ACHL Division One

Dunloy 3-16 St John’s 0-14

Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy

League champions Dunloy made it two from two on Sunday afternoon as they ran out 11 point winners against St John’s.  Majors from Keelan Molloy, Seaan Elliott and Conal Cunning proved to be the main difference on the scoreboard but in reality Dunloy were a step ahead of their city counterparts on the day.

Speed of play, slick movement and spatial awareness, the Cuchullains were in control for the majority of the game.  St John’s started either half brightly but they struggled to get any joy from a well drilled Dunloy defence.  They were hampered with the loss of influential defender Ryan McNulty, the game held up for over five minutes during the first half with the St John’s man carried off.  The Johnnies landed just seven points from open play over the hour while the Cuchullains boasted 3-12.  Domhnall Nugent was a handful on the edge of the square for the visitors to Pearse Park but the Cuchullain’s forward line were causing St John’s headaches once they settled and helped the home side to take charge.

Following a huge opening day win against St Gall’s, St John’s came into Sunday’s contest full of confidence and they started the hour well with Domhnall Moran and Conal Bohill splitting the uprights in the opening five minutes to give them an early advantage.

Those brace of white flags would be the last St John’s would raise until the 17^th minute however as Dunloy took control.  Keelan Molloy (two), Nicky McKeague (free), Eoin O’Neill and Cunning (free) gave the home side a three point lead in the 12 minutes they kept St John’s scoreless.  O’Neill’s point coming off the back of scintillating interplay from the Cuchullain’s that started with Aaron Crawford in the full back line.

St John’s briefly stopped the rot when Ciaran Johnston split the uprights from distance but the home side hammered home their advantage with Seaan Elliott scoring the opening goal of the match in the 19^th minute.  Reading the break of the sliotar and hammering home beyond Colm McFall in the St John’s goals.

Domhnall Nugent responded with his first of seven frees during the hour in the 22^nd minute but the home side continued to impress.  Nicky McKeague opened a five point lead for the home side before the break in play to allow McNulty to be treated.  When the game restarted, the Cuchullains rattled their second major.  Keelan Molloy latching onto a long delivery from O’Neill and finding the bottom right hand corner.

Nugent’s second free was swiftly followed by points from Keelan Molloy and Cunning as the home side took a nine point advantage at the short whistle.

The home side made the most of their purple patch after a slow start but St John’s kept them scoreless until the 12^th minute of the second half with Ciaran Johnston and Domnhall Nugent (two frees) reducing the Dunloy lead to six points before O’Neill fired over Dunloy’s opening point of the second half in the 42^nd minute.

Donal McKernan fired over for the Johnnies in reply only for Dunloy to take control once again.  A brace of quickfire points from Nicky McKeague and Cunning was answered to by Oisin Donnelly to leave the home side seven points ahead going into the final quarter. 

Ciaran Johnston’s third white flag of the match, his first from placed ball only for Nicky McKeague and Cunning to fire over once again for the home side.  Domhnall Nugent’s sixth free of the hour reduced the Dunloy lead to seven with three minutes of normal time remaining before Dunloy sealed the points with their third goal.  Keelan Molloy turning provider this time with Cunning giving the St John’s defence the slip before firing home.

Three white flags in as many minutes from Nicky McKeague, Cunning (free) and Paul Shiels meant the home side had scored 1-3 without reply in just four minutes.  St John’s finished the scoring with Micheál Dudley and Nugent (free) but it did little to take away from what was a comprehensive victory for the Cuchullains.

TEAMS

Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, Conor McKinley, Aaron Crawford; Kevin McKeague, Ryan McGarry, Kevin Molloy; Paul Shiels, Eamon Smyth; Keelan Molloy, Nicky McKeague, Deaglan Smyth; Seaan Elliott, Eoin O’Neill, Conal Cunning.

Scorers: Conal Cunning 1-5 (2 f’s); Keelan Molloy 1-3; Nicky McKeague 0-5 (2 f’s); Seaan Elliott 1-00; Eoin O’Neill 0-2; Paul Shiels 0-1.

St John’s: Colm McFall; Conal Morgan, Ryan McNulty, Jimmy Peoples; Padraig Nugent, Ciaran Johnston, Micheál Bradley; Domhnall Moran, Barry McFall; Shea Shannon, Michéal Dudley, Conal Bohill; Conor Johnston, Domhnall Nugent, Donal McKernan.

Scorers: Domhnall Nugent 0-7 (7 f’s); Ciaran Johnston 0-3 (1 ’65); Micheál Bradley 0-1; Domhnall Moran 0-1; Conal Bohill 0-1; Donal McKernan 0-1; Oisin Donnelly 0-1.

Referee: Darren McKeown (St Galls)

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