St. John's G.A.A. Club weekly notes

St. John's G.A.A. Club weekly notes
City Leagues U-9’s
St John’s 1-0 Coolera 8-0

Rachel’s “gold trick” highlight in Club’s U-9’s opening city league match
Some people reading the final result might have thought St. John’s G.A.A. had taken up another code of football. However Brian O’Connor’s young cubs making their first appearance in the St. John’s colours played admirably well against a competent Coolera Side in this match played in Scarden (Monday 8th September)
Despite the final result the squad equipped themselves well and can’t be faulted for their efforts or endeavours and can only improve in future outings. The only goal coming from Rachel McGoldrick.

St. John’s: Donal in goals , Zack McLoughliln, Keelan Mulligan, Jack Davey, Kian Roddy, James Barnicle, Rachel McGoldrick, Adam Fenney, Jack Kelly.
Subs: Aidan Moore, Mimi Lee, Rian Keaney, Emma Egan, Kiara Basquille & Clodagh McLoughlin.
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St.John’s reach U-16 Championship final

A morale boosting result from the Club U-16s sees them into the championship final following an exciting victory over a gallant Geevagh side in a high scoring semi-final encounter in a sunny Stenson Park on Monday 8th September last

It was Geevagh who started off brightly with an early lead of 1-1 after 6 mintues. A close range free from Adam Grace and captain Ronan McGoldrick settled the side.
Geevagh stole in for another goal soon after but Senan Kelly who started at full forward brought St. John’s right back into it with a cracking goal following an accurate pass from Dillon Lynch McMorrow. It was to get even better for Stephen Cronin & Ger Egan’s young charges with captain fantastic Ronan McGoldrick’s thunderbolt that nearly lifted the netting off the goal for a fantastic strike. In a purple patch St. John’s added further points from Adam Grace & Shane Egan and a goal from Dillon Lynch McMorrow seen St. John’s leading 3-4 2-2 at half time.

The hard working Shane Egan extended St. John’s lead to 5 points. Geevagh came back into it with 2 points of their own to close the gap to 3 points. Another point from Dillon Lynch McMorrow who gave an eye catching performance at full forward put St. John’s clear with 1-1 to his credit. Substitute Ryan Gorman who replaced Joe Spratt was next to raise the green flag with St. John’s well in control leading by 5-6 to 2-5

In a dramatic turn of events Geevagh scored two goals one from a penalty after Ronan McGoldrick hauled down a Geevagh player in the penalty area. Points from Shane Egan, Ronan McGoldrick & Jack Walsh seemed to have broken Geevagh’s great resolve.

Geevagh’s great spirit seen them score a further two goals in the last five minutes of the game and St. John’s were on hanging by their fingertips by a mere point at this stage. It’s a stature of a good team when facing an onslaught they managed to dig in and drive on.

In an nail biting finish when leadership was required Adam Grace fired over the winning point warming the hearts of the St. John’s faithful on the sidelines. A great team effort with good individual performances from Jordan Gorman in the full back line . Shane Egan and Ronan Mc Goldrick in midfield . Adam Grace in the half forwards and both Dillon Lynch McMorrow and Sennan Kelly in full forward line .

U-16 Div 3 Championship semi-final: St. John’s 5-10 Geevagh 6-5
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St. John’s U-11’s win exciting encounter

St Johns under 11’s commenced their city league campaign with a narrow but deserved victory over a very good and skilful Coolera/Strandhill team at Scarden on Tuesday evening 8th September last by a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-12.

It was the proverbial game of two halves with Coolera/Strandhill having the better of the opening period. St Johns defence kept the team in the game in the first half with assured performances from Ciaran Quinn in goals and Ronan Hegarty, Sean Moore, Ray Mc Carney and Graham Kennedy . The team went in at the break down by 0-6 to 0-4.
The team management made a switch at half time bringing Ciaran Quinn to midfield and switching Marc Lyttle into goals. The switch had the desired effect. Marc Lyttle is a young player with great potential as a goalkeeper and he showed this by keeping the Coolera defence under great pressure with his long kick outs. St Johns also competed much better in the second half in midfield with good performances from Aine Gorman, John Hanbury and Ciaran Quinn.

