronan McCartney, Gary O’Hare; Michael Woods, Gerard Smyth; Eamon McAuley 0-1, Mark Larkin 0-4, Robbie Murphy 0-4; Damien McGeeney 0-1, Mark O’Hare, David Boyle 0-1.