But holders have too much verve

Connolly-McGowan (two bookings). Ian Rossiter, who notched an impressive 1-8 in St John’s previous game, was the main scorer for St John’s here – he scored 1-4 in this Connacht Gold Intermediate Football Championship Group Two fixture.

Rossiter’s goal followed by a point from Conor Greene put St John’s ahead in the 34th minute, 1-5 to 1-3, as they recovered

For nearly the first 10 minutes of the second period this was the Tourlestrane that others have both feared and been unable to beat – hungry in tackles/duels, forceful with possession and exploiting chances.

Brian Egan and Liam Gaughan converted frees and then Liam Gaughan had a shot for a point that was halfblocked – the ball came to Cathal Henry, who nipped in and flicked it into the St Farnan’s net.

John Kelly’s point – his first and his side’s 13th – left St Farnan’s with it all to do.

During the next 25 minutes St Farnan’s certainly rediscovered their first-half appetite, outscoring Tourlestrane by five points, 0-9 to 0-4. Tourlestrane almost made things more comfortable by scoring a third goal but James Leonard’s shot was deflected for a ‘45’ by Simon Mullarkey after Oisin Kennedy’s foraging created the chance.

Another clever move involving Conan Marren and Brian Egan nearly sent John Kelly through but St Farnan’s closed the door just in time.

Player of the Match: John Kelly Tourlestrane: Adam Broe, JP

Lang, Barry Walsh, Kevin O’Hara, Oisín Kennedy, John Francis Carr, James Leonard (0-1), Adrian McIntyre, Conan Marren, Kenny Gavigan (0-1), Cathal Henry (2-3, 1f), Gary Gaughan, Liam Gaughan (0-6, 3f), John Kelly (0-1), Brian Egan (0-5, 2f, 1 ‘45’) Subs used: Feidhlim O’Donnell Ronan Walsh St Farnan’s: Simon Mullarkey, Gavin Connolly, Shane Molloy, Conor Gordon, James Weir, Eamonn Kilgannon, Shane O’Brien (0-2), Trevor

Kilgannon (0-1), Martin

A FIRST-HALF goal from Sligo star Sean Carrabine paved the way for Castleconnor’s four-point defeat of St John’s, 1-11 to 1-7, last Sunday at the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence in Scarden. St John’s, yet again, defied the odds and they did so with 14 players for the entire second-half because of the dismissal late in the first-half of Marc from a four-point interval deficit, 1-3 to 0-2. Castleconnor hit back with five points without reply, including scores from Luke Flynn (2), Oisin Flynn, Eoin Kent and Stephen Rogan, to regain control. St John’s later closed the gap to a point, 1-8 to 1-7, but Castleconnor scored the game’s last three points to seal victory.

Mulligan, Fionn Connolly, Finnian Cawley (1-0), Ciaran O’Connor (2-1, 1-0 pen), Thomas Cawley, Patrick O’Connor (0-8, 5f), Matthew Lang Subs used: Kevin McGee, Stephen Mulligan, Ronan Molloy Referee: Keith Henry left.