Second defeat for St. John's in Intermediate Championship

Kennedy’s sponsored Intermediate Championships rd 2

Cloonacool 1-17 St. John’s 1-6

Brennan stars for Cloonacool

Operating at Centre half back Evander Brennan covered every inch of Markievicz Park. With his prodigious work rate he drove Cloonacool on with every opportunity, writes Michael McGee

 Brennan’s extraordinary engine seen the likes of Hughie Marren & James Lawrence benefit greatly  to get the all important scores and scupper any chance of a St. John’s fightback.

Joe Neary opened Cloonacool’s account with their first attack a point from 35 meters out after just 40 seconds.  Five minutes later St. John’s Dylan Healy had the sides level with a well taken score from all of 38 meters. Two converted frees from reliable freetaker Colm Henry and a point from James Lawrence put Cloonacool 4 points to 1 in front after just 13 minutes of play. The St. John’s response was swift and immediate, Fiachra Grennan gathered a ball over on the right wing 24 meters out and raced past 2 Cloonacool defenders before blasting to the roof of James Armstrong’s net to level the match .

The wily Joe Neary was again on the score sheet with a point and Evander Brennan added to it a minute later.  A Cloonacool defender lost possession when coming out with the ball and Geoff Corcoran was gifted an easy score from 13 meters out. James Lawrence & Fiachra Grennan then traded scores.  And two further scores on the stroke of half time from Hughie Marren & Colm Henry put Cloonacool 0-9 to 1-3 ahead at half time.

Jamie Lawrence pointed for Cloonacool just after the break. Noel Hynes in the St. John’s goal made a terrific save from Brennan soon afterwards. Fiachra Grennan was again on target for St. Johns after 6 minutes.    Cloonacool’s full forward Hughie Marren who had an outstanding game throughout took on 3 St. John’s defenders before splitting the posts for a great individual score on 11 minutes.   Further scores from Evander Brennan, Jamie Lawrence, Damien Sweeney (2) in an 8 minute spell had Cloonacool well out in front by 15 points to 1-5. The game was put well and truly beyond St. John’s reach with Brennan’s pin point pass to Marren and he nonchalantly placed the ball low and away from the despairing reach of Noel Hynes in the St.John’s goal.

  Some great interchange play from Brennan to Henry and back to Brennan pointing, added to St. John’s woes.  Marren & Grennan exchanged scores before Michael Gallagher pointed and ended the scoring with Cloonacool comfortably winning out by 1-17 to 1-6. Cloonacool’s win compounded a miserable evening for the footballers of St. John’s in Markievicz Park.

Best for Cloonacool were Niall Walsh, Evander Brennan, Joe Neary, Colm Henry and the entire full forward line of James Lawrence, Hughie Marren & Damien Sweeney.

St. Johns were best served by Robert Fahy, Fiachra Grennan, Mark Cunningham & Kieran Blake.

Cloonacool: James Armstrong, Padraig Murtagh, Niall McCarrick, Niall Walsh, Gerard Mullarkey, Evander Brennan,  Bill Carthy, Joe Neary, Fergus Leonard, Ronan Leonard, Colm Henry, Packie McIntryre,  James Lawrence,  Hughie Marren, Damien Sweeney. Subs Michael Gallagher 55 mins (0-1) Michael Henry & Stephen Gallagher both 57 mins

St John’s: Noel Hynes, Kieran Walsh, Paul McDonnell, Paul McLean, Robert Fahy, Jamie Grehan,  Shane Kilcawley, Mark Cunningham, Kieran Blake, James Noonan, John Reilly, Dylan Healy, Fiachra Grennan,  Dara McGarrity, Geoff Corcoran: Subs: Alex Selby  (20 mins)  Mark Gerrity (35 mins) John Reilly  (46 mins) Andrew Kerr (50 mins)

Scores Cloonacool: Hughie Marren (1-3) James Lawrence (0-4)  Colm Henry (0-3) Evander Brennan (0-3) Joe Neary (0-2)  Damien Sweeney (0-2)  Michael Gallagher (0-1)

St. Johns: Fiachra Grennan  (1-4) Geoff Corcoran (0-1) Dylan Healy (0-1)

Referee: Ciaran O’Donnell.