The forward line also started to take their chances with an assured performance by Cormac Roddy ably assisted by Josh Davey, Tyler Haxell, David Elliott and Reece Wallace.
The game became a real sizzler with each team taking the lead. The match looked to be heading to a stalemate as the teams were tied at 0-12 to 0-12 when Coolera broke free but just pulled a shot wide of the post. Marc Lyttle sent a long kick out to midfield which was excellently fielded by Ciaran Quinn who quickly moved it on to Cormac Roddy and ran off his shoulder. Roddy spotted the run and returned the pass to Ciaran Quinn who sent the ball over the bar for a point from a difficult angle for what proved to be the winning point.

Best for St Johns on the night were Graham Kennedy, Cormac Roddy, Aine Gorman and Marc Lyttle
TEAM
Marc Lyttle, Ronan Hegarty, Sean Moore, Graham Kennedy, Cormac Roddy, Ciaran Quinn, Aine Gorman, John Hanbury, Tyler Haxell, Josh Davey, Ray Mc Carney, Reece Wallace, David Elliott.
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St. John’s U-10’S began their City League Campaign against a Coolera/Strandhill side in sunny Scarden last Tuesday 8th September
Making his debut in goals was Darren Mills a young player with a bright future ahead of him in the St. John's colours. His huge kickouts for a 10 year old beyond the halfway line was quite simply outstanding giving the St. John’s forwards a steady supply of great ball in to get scores from.
In the full back line was the ever dependent Feelan Flannery, Faith Collom, Conor McGowan & Julia Cybula whose heroic display stood out and was recognised as the player of the night.

At midfield were the trio of Brendan Kochivect, Adam Kenny & Corey O’Dowd who pressed forward at every available opportunity giving their counterparts much to think about.
In the forwards was Eoin Mulligan, Dara Walsh, Chloe Clerkin & Shay McGowan. It was the McGowan’s brothers who carved through the Coolera defence with Shay giving a defence splitting hand pass to his older brother Conor who made no mistake with a stunning strike.

The entire St. John’s team made telling contributions and with great determination and spirit the team brought the fight to their opponents. Coolera won a close contest but even in defeat there was much to savour from the St. John’s young starlets.

The St. John’s team that played on Tuesday were Darren Mills, Faith Collom, Julia Cybula, Feelan Flannery, Conor Mc Gowan, Brendan Kochivech, Corey O Dowd, Adam Kenny, Eoin Mulligan, Dara Walsh, Chloe Clerkin & Shay Mc Gowan.

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St. John’s to take U-16 title

Club PRO Michael McGee Previews the U-16 Shield final
St. John’s play Enniscrone on Tuesday evening (15th September) next in the U-16 Div 3 Shield final in Markievicz Park at 6.15 p.m.
The team have reached the final following wins over St. Patricks, Geevagh (2) and their only loss was against Ennisrone/Killglass their final opponents two weeks ago.
In their four games to date Stephen Cronin & Ger Egan charges have racked up an incredible total of 16-39 and averaging almost 4-10 per game.

The team are backboned by the double strike threat of Ronan McGoldrick & Dillon Lynch McMorrow who can be match winners on any day with the right ball fed into them. With defenders such as Adam Grace, Mark McGowan, Jack Sayers, Darragh Fleming Shane Egan all playing solidly throughout the campaign along with Senan Kelly & Joe Spratt there is every confidence the team can over turn the result over final opponents in Tuesday’s shield final.

Enniscrone were rather fortunate to win the last meeting between the sides on August 24th last with two late late goals just doing enough to get over the line by 5-8 to 3-6. Tuesday evening’s looks set to be equally close but I expect St. John’s to have learned more in that defeat two weeks ago.

And with the prospect of an long overdue Juvenile title coming to Carraroe it should be enough for the more hungry and focussed St. John’s to carry the day and emerge victorious.

A large travelling support is expected from the Carraroe Parish to spur the sky blues to an historic underage success.
Path to the final:

U-16 Div 3 Championship: St. John’s 4-11 St. Patrick’s 2-3
U-16 Championship Div 3 Rd 3: St. John’s 4-12 Geevagh 2-3
U-16 Championship Div 3 Rd 4: St. John's 3-6 Enniscrone 5-8
U-16 Championship semi-final: St. John’s 5-10 Geevagh 6-5

Fixtures:

Tuesday 15th Sept in Markievicz Park at 6.15 p.m.
U-16 F Championship Div 3 Shield Final: St. John’s v Enniscrone

Wednesday 16th September in Stenson Park at 6.30 p.m.
U-13 Feile Div 1 Group 3 Rd 2: St. John’s v Curry.

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