Antrim U-21 Championship Grading Group 6
St Johns 0-13-0-12 Lamh Dhearg
From Kevin Herron at Woodlands
St Johns held off a late Lamh Dhearg rally and survived the dismissal of Dannan McKeogh to top their U-21 Grading Group with a 0-13-0-12 win at Woodlands on Wednesday evening.
Early points from CJ McKenna and Aaron Bradley got the Johnnies off to the best of starts at a wet and windswept Woodlands with Declan Smith replying at the other end.
Bradley doubled his account with a magnificent curling effort over the black spot and the lively CJ McKenna helped himself to two further scores to give their side a 0-05-0-01 lead inside of eight minutes.
St John’s were on a roll and further points from midfielder Conal Bohill and Dannan McKeogh made it five scores unanswered and gave the Lamhs a mountain to climb.
An inspirational point from midfielder Declan Dunne stemmed the tide with John Boyd and Mark Finnegan (free) helping the Hannahstown side to establish a foothold in proceedings and make it 0-07-0-04 at the midway point in the half.
A scoreless period of almost seven minutes was ended as CJ McKenna hoisted the ball over the bar from a difficult angle- though Eoin Matassa replied.
St Johns should have secured the opening goal five minutes before the break as Niall McCann was slipped though for a one-on-one with Daniel Hartley, but McCann dragged his low effort wide of the post and the Lamhs were let off the hook.
CJ McKenna (free) and Declan Smith traded further points late on though a second point of the half from Dannan McKeogh stretched the Johnnies lead at the break as the Whiterock men led 0-10-0-06.
Playing with the wind advantage in the second period it was Lamh Dhearg who made a bright beginning to the half and closed the gap with Mark Finnegan converting an early free and wing-half back Ethan Mervyn popping the ball over the bar.
St Johns restored their four-point advantage as Conal Bohill converted back to back frees and with a bit more composure in front of goal could have further extended his sides lead further.
At the other end the woodwork denied Lamh Dhearg a further point and the ball broke to Aaron Ferris whose effort flashed past the near post and wide.
Mark Finnegan’s third free of the evening was replied to by CJ McKenna, who conjured up how sixth point of the contest.
St Johns had weathered the majority of the half well but would face some pressure in the final 12 minutes as referee Colm McDonald dismissed Dannan McKeogh for a second bookable offence.
They survived an immediate let-off as a long ball into the area was met by the fist of Morgan Pettigrew whose effort crashed off the post and wide to the frustration off the Hannahstown men.
Mark Finnegan closed the gap with five minutes remaining through his fourth converted free of the evening and then curled the ball over the bar for his first from play to make it a two-point game going into time added on (0-13-0-11).
JJ Hawkins steered the ball over the black spot to reduce the deficit to the bare minimum and the Lamhs had a late chance to share the spoils.
Mark Finnegan was felled close to the sideline and referee McDonald hopped the ball which was claimed by Declan Dunne who quickly popped the ball off. The ball was switched to Sean Diamond whose shot under pressure tailed wide and St Johns held on for the narrowest of wins to make it two victories from two and take their place in the U-21 A Championship upon the conclusion of the Grading system.
St Johns: P McCallin, O McParland, C Carson, J Clifford, O Donnelly, N McCann, D McKiernan, C Bohill (0-03, 0-02f), S Wilson, A McMahon, D McKeogh (0-02), S Shannon, O Thomson, CJ McKenna (0-06, 0-01f), A Bradley (0-02).
Lamh Dhearg: D Hartley, R Murray, R Fegan, S McCullough, E Mervyn (0-01), D Smith (0-02), JJ Hawkins (0-01), D Dunne (0-01), E Matassa (0-01), M Pettigrew, M Finnegan (0-05, 0-04f), T Nelson, J Boyd (0-01), S Diamond, A Ferris.
Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)