St.Johns back to winning ways

St.Johns back to winning ways

St. John’s came out on the right side of an exciting one point victory over Eastern Harps on Saturday evening last, writes Michael McGee.

St. Johns had two narrow one points defeats in recent weeks outscored the Harps by 0-11 to 0-10. Eastern Harps were the first to score after 4 minutes even though the ball appeared well wide of Noel Hynes right hand post. It took St.John’s all of eleven minutes to register their first score. The Harps threatened to overrun the “Saints” early in the early stages of the first half and it took some magnificent last ditch defending to keep them out. Brian “Gooch”McGovern who is having a great season for the Sky Blues pointed for the Carraroe side following great work from James Noonan who broke up a promising  Eastern Harps move and quickly  turned defence into attack. Three minutes later St. John’s went ahead from an unlikely source.   Right Corner Forward John McNulty who prior to Saturday’s match had not scored in 3 years pointed over on the right wing from 22 metres out .  Another six minutes elapsed before St. John’s midfielder Mark Rooney pointed following good work from Brian McGowan. Rooney’s midfielder partner Mark Cunningham was going through a lot of hard work in the centre of the park. Alex Selby at corner back was also having a great game at this stage. The Pilkington Brothers Michael & Paddy both playing midfield for the Harps both got on the score sheet. Michael Pilkington pointed from all of 45 meters straight over the bar on 25 minutes. A minute later Paddy also got on the score sheet from 35 metres to send the teams in at 3 points each. Harps could have been further ahead but shot 7 wides in the first half when in good positions and which was to prove costly in the end.

At half time St. John’s management team of Ray Henry & Niall Gordon made some positional changes and brought in Andrew Valley to bolster the forward line. Brian McGowan pointed after just 30 seconds into the second half to put St.John’s in front. Three minutes later the St. John’s physically imposing centre half back Jamie Grehan burst through the heart of the Harps defence for an inspirational point from 26 metres. For the next 10 minutes the Harps took control with 4 points without reply. Shane O’Hara pointed a free for Eastern Harps to reduce the lead and this was quickly followed with another Eastern Harps pointed free from David Sheppard.  Paddy Pilkington kept his composure when drilled a great score from all of 35 metres over the bar and  then M.J. McDermott then put  the Harps one point ahead 0-7 0-6.  St. John’s Robert Galvin steadied the St. John’s ship with an excellent score. The attacking half back had a great game for the Carraroe side drew the sides level on 15 minutes. Mark Rooney pointed a 14 metre free but this was cancelled out by Shane O’ Hara. Harps Paddy Pilkington again scored another accurate long range point from all of 40 metres.  With 10 minutes remaining and St.John’s one point in arrears a leader in the form of Mark Rooney grabbed the game by scruff of the neck when he scored 3 points in as many minutes.   The big midfielder pointed a free from 28 metres out and quickly followed up with another point from 45 metres a minute later.  St.John’s kept up the pressure and with 5 minutes remaining that man Rooney again applied the finishing touches with a long range score that went high over the bar from 40 metres.  The Harps reduced the lead to the minimum on 26 minutes from their substitute. Brian “Gooch” McGovern playing more like a Jack O’Shea funnelled back on numerous times to help out the overstretched defence. The Carraroe side held out for a narrow victory. In an overall great team display the likes of Mark Rooney, Alex Selby, James Noonan, Robert Galvin, Brian McGowan & Jamie Grehan all excelled.  

St.John’s:

Noel Hynes, Kieran Walsh, Rory Kearins, Alex Selby, Robert Galvin 0-1, Jamie Grehan 0-1,James Noonan, Mark Rooney 0-6, Mark Cunningham, Brian McGowan  0-2, Geoff Corcoran,  Andrew Kerr, David Heffernan, Gabriel Hynes, John McNulty 0-1. Subs Andrew Valley (half time), Dylan Healy (37 minutes).

Eastern Harps:

Colin McGill, Ciaran McGovern, Ciaran O’Hara, George Garvey, Tomas Murphy, John Lynch, Brian Convey, Michael Pilkingtown 0-1, Paddy Pilkington 0-3, David Shephard 0-1, Colm Duffy, Sean Murphy, Shane O’Hara 0-2, Declan Hannon, M.J. McDermott 0-2.

Referee: John Henry