U-17 B Football Championship semi-final
St Johns 1-10-1-07 Na Gaeil Óga
Kevin Herron reports from Corrigan Park
League winners St Johns kept their hopes of a minor double alive with a 1-10-1-07 win over Belfast rivals Na Gaeil Óga in the semi-final at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Johnnies completed a league double over their counterparts a month ago; on their way to winning the league title and began as favourites on home soil.
They were out of the traps and in front within the first 60-seconds thanks to a confident point from Ronan Donnelly, though Finn Jemfrey picked out the run of Conall McMahon at the other end and McMahon kicked a superb equaliser.
A pull-back on Lorcan McCallin gave Odhran Quinn the chance to restore his sides lead from the resulting free, and Quinn obliged.
Na Gaeil Óga hit back for the second time from a similar scenario with Declan Barr landing a fine angled free.
Quinn swung over his second placed ball of the half to edge his side 0-03-0-02 ahead at the midway point and the hosts would steal a march as the half progressed.
Fintan McKinney slipped a pass into the path of Alex Robb- who showed a burst of pace and composure to cap the move with a point.
Talisman Quinn kicked his third free and a minute later the Johnnies had the game’s opening goal through a dipping Enda McGurk shot that floated over Oisin Devlin and into the corner of the net to give his side a 1-05-0-02 lead.
The visitor’s wastefulness in attack was their downfall in the opening half, though they could have pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time.
Declan Barr took up the reins in a promising position and headed for the target, he was forced to cut back before unleashing a shot that Fintan McIlroy pushed over the bar.
The sides would trade scores in injury time through Ronan Donnelly and Barr (free) to leave St Johns 1-06-0-04 ahead at the midway point in proceedings.
The second half began as the first ended with the duo cancelling each other out. Odhran Quinn has extended the Johnnies lead through his fourth converted free of the afternoon, but Gerard Doherty dropped over a fine reply for Na Gaeil Óga.
Three further scores from Quinn would complete his own and St Johns afternoon scoring. Swinging over his first from play and adding two more from the placed ball to finish with a personal tally of 0-07 and more importantly moving his side 1-10-0-05 ahead by the 43rd minute.
Na Gaeil Óga would throw themselