ACFL Division 1
St John’s 2-09 Erin’s Own Cargin 2-09
A 59th minute point by their hard grafting centre forward David Johnston earned Cargin a share of the spoils with their hosts St John’s in a close fought encounter at Corrigan Park on Saturday.
A close game from start to finish kept the good attendance well entertained throughout, and in the end the sides could not be separated with Johnston’s late finish tying matters at the final whistle.
The penultimate games in the first phase of the league competition saw St John’s play hosts to their country cousins from Cargin on Saturday morning and the good crowd in attendance were to be treated to an entertaining game.
Cargin took the game to the opposition right from the start but spurned a couple of gilt edged opportunities and it was the home side’s Loughlan McCurdy who made no such error, grabbing a goal in his side’s first attack.
The home side’s keeper Stephen Mc Guinness made a smart save to deny David Johnston in the 3rd minute but the Toome men were on par shortly thereafter as Justin Crozier’s precise lay off opened the way for Tom Shivers to find the net.
Conor Adams pointed a free to restore the home side’s lead but it was the visitors who responded and points from James Laverty and Pat Shivers saw them take an early 1-2 to 1-1 lead.
Back came the Johnnies at the end of the opening quarter and a strong run by mid fielder Conor Hand concluded with a precision based finish to the Cargin net and the home side were back in front.
The Johnnies lead didn’t last long however as their visitors gained supremacy in the vital central zone through Gerard McCann and John Carron and Carron sent Pat Shivers in to raise white before adding a point himself.
The restored their lead when Michael McCann placed Kevin Mc Shane to raise white but it was the home side who were to finish the half on as the accurate Conor Adams despatched back to back frees between the posts to see the Corrigan side 2-03 to 1-04 ahead at the break.
St. John’s started the second half as they had finished the first and back to back pointed frees from the impressive Conor Adams moved the four ahead but Cargin were quick to reply and points from Michael McCann and Pat Shivers (2) saw them on back on level terms.
The Toome men were flexing their proverbial muscles as the second half progressed and a positive approach opened the way for Mark Kelly to fire to the back of the net to put them three ahead.
Cargin looked to be taking control as the game moved into the final quarter when replacement Conan Johnston fired between the posts to negate another fine point by Conor Adams.
The Whiterock side were far from finished however and a three unanswered points from Conor Adams, Ciaran Garland and Conall Mc Glade ensured parity 2-08 apiece as full time approached.
The visitors regained the lead when Justin Crozier, found Tom Shivers in space with the youngster firing straight and true between the posts.
A 56th minute Conaill Mc Glade point followed but the last score was to belong to the Toome men as David Johnston split the posts to earn his side a share of the spoils.
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St Johns: Stephen McGuinness, Ciaran Garland (0-01), Padraig Nugent, Conor Dyson, Conaill Mc Glade (0-02), Conor Johnston, Luke Peden, Conor Hand (1-00), Simon Mc Donagh, Sean Wilson, Andy Mc Gowan, Loughlin Mc Curdy (1-00), Conor Adams (0-06) Stephen Tierney
Subs
Conall Quinn
Ronan Quinn
Darragh Mc Callan
Cargin: John Mc Nabb, Sean og Quinn, Kevin Mc Shane (0-01), Paudie Mc Laughlin, Justin Crozier (0-01), James Laverty (0-01), Ronan Grbbin, Gerard Mc Cann, John Carron, Mark Kelly (1-00), David Johnston (0-01),Pat Shivers (0-03), Tom Shivers (1-01), Michael Mc Cann (0-01), Ciaran Bradley
Subs: Conan Johnston (0-01)
Gerard Mc Corley
Referee: B Toland (L Dhearg)