Homefit All County Football League Division 1
St John’s 2-13 St Enda’s 0-5
St John’s secured a top 6 place in Division 1 of the Homefit Football League when they beat visitors St Enda’s at Corrigan Park on Wednesday evening. Apart from a period early in the game, when St Enda’s actually led by 2 points to 1, the Johnnies were in control of matters and lead by 1-6 to 0-2 at half time. St Enda’s pulled a point back early in the second half but St John’s hit the next four points to take charge again and in the end were good value for their 13 point win.
Matt Fitzpatrick got the opening score of the game for St John’s in the 6th minute, but Tom Gilmour equalised just thirty seconds later and the glengormley men went ahead two minutes later when Donal Walsh sent over a free. It stayed that way for the next five minutes but once goalkeeper Bam Neeson brought St John’s level from a 45 in the 13th minute there was no looking back for the Corrigan Park outfit, and from then until the break they played some excellent football.
Ryan McNulty swung over the lead point with his left foot midway through the half and five minutes later Paddy McBride sent one over from a narrow angle on the left. Neeson converted another 45 with a sweet strike with his trusty left foot, Conal McGlade claimed a Mark and split the St Enda’s posts nearing half time before Fitzy cut in from the left and fisted the ball across the goal for Conar Hand to palm to the net in first half injury time to give the home team a 1-6 to 0-2 lead at the break.
When St Enda’s Donal Walsh cut through from the throw-in at the start of the second half and fired over the bar there was renewed hope for the Glengormley men, but it was to be a false dawn as St John’s regained control. It took them another 12 minutes before they got their first score of the second half, but when Laughlin McCurdy fired over for the home side it was clear St Enda’s were in trouble. Paddy McBride, whose runs through the middle of the St Enda’s defence were causing the visitors no end of problems, and the right half forward added two points in the 47th and 48th minutes. Two points in a minute from Donal Walsh and Sean McBride interrupted the flow but St John’s were never really troubled and they responded with points from Simon McDonagh, Paddy McBride and substitute Conchur Adams before McDonagh added the icing to the cake with an injury time goal.
