St John’s into semi-final
ST JOHN’S AUGHNASHEELIN 3-12 0-3
WHILE storm Brian blew wind and rain across the south and west of Ireland on Saturday last, Sligo champions St Johns blew Leitrim champions Aughnasheelin out of the Connacht Intermediate championship at a wind-swept Connacht Centre of Excellence in Bekan, Ballyhaunus. This fixture, which was to take place in the Markievicz Park, had to be transferred to the excellent Mayo venue due to the prevailing weather conditions as both the Sligo senior hurling and football finals were down for decision in the Park on Sunday. St Johns overcame this change of venue, a six day turnaround from their county final success and the best that Leitrim could throw at them to record a most impressive victory. On a day when the weather was at its worst St Johns were at their best as they reserved what must have been their most impressive team display of the year for this important fixture to advance to the semi-final where they will meet the winners of Claregalway and Williamstown who contest the Galway county final on Sunday next. St Johns had first use of the strong wind which blew down the pitch and they were quickly into their stride with an Alan Keane point from play in the first minute. He followed this up with a pointed free in the 4th minute and then David Rooney from a free and Paul McNamara from play brought the Johns tally to 0-4. In the 10th minute Keane disposed an Aughnasheelin defender and struck a low shot to the net for St Johns first goal and in the 12th minute, then he added another point from play. After 15 minutes a speculative shot from the busy Conor Greene caught Aughnasheelin goalie Dean Flanagan out as it crept in under the bar for goal number two for the Sligo boys.
St Johns did not have it all their own way as Aughnasheelin swept upfield and only a great reaction save from goalie Noel O’Donnell kept them scoreless. As the Saints got back on attack Brian McGowan scored his first point and a Keane point from play and another from a ‘45 before McGowan added his second to leave the half time score 2-9 to 0-0.Aughnasheelin with the benefit of the wind in the second half came more into the play and got on the scoreboard after 3 minutes with a point from a Fintan Fitzpatrick free. Within two minutes substitute Michael Domican doubled their tally with a point from play on the left. After 10 minutes, following an off-the-ball incident, both sides were reduced to fourteen players when Mayo referee Sean Mc Mahon dismissed St Johns midfielder James Murphy and Aughnasheelin centre back Sean McWeeney. Rooney then got St Johns first point of this half and by the 15th minute the Leitrim champion’s forces were further depleted when Philip Dolan received a second yellow card.
A pointed Rooney free and one from play from McGowan followed before Fitzpatrick recorded his second point from a free to complete the Leitrim tally. With his first touch of the game St Johns substitute Cathal Jordan srtuck an unstoppable shot to the Aughnasheelin net to leave the final score at 3 -12 to 0 – 3 for the joyous Sligo boys.
St Johns can take great confidence from this fine team performance as for the first time in the championship they played as a team for the full hour. If they continue at this high standard they will make good progress in Connacht. ST JOHN’S; N O’Donnell; A Clerkin, E Roche, R Fahy; C Harrison, D Rooney, O Cox; P McNamara, J Murphy; T Kelly, C Greene, S Stenson; B Mc Gowan, A Keane, F Grennan; Subs K Sweeney for Grennan; N Hayes for Stenson; D Smith for Fahy;C Jordan for Keane; D Burke for Kelly.