St. John's hold out for win

Furey Coaches Sponsored Sligo SFL Division 1

St. John’s 1-10 Bunninadden 1-8

St.John’s hold on for win

St. John’s Division held out for a narrow victory over a determined Bunninadden in Stenson Park on Saturday evening, writes Michael McGee.

It could have been a different result had St. John’s goalkeeper Philip Greene not stopped a goal bound shot from Joe Rogers with 2 minutes remaining.

St. John’s were first on the scoreboard after just 30 seconds with Oisin Cox pointing following a swift movement right from the throw in.  Bunninadden drew level on 3 minutes from the boot of  Darren McManus.  St. John’s corner forward Brian Harris then pointed a free over on the left wing.  St.John’s John Scanlon got the saints next 3 scores in a ten minute spell. Bunninadden’s Mark Gormley   reduced the lead with a well struck point. The Carraroe side were the first to raise a green flag   when Thomas Kelly was put clean through by Conor Kierans accurate hand pass. Kelly with a forward’s instinct gave David Flannery in the Bunninadden goal no chance with a low powerful shot after 19 minutes.   Ross McManus came in for the injured Glen Clafferty for Bunninadden a minute later and had a solid game throughout.  Bunninadden moved up an extra gear and points from Joe Rogers (2) and Vinnie Frizzell ended the scoring in the first half with St. John’s leading by 1-5  0-5.

Greene saves the day for St. John’s

Frizzell started the Bunninadden fightback with a point from 21 meters within a minute of the restart. And two minutes later Frizzell had Bunninadden in front for the first time in the match after the St. John’s full back dropped the ball at his feet and Frizzell reacted quickest to kick the ball into the net for an opportunist goal.   Brian Harris had the sides level at 1-6 each with a good exchange of passes from the hardworking Brian McGown. Bunninadden’s James McLoughlin got a great score on the right wing from 30 meters.  Mark Rooney drew the sides level yet again at 1-7 each.  The next three scores came from St. John’s. David Rooney scored twice within a minute and another one from Brian Harris had St. John’s 1-10 to 1-07 up with 3 minutes left. In a frenetic finish  Bunninadden threw everything at it to rescue the tie. Vinnie Frizzell reduced the lead with a free from 24 meters out after Joe Rogers was hauled down when bearing down on goals. Frizzell elected to put the ball over the bar with the entire St. John’s backline manning the goal line. With 2 minutes to go Philip Greene made a great save from Bunninadden’s Joe Rogers when diving low to his right to push the goal bound shot around the post for a 45. More sustained pressure and other 45 but nothing came of it as a relieved St. John’s side held out for a narrow win in the end.  It was a workman like performance from the Cuilbeg side but the tally of 11 wides over the course of the match will be a worry for manager Anthony Brennan. Best for St John’s were David Rooney, Thomas Kelly, Mark Rooney, Brian Harris, Brian McGowan and John Scanlon while Bunninadden had notable performers in Vinnie Frizzell, Darren McManus, Ross McManus & Joe Rogers.

St. John’s

Philip Greene, Eoin Flannigan, Neil Hayes, Daniel Smith, Feidlinn Murphy, David Rooney (0-2), Thomas Kelly (1-0), Oisin Cox (0-1), James Murphy, Conor Kierans, Mark Rooney (0-1), Brian McGowan, Brian Harris (0-3), John Scanlon (0-3), Conor Greene. Subs: Killian Sweeney (half time),Ross Gordon 48 minutes, Ian Rossiter  50 minutes, Fiachra Grennan 62 minutes

Bunninadden

David Flanagan, Carl Brennan, Seamy Leamy, Peadar McManus, Cian McManus, Mark Gormley (0-1), James McLoughlin (0-1), Vinnie Frizzell (1-3), Pauric Mitchell, Darren McManus (0-1), Glen Clafferty, Shane Kerins, Shane Doherty, Joe Rogers (0-2), Ciaran Gilligan. Subs:  Ross McManus (20 minutes), John McLoughlin (45 minutes)

Referee: Tom Gilmartin