ACFL Division 1
St. John’s 0-8 St. Mary’s Aghagallopn 1-9
An Adam Loughran goal, early in the second half proved to be the vital score in this fiercely contested ACFL Division 1 clash at Corrigan Park as St. Mary’s Aghagallon came from two down at half time to win by four against St. John’s.
Visitors Aghagallon forced a turnover deep in their own half and Ruairi McCann won possession close to the Johnnies’ goal and set up Loughran who gave Paddy Nugent no chance from close range to edge his side ahead.
It was Pete McGrath’s Aghagallon who opened the scoring as the impressive Jonathan Hannon pointed them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead with Sean Wilson replying for the home side with a point in the 10th minute.
Niall McShane restored the visitors two point advantage and the excellent Hannon extended that lead to three by the 11th minute as St. Mary’s moved the ball about with confidence.
St. John’s had been on the back foot for a time but came back strongly in the second quarter with Conor Adams very much to the fore as he hit four great points and a further point from a Conal McGlade ‘Mark’ saw the Corrigan Park side head to the dressing room two in front and good value for their lead.
It was St. Mary’s Aghagallon who made the better start to the second half with Adam Loughran threatening early on and he looked in for a goal but brought a great blocking save from Paddy Nugent in the St. John’s goal.
Nugent’s save brought only temporary respite however as Loughran got on the end of another well executed move to give the St. John’s keeper no chance in the 5th minute and give his side a lead they would not again lose.
St. John’s looked rattled as the impressive Adam Loughran added a point and half time substitute, Gareth Magee followed with another to move the Lough Shore men three in front by the 10th minute before Paddy McBride finally opened the Johnnies’ second half account when he pointed a free in the 12th minute.
It brought a quick reply as that man Loughran split the posts at the other end as the home side began to cough up possession too easily but a Conall Gough point in the 49th minute gave them fresh hope and closed the gap to two points.
It was as close as they got however as Johnny Hannon pointed a free at the other end and Gareth Magee struck his second of the night as the game edged into time added on.
St. John’s went in search of the goal that might bring them back into contention but Luke Mulholland combined withRuiri McCann and Paddy Brannigan to deny Daragh McGuinness from close range with virtually the last kick of the game.
This win moves Aghagallon into second place in the league, two points behind Portglenone who lost to St. Enda’s tonight, with St. John’s still well placed in third place on the same points as tonight’s visitors but having played a game more.
St. John’s: 1 Paddy Nugent, 2 Ciaran Garland, 3 Jack Bohill, 4 Conor Dyson, 5 Luke Peden, 6 Ronasn McCafferty, 7 Pearce Donnelly, 8 Ryan McNulty, 9 Conor Hand, 10 Sean Wilson, 11 Conall Gough, 12 Paddy McBride, 13 Conal McGlade, 14 Conor Adams, 15 Ciaran Johnston.
Subs: Loughlin McCurdy, Brian Neeson, Daragh McGuinness, Conall Quinn
Aghagallon: 1 Luke Mulholland, 2 Ciaran Maginnin, 3 Aidan Mulholland, 4 Patrick Brannigan, 5 Eunan Walsh, 6 Jamie Lamont, 7 Padraig Gowdy, 8 Jack Lenehan, 9 David McAlernon, 10 Jonathan Hannon, 11 Adam Loughran, 12 Marc MacAfee, 13 Niall McShane, 14, Enda McCartan, 15 Ruairi McCann.
Subs: Gareth Magee, Pauric Maginnis, Hugh Hannon, Stephen Devlin
Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)
