Joe’s earn play-off joust with the Blues

ST JOSEPHS ST MOCHTAS 2-17 2-9

ST JOSEPH’S confirmed their place in the play-offs when an eight point victory over St Mochtas saw them earn a meeting with Newtown Blues.

The Joes went into the game knowing that victory would see them finish in the top four, but it didn’t start too well as within 30 seconds Stephen McCooey had the ball in the net for the Mochtas.

The Joes fought back to level with the help of scores from Oisin McGuinness, Alan McKenna and Conal O’Hanlon before a goal from O’Hanlon had the Dromiskin side in front.

A point from Liam McGranaghan had the teams level at 1-4 each but the Joes struck the last three points of the half to lead by 1-7 to 1-4 at half time.

The home side increased the lead to five points early in the second half but the Mochtas came storming back and after 46 minutes the deficit was cut to 1-10 to 1-8.

McGuinness, McKenna and O’Hanlon pointed without reply but the Mochtas once again hit back when Gerry Garland found the back of the net and with nine minutes to play the difference was back to two points.

However, the Joes dominated the closing stages and added three points before an Oisin McGuinness goal in the closing moments sealed the victory.

ST JOSEPHS: Robert Sansom; Alan Lynch, Shane McQuillan, Stefan Potts; David Kieran, Bernard Mulligan, Daire Smyth; Adam O’Connor, Peter Brennan (02); Craig Doherty, Conal O’Hanlon (1-5,5f), Jack Mulligan (0-2); Conall Smyth (0-1), Oisin McGuinness (1-4), Alan McKenna (0-3,45,2f). Sub: Killian Staunton for B Mulligan.

ST MOCHTAS: Fergus English; Liam Lawlor, Andrew English, Nicholas Brown; Brendan Duff, Gary Connolly, Barry Mulholland; Gareth O’Reilly, Shane McMahon; Liam McGranaghan, Declan Byrne, Stephen McCooey; Gerry Garland, Philip Englishby, Darren McMahon. Sub. Eamon O’Neill.