St. John’s march into semi-finals

St. John’s march into semi-finals

Following a dismal qualifying campaign which seen the Carraroe side just win two of their qualifying group games there is optimism at last that Anthony Brennan’s side could yet still have a major say on where the Owen B Hunt Cup will reside this year, writes Michael McGee.

In a low scoring first half both teams just managed 3 points each.

St. John’s Philip Greene opened the scoring for St. John’s after just 2 minutes following a pass from the athletic Charlie Harrison. A minute later Shane Stenson doubled St. John’s lead when tapping over a 13 meter free. The Coolera/Strandhill goalie Kevin Kelly then made a terrific save to deny Killian Sweeney from close range. The Coolera forwards were guilty of some poor shooting in good positions when shooting 6 first half wides.  It took Coolera/Strandhill  all of 12 minutes to get on the score board.   Barry O’Mahony’s point from all of 45 meters sailed between the posts. Oisin Cox following a great cross field pass from his midfield partner Shane Stenson ran 45 metres and pointed from 21 metres out.  Coolera’s Vinny Cadden moved out to midfield from the half forward line and did a lot of good work in the early exchanges.  Philip Greene was blacked carded and was replaced by Ronan McGarrigle.  Another 12 minutes elapsed before Coolera Strandhill managed to raise the white flag again this time from Chris McGlynn and this was quickly added to by Karol O’Neill a minute later.  Both sides went in at half time level at 0-3 each.

Rooney points the way

St.John’s were quickly into their stride at the start of the second half.   Great movement by Charlie Harrison on the left wing  who cut inside his marker fed the ball to Ronan McGarrigle who in turn seen the unmarked Shane Stenson free in the centre and he duly pointed from 22 metres out in front of the posts to edge the Carraroe men in front. Coolera brought on Garry Cadden after just 5 minutes of the second half but  it was St. John’s who moved through the gears.  Coolera/Strandhill goalie Kevin Kelly was again called into action after Killian Sweeney waltzed passed 2 defenders and Kelly again made a magnificent save to foil the inrushing full forward. It was to get even better for St. John’s as their super sub Mark Rooney’s 3 points in a five minute spell and Killian Sweeney who elected to kick the ball over the bar with a goal chance on with St. John’s leading 0-8 to 0-3 after 45 minutes.

Grennan’s goal stirs St. John’s

It took Coolera/Strandhill all of twenty minutes to register their first score in the second half with Ciaran Brennan pointing following good work from Niall Murphy. Murphy was again on hand to point soon after.  St. John’s stamped their authority on the game when their star forward Fiachra Greenan gathered a ball in the left corner. There didn’t seem to be any danger yet within a flash Grennan rounded Conor McDonagh and let fly from 14 meters shooting to the roof of the net giving Kelly no chance.  Niall Murphy then pointed for Coolera/Strandhill.  From the resulting kick out the ball broke kindly at midfield into the hands of the inrushing Tommy Kelly. Kelly ran at pace from the half way line at full throttle to put the ball between the posts for an excellent score. With time almost up Coolera finally found a way through the St. John’s well managed rearguard. Keelan Cawley who had a quiet game by his standards finally came to life when bursting past two defenders before placing the ball low past O’Donnell’s despairing dive. It was a case of too little too late for Coolera/Standhill as referee John Gilmartin blew the final whistle soon after.

Best for St. John’s were Killian Sweeney, Mark Rooney, Shane Stenson, Niall Walsh,  Charlie Harrison, Tommy Kelly & Oisin Cox while Coolera/Strandhill’s  Gary & Vinny Cadden, Karol O’Neill, Kevin Kelly & Niall Murphy all putting in notable performances.

Scorers St. John’s Fiachra Grennan 1-0, Mark Rooney 0-3,Shane Stenson 0-2, Tommy Kelly 0-1, Oisin Cox 0-1, Philip Greene 0-1.

Coolera/Strandhill: Keelan Cawley 1-0, Niall Murphy 0-2, Ciaran Brennan 0-1,  Chris McGlynn 0-1,  Karol O’Neill 0-1,  Barry O’Mahony.

St. John's: Noel O’ Donnell, Aaron Clerkin, Niall Walsh, Eoin Flanagan, Feidhlim Murphy, David Rooney, Paul  McNamara,  Oisin Cox, Shane Stenson, Charlie Harrison, Philip Greene, Tommy Kelly, Ian Rossitor, Killian Sweeney, Fiachra Grennan.

Subs: Ronan McGarrigle for Greene black card 20 mins,  Mark Rooney for Rossitor 23 mins, Conor Green for McGarrigle 56 mins.

Coolera/Strandhill:

Kevin Kelly, Conor McDonagh, David McGee, Keelan Cawley, Gary Cawley, Karol O’Neill, Enada Mitchell, Ciaran Maloney, Adrian McPartland, Vinny Cadden, Barry Doyle, Niall Murphy, Chris McGlynn, John McPartland, Barry O’Mahony,

Subs: Gary Cadden for O’Mahony 35 mins, Tony Watters for McPartland 44 mins,

Referee John Gilmartin