Kennedy Centre LGFA JFC

All Saints 1-9 St. John’s 2-10

St. Johns advanced to the semi-final of the Kennedy Centre JFC with a win over All Saints in Ballymena on Friday night. When these sides met in the league earlier in the season the Johnnies lades won convincingly and they went into this championship game as firm favourites.

It didn’t quite work out that way however and the Ballymena girls made the visitors fight for their victory with the sides level at 0-5 apiece at half time.

The loss of their mid-fielder Anna Kearney to a Yellow card in the second half proved a blow that the home side never recovered from and it was St. John’s who ran out deserving winners in the end.

All Saints set up with a good game plan that helped to frustrate the St Johns forwards in the first half. Having lost heavily to their opponents earlier in the league campaign All Saints set about their task with great determination. St Johns opened the scoring but were being forced to shoot from distance and difficult angles and on occasions get turned over by the Saints defence. All Saints managed to get on the scoreboard themselves with good points from Anna OKane, Roisin Ward and Sianeese Maybin.

HT 0-5 TO 0-5

St Johns flew out of the traps in the 2nd half with the home side guilty of some poor handling errors as they team they built up a 6 point lead. 

However a smartly taken goal by 2nd half substitute Laura McAleese got All Saints back in the game and when St Johns lost midfielder Orla Mallon to a yellow card and sin bin it looked like the home side could be on for a shock. However a Yellow Card for influential midfielder Anna Kearney meant St Johns were able to see out the game comfortably and move forward to the semi-finals. 

Siantelle Boyd, Siobhan McGurk, Carla Hamill, Olivia Cardwell, Niamh Hamill and Debbie Boyd impressed in an excellent St. John’s side while Katie Connolly, Anna Kearney, Anna O’Kane, Roisin Ward and Sianeese Maybin were best in a battling All Saints side.

St. John’s now meet Sarsfields, who defeated Ardoyne at Fennell Park in their quarter-final while the second semi-final sees Rossa travel to Hannastown to take on Lamh Dhearg

All Saints Scorers: Anna O’Kane 0-4, Sianeese Maybin 0-3, Roisin Ward 0-2, Laura McAleese 1-0