ST JOHN’S BOW OUT OF CONNACHT
SLIGO Intermediate champions St John’s came up short in their attempt to reach the Connacht club final when they went down by a two point margin to Galway champions Claregalway in Markievicz Park on Sunday. This was a splendid spectacle of football to which both sides contributed greatly. The endeavour and passion exhibited by both teams ensured that the tension was high for both sets of supporters right up to the final whistle.
Claregalway came into this game only 24 hours after winning their county final on Saturday afternoon but their recent exertions did not show in their play and they were still full of running at the end of the game.
On this display they will be difficult to beat when they contest the Connacht final on November 19th against Roscommon champions Michael Glaveys.
St Johns had first use of the breeze that blew from the town goal and after a tentative beginning from both teams the Sligo boys got tonic start when Brian McGowan finished a great team movement with a deft strike to the Claregalway net in the 4th minute and this was quickly added to by a pointed free from David Rooney. The Galway boys got on the scoreboard when senior county player Danny Cummins scored his first point of the day in the 7th minute.
As play swung from end to end a strong McGowan shot came back off the junction of the post and crossbar while at the other end Cummins had a goal chance blocked out for an unconverted 45.
The strong-running former Galway minor Barry Goldrick had his first point in the 13th minute. A number of wides followed for both sides before further points from Cummins and Goldrick levelled the scores at 1-1 to 0-4 after 17 minutes.
St Johns went back into the lead when Tommy Kelly finished a great run with a splendid point and then Robbie Fahy scored a long range point from the right touchline.
St Johns goalie was then called into action when he moved swiftly from his goals to clear a Claregalway attack. Pointed frees from Rooney and Alan Keane extended the Johns lead to 4 points after 28 minutes, but Mark Rohan scored a point from a free to leave Claregalway only 3 behind at the short whistle 1 – 5 to 0 – 5.
In the second half the intensity of the game increased and no quarter was given by either side as they both fought for supremacy.
In the 7th minute, Keane pointed from play but Rohan quickly replied with one for the Galway boys. In the 11th minute Kelly scored his second for the Saints but Rohan responded with his third point and then Rooney and Goldrick swapped points to leave the score at 1 – 8 to 0 – 8 in the 15th minute of the half.
In the 17th min tragedy struck for St Johns when a Sean Moran free from 46 metres out seemed to be drifting wide until Danny Cummins showed his class to strongly punch the ball to the Johns net to bring the scores level at 1 – 8 each.
Rooney pointed again to push Johns ahead only for Moran to level matters again with a point from a free. As both sides emptied their benches to freshen up things, Moran fisted over a point for the Galway champions but Keane quickly replied with a pointed free to level the game once again. In the 29th minute Rohan with his 4th point and another from Moran in injury time killed off the St Johns challenge to leave the weary Galway champions as winners.
Claregalway can be well pleased with their weekend’s work as their hard work and opportunism paid off for them to reach their first Connacht final.
They were especially strong in their high fielding which caused St Johns problems for large periods of the game but it was their forward unit with their rapid movement, combination play and strong work ethic which was most effective.
They are a young team with two minors in the starting line-up and their recovery rate was remarkable as they were still going strong at the end.
St Johns put in a strong, spirited performance and were well in contention right up to the final whistle.
They were unlucky when some promising movements broke down but they can be pleased with their efforts even if the final result did not go their way.
ST JOHNS; Noel O’Donnell; Aaron Clerkin, Enda Roche, Niall Walsh; Charlie Harrison, Paul McNamara, Robbie Fahy(0-1); Oisin Cox, David Rooney(0-4); Tommy Kelly(0-2), Conor Greene, Shane Stenson; Brian Mc Gowan (1-0), Alan Keane (0-3),Fiachra Grennan Subs; David Burke for S Stenson, Killian Sweeney for F Grennan, Daniel Smith for N Walsh
CLAREGALWAY; Brian Donoghue; Brian Loughlin, Barry Callanan, Mark Goldrick; Peter Divilly, Simon Monaghan, Conor Campbell; Darren Hennessy, Eoghan Commins; Barry Goldrick (0-3), Sean Moran (0-3), Brian Callanan; Mark Rohan ( 0-4), Martin Kelly, Danny Cummins(1-2) Subs; Conor Kelly for M Kelly, Conor Glynn for E Commins, Joe Kearney for M Goldrick.