ACFL Division 1
St. John’s 1-6 Casement’s 3-9
Casement’s Portglenone got their ACFL Division 1 campaign off to a flying start when they proved too sharp for a battling St. John’s at a sunny Corrigan Park today. The home side were very much in contention during the opening half and led through an excellent Joe Carlton point in the 29th minute but a goal from the penalty spot by Michael Hagan gave the visitors a two point lead heading to the dressing rooms at Half-time.
Both sides set up with a lot of players behind the ball with the opening stages cagey before Ross Hannigan got the Johnnies of to a great start when he lobbed keeper Ryan O’Neill for the game’s opening goal in the 6th minute.
Paddy Kelly pointed a 20 meter free to get the visitors on their way and points from Ciaran McKenna and Kelly from play had the sides level after 14 minutes as Casement’s began to find their feet.
St. John’s were dealt a blow when goal scorer Hannigan was forced to retire following a heavy challenge from Niall McKeever and Michael Hagan edged the visitors in front for the first time as he split the posts after 24 minutes.
The home side were back on terms as Padraig Nugent sent over a great long range point and Conal McGlade followed with another to edge them in front for the second time. It should have got better for the Corrigan men when Ciaran Garland ran on to a low cross but the number 4 snatched at his shot and it sailed wide of O’Neill’s post.
Play continued to flow from end to end as Paddy Kelly tied the contest once more but substitute Joe Garland restored the St. John’s lead for the third time with an excellent point with half time approaching.
Casement’s were playing into a fairly stiff breeze and breaking in numbers on the counter attack when the opportunity presented itself and they struck a telling blow in first half injury time when Ciaran McKenna was chopped down as he bore down on goal and Michael Hagan fired home the resulting penalty to give the visitors a 1-5 to 1-3 lead At the short whistle.
With the breeze at their backs, Portglenone stepped up the tempo in the second half and Paddy Kelly extended their lead with a point in the 8th minute before Caolan Tierney raced clear to fire to the net, a minute later to put his side in a commanding position.
The visitor’s superior fitness and pace was starting to tell as Michael Hagan pointed them further ahead via the crossbar in the 12th minute before Conal McGlade finally opened St. John’s second half account when he pointed a close range free with 14 minutes gone.
An Andrew McGowan point closed the gap to five with ten minutes remaining and gave his side renewed hope but substitute Aidan McAleese replied with a good point and then palmed the ball to the net after being set up by Michael Kelly to kill off the game as a contest.
Conor Hand for St. John’s and Aidan McAleese exchanged further points in the closing stages but St. John’s could not get through for the goal that they needed as the Portglenone defence cut out every avenue of attack.
John McKeever will be happy with his first win in charge of Portglenone and on this showing they look capable of challenging for honours in the season ahead.
St. John’s: 1 Eoghan Rua Lambert, 2 Jack Bohill, 3 Ryan McNulty, 4 Ciaran Garland, 5 Oisin Donnelly, 6 Padraig Nugent, 7 Ross Hannigan, 8 Simon McDonagh, 9 Conal McGlade, 10 Pearce Donnelly, 11 Conor McEvoy, 12 Andrew McGowan, 13 Conor Hand, 14 Ciaran McKenna, 15 Conhur Adams
Subs:Danan McKeogh, Joseph Garland, Darren Bellew, Conal Quinn,
Portglenone: 1. Ryan O’Neill 2. Ronan Delargy 3. Johnny Convery 4. Ruairi Hagan 5. Ryan Convery 6. Niall Delargy 7. Caolan Tierney 8. Niall McKeever 9. Conall Delargy 10. Paddy Carey 11. Ciaran McKenna 12. Ronan Kelly 13. Oisin Doherty 14. Paddy Kelly 15. Michael Hagan Subs: Michael Kelly, Aidan McAleese, Michael Donnelly
Referee: Darren McKeown (St. Gall’s)
