St John’s out for revenge in Benson Cup

FOR the second time in a week Stenson Park played host to a senior match between St. John’s and Coolera- Strandhill. Having lost to their visitors in the previous league encounter, St. John’s reversed the result in this Benson Cup tie played on Saturday evening, eventually winning 2- 12 to 0- 12. It was the classic example of a game of two halves where the wind had a big influence on proceedings. Playing with the aid of the strong breeze in the opening half, Coolera- Strandhill were first to attack when after just one minute centre forward Conor O’ Mahony saw his shot come back off the crossbar, only to be cleared by the home defence. The opening score came just two minutes later when Brian McGowan pointed for St. John’s. There then followed a ten minute purple patch for Cooolera- Strandhill, during which they scored six points without reply; corner forwards Barry O’ Mahony and Karol O’ Neill contributing 0- 02 each, the others coming from Karl O’ Reilly and Cillian McCaheny. The visitors were in control at this stage and could have been further ahead, but for a fine save by Noel O’ Donnell in the St. John’s goal when Barry O’ Mahony broke through on thirteen minutes. Points from David Rooney, the first a free and the second from play following a pass from Alan Keane kept St. John’s in touch at this stage of the half, but Coolera replied with two points of their own, the first a fine solo effort from Mark McCallion before Karol O’ Neill added his third of the evening. After twenty minutes the score was 0- 08 to 0- 03 to the visitors, who were good value for the lead. Indeed, the tie could have been over as a contest at half time, were it not for numerous missed chances from Coolera. Two goal opportunities were missed when O’ Donnell again saved from O’ Mahony and Kevin Banks saw his effort go wide having broken through from midfield. St. John’s held firm, and a third David Rooney point, finishing a fine passing move, was added to when John Reilly opened his account with a fine point following a pass from Rooney. The margin was down to just three points heading into injury time, but points from O’ Mahony and Frankie O’ Flynn extended the lead again to leave the score 0- 10 to 0- 05 at half time. The second half began with Diarmuid Mulcahy replacing Cillian McCaheny on the Coolera side. The opening exchanges saw both teams shoot wides, before Barry O’ Mahony put over his fourth point of the day. David Rooney, who with his midfield partner Brian McGowan was to dominate the second half, responded with a long range effort and Daniel Smith added another to bring the margin down to four. A pointed free from O’ Mahony after nine minutes was to be the visitors’ final score, before St. John’s began to impose themselves. Three more points from Rooney, and one each from Ross Gordon and Alan Keane levelled the tie with five minutes left. It was all one way traffic by now and the Coolera- Strandhill defence was struggling to cope with the movement of the home attack, particularly the energetic Conor Greene at centre forward. A long range effort from David Rooney after twenty four minutes came back off the upright and John Reilly was first to react, when he pounced on the breaking ball to score the first of his two goals. He followed this with the final score of the match when he slotted home just on full time giving St. John’s a well deserved victory and some consolation for the defeat the previous week. ST. JOHN’S: Noel O’ Donnell, Cian Hough, Enda Roche, Robert Fahy, Neil Hayes, Niall Walsh, Patrick McDonagh, David Rooney ( 0- 07), Brian McGowan ( 0- 01), Daniel Smith ( 0- 01), Conor Greene, Ross Gordon ( 0- 01), John Reilly ( 2- 01), Ryan McManus, Alan Keane ( 0- 01). Subs; Andrew Kerr, Ray Henry. COOLERA- STRANDHILL: Kevin Kelly, Seán Wynne, David McGee, Mark Comerford, Colin Parke, Gary Cawley, Ciaran Moloney, Kevin Banks, Cillian McCaheny ( 0- 01) ( Diarmuid Mulcahy), Mark McCallion ( 0- 01), Conor O’ Mahony ( Kieran Prior), Karl O’ Reilly ( 0- 01), Barry O’ Mahony ( 005), Frankie O’ Flynn ( 0- 01)( Barry Doyle), Karol O’ Neill ( 0- 03), subs; James Hampson, Diarmuid Loftus, Ronan Redmond. INSET: Ross Gordon, St John’s and Mark Comerford, Coolera/ Strandhill.