St. John’s U-11’s win exciting encounter

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 Tuesdayevening 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.

Joint Managers: Gerry Quinn & Michael Hegarty

(Report with thanks to Gerry Quinn)

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