JOHN SAVAGE
THEY’RE a year late - that was unavoidable - but St Joseph’s quest for Joe Ward glory is starting to feel a wee bit familiar.
No-one saw them coming in ‘96 or ‘06, and after emerging from a group of death, and overcoming Geraldlines after a replay, Wayne McKeever’s underdogs of 2017 are building momentum again.
They had five points to spare over their neighbours at the Grove on Saturday night, but had they converted even half of the goal chances they created, the contest wouldn’t have even gone the distance.
Sean McEneaney was pressed into action inside the first minute to save smartly from Peter Brennan and runners from deep, penetrating the Gers’ defence, would become a recurring theme.
Gers certainly didn’t heed the first warning shot as a ‘45’ and kick-out later, they were carved open again and this time Alan Quigley squared to Derek Mulligan for a goal and the opening score of the game.
The Gers goal continued to lead a charmed life, but it didn’t take them long to find a rhythm of their own and with Jim McEneaney in breath-taking form, they were soon in the ascendency.
McEneaney scored his side’s first three points to square things up, and while Alan Quigley replied with a trademark ‘45’, a Dara Hamill free and a Glen Traoinor effort from a tight angle made it 0-5 to 1-1.
The Gers still looked vulnerable at the back, but two superb scores from McEneaney made it 0-7 to 1-1 six minutes before the break.
But the run-in to half-time was to prove a crucial spell as the Joes turned that four-point deficit into a three-point halftime lead.
The goal was another severe body blow as Alan McKenna found himself inside the Gers’ cover, prompting McEneaney to leave his line, but the ball somehow squeezed past them both, allowing Adam O’Connor to tap home a sitter.
The Gers struggled to make any headway after the break, but Josh Arrowsmith grabbed the lifeline they needed, firing home a Shane O’Hanlon knockdown from close range.
But if that left the door slightly ajar, the Joe’s slammed it shut almost as swiftly when McKenna capitalised on another mix-up between McEneaney and Gareth Neacy to mak it 3-8 to 1-10.
A red card for Arrowsmith left the Gers fighting a losing battle from there on and the Joes held firm in he face of some late pressure.
With two vital clashes with Newtown Blues on the horizon the Joes’ faithful will be anxiously waiting on news of Derek Mulligan after he departed with what looked like a bad knee injury in the opening half.
For the Gers it’s back to the drawing board and with Eamon McEneaney anouncing he will be stepping aside, it should be an interesting winter at McGeough Park.
ST JOSEPH’S: Robert Sansom; Alan Lynch, Shane McQuillan, Stefan Potts; Cian McGuinness, Ben Mulligan, David Kieran; Peter Brennan, Adam O’Connor 1-0; Craig Doherty 0-1, Conall Smyth, Daire Smyth 0-2; Alan Quigley 0-5 (3f, 2 ‘45’), Conal O’Hanlon 0-1f, Derek Mulligan 1-0. Subs: Alan McKenna 1-0 for D Mulligan (26), David Mernagh 0-1 for A Lynch (BC 43), Killian Staunton for C Smyth (BC 60+).
GERALDINES: Sean McEneaney; Gareth Neacy, James Craven, Kevin Pepper; Paul Clarke, Gerard Hoey, Jack Traynor; Paddy Hoey, Nicky Mackin; Josh Arrowsmith 1-0, Jim McEneaney 0-6 (2f), Sean Thornton; Dara Hamill 0-3 (2f), Matthew Corcoran 0-1, Glen Trainor 0-1. Subs: Shane O’Hanlon for S Thornton (41), Michael Rogers for N Mackin (47), Stephen Reidy for P Hoey (52),
REFEREE: David J McArdle.