Northern Property Antrim Junior Football Championship
St Johns 3-03-0-04 Lámh Dhearg
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
Goals were the difference at Corrigan Park this evening as St Johns advanced to the last eight of the Northern Property Antrim Junior Football Championship with a 3-03-0-04 win over Lámh Dhearg.
St Johns drew first blood on a bright evening at Corrigan Park and netted early on when they turned the ball over and possession was switched to Cora Magee- who drove forward and picked her spot low in the net.
Back-to-back points followed from the Lámhs in response, Isla Annett played a precise pass through to Tiarnach Fegan to fire over the bar and converted free followed from Robyn Murray.
Murray sent a second free between the posts midway through the half to restore parity, but the hosts regained the lead as Debbie Boyd swung a pass out to Olivia Cardwell- who dropped her shot over the bar.
Cora Magee to attempted to add to her earlier goal- her shot was blocked down, though Luisne Adams was on hand to ensure a point was forthcoming as St Johns were 1-02-0-03 ahead at the break.
The hosts extended their lead after the restart courtesy of a Debbie Boyd free and then found the net for the second time.
Boyd was again instrumental in bursting in at an angle and popping the ball across before it was sent into the path of Carla Hamill to sweep home and make it 2-03-0-03.
Robyn Murray converted her third free of the evening to ensure the Hannashtown side remained in contention with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Try as they might, they couldn’t find the elusive goal that would have set up a grandstand finish and in the end the Johnnies would secure a third goal in time added on.
Niamh Hamill forced a turnover and switched possession to Cora Magee who unselfishly supplied Cora Burns with the simple task of firing in at the near post to give her side a 3-03-0-04 win at the conclusion and ensure a quarter-final meeting with Sarsfields next weekend.
St Johns : SJ McGuigan, C Carleton, C Richmond, C Conway, E Hamill, O Cardwell (0-01), E Boyd, M Laverty, N McArdle, L Adams (0-01), A Hawkins, C Hamill (1-00), D Boyd (0-01f), C Magee (1-00), C Burns (1-00). Subs: A Hesketh for O Cardwell (52), S McMahon for D Boyd (60).
Lámh Dhearg : S McCann, C Hayes, S McCloskey, E McGarry, T Fegan (0-01), N Webb, H Kennedy, I Annett, A Larkin, R Murray (0-03f), M Donnelly, O Webb, M Diamond, C Doherty, L Smyth. Subs: J Peoples for E McGarry (25), A McKinley for M Diamond (47), M Diamond for R Murray (51), R Murray for A Larkin (60+2).
