Senior Football Relegation play off: St. John’s 0-13 Drumcliffe/Rosses Point 0-13
Greene’s last gasp point saves St. John’s.
St. John’s live to fight another day following an equalizing point in the third minute of injury time from the boot of Conor Greene, writes Michael McGee.
After a battling performance from both teams the sides could not be separated. Same as their league meeting last April which also ended level.
With twelve minutes remaining St. John’s looked to be in control when leading by 0-11 to 0-8. But they had to hang on at the final whistle following a strong last ten minutes showing from Drumcliffe thanks to that late late equalizing Greene score with the last kick of the game.
St John's appeared to be the better team for long stretches but couldn't deliver the knock-out blow when required while Drumcliffe will be thankful for Paul Logan's accuracy from dead balls.
Drumcliffe’s Paul Logan opened the scoring in the first minute. St. John’s took the lead with 2 points in a row on five minutes from the versatile Brian McGowan and a great strike from Tommy Kelly. Fiachra Grennan should have goaled when on a one on one with Drumcliffe’s goalkeeper Justin Lyons. Lyons smartly smothered Grennan’s shot. While David Rooney’s shot from 21 metres was brilliantly blocked down by Niall Colleary. St. John’s Brian McGowan was ever dangerous with ball in hand and his searing pace seen him ghost past two defenders before slotting over a great score to push Sean Kennedy charges 3 point to 1 ahead after 11 minutes of play. Drumcliffe were awarded a free 43 meters out from the St. John’s goal and up came Paul Logan who calmly struck the ball straight over the bar. Logan was lethal with his free taking and would end up with a personal tally of 9 points all from frees. Ian Rossitor pointed a free flowing a foul on Conor Greene from 14 metres out with twenty minutes gone and this was quickly added to by the impressive David Rooney with another point on the run. A brace from Paul Logan at almost the identical place within a minute levelled up the match at 5 points each. Great team play from St. John’s midfield duo of Shane Stenson & Paul McNamara who fed Brian McGowan and he duly pointed to put St. John’s one up, (0-6 to 0-5) going into the interval.
With the fading light both teams came out for the second half and Paul Logan tied up the match with another free following a push on Neil Ewing right after the interval. Ian Rossitor edged St. John’s in front with another free. Niall Walsh the converted corner forward was the St. John’s playmaker and his long delivery from 40 metres was expertly fisted over the bar by Fiachra Grennan on the edge of the square. While Oisin Cox pushed St. John’s 3 clear after 43 minutes. Drumcliffe’s Alan O Dowd kept his side in it with a good score while David Rooney again put St. John’s 3 clear with his second point of the match half way through the second half. Drumcliffe’s ace free taker Paul Logan punished any mistakes in the St. John’s rearguard and his accurate free taking kept them within touching distance. Things didn’t look good for Drumcliffe after Neil Ewing received his second yellow card following a foul on his county team mate Eoin Flanagan. St. John’s substitute Robbie Fahy pointed within minutes of entering the fray while Drumcliffe’s substitute Sean Power did the same at the other end. Despite a man down Drumcliffe surged forward with points from John Henry and Paul Logan tied the match at 0-11 each with 8 minutes remaining. Fiachra Grennan with a brilliant catch over his opposite number following a high delivery in from Shane Stenson and turned swiftly pointing with a forwards instinct. Logan’s accurate boot drew the side’s level again with another pointed free from 20 minutes. Their cause didn’t look good after being reduced to 13 players following the dismissal of John Harvey for a second yellow on 58 minutes. However Drumcliffe seemed to have stolen the show from St. John’s grasp with Logan’s ninth pointed free on 61 minutes. Yet there was still time for more drama. Drumcliffe packed their defence and St. John’s were forced out wide with Drumcliffe threw everything into defence yet in the 3rd minute of injury time up popped Conor Greene and he somehow found an opening slotting over the equalizing point with the last kick of the game much to the relief of the St. John’s faithful in attendance.
Best for St. Johns were: Eoin Flanagan, Brian McGowan, Niall Walsh, Paul McNamara, Shane Stenson, David Rooney, Ronan McGarrigle & Fiachra Greenan while Drumcliffe’s/Rosses Point were best served by Paul Logan, Kevin Davey, Niall Canning, Neil Ewing, John Harvey & Niall Colleary.
St. John’s: Noel O’Donnell, Eoin Flanagan, Neil Hayes, Conor Greene, Cathal Jordan, Oisin Cox, Ronan McGarrigle, Shane Stenson, Paul McNamara, Brian McGowan, David Rooney, Tommy Kelly, Fiachra Grennan, Ian Rossitor, Niall Walsh.
Subs used Robbie Fahy, Robert Galvin.
Scorers St. Johns: Brian McGown (0-3) Ian Rossitor 0-2 -2f’s), David Rooney (0-2) Fiachra Grennan (0-2) Tommy Kelly (0-1), Oisin Cox (0-1) Conor Greene (0-1) Robbie Fahy (0-1)
Drumcliffe/Rosses Point:
Justin Lyons, Jude McGarry, Darragh Long, Ciaran McLoughlin, John Harvey, Gary Feeney, Niall Colleary, Conor Davey, Brian Og Murpy, Kevin Davey, Niall Canning, Eoin Gaughran, Alan O’Dowd, Paul Logan, Neil Ewing.
Subs used: Sean Peyton, Sean Power, Cian Lally, John McGowan & Jamie Gillen.
Scorers Drumcliffe/Rosses Point: Paul Logan (0-9 – 9 f’s), Eoin Gaughran (0-1), Alan O’Dowd (0-1), Sean Power (0-1), John Harvey (0-1).
Referee: Gus Chapman
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Afterwards Manager Sean Kennedy kindly gave me his thoughts on the drawn game.
Sean Kennedy: "It was a typical relegation game. Tit for tat. Nervy enough at the start. We went in at half time a point up and probably in control of the game for a large part of the second half. Drumcliffe had a man sent off and started to get more control of it. We battled back into the game and drew it in the end in a game a couple of weeks we might have lost."
Michael McGee: The team were 10 points to 7 up after 17 minutes of the second half. Drumcliffe came more into it in the last ten minutes. Very close finish with Conor Greene’s last gasp point. And the team showed great commitment to come back strongly in the end.
Sean Kennedy: "Yes, their showing great heart and resilience. Few lads back from America. Their only back 5/6 weeks and are only really beginning now. It’s more like the start of the season than end of season. Every game is bringing us on. Their showing great heart and grit. And I think that’s what we have been missing. It’s all to fight for again," added Sean.
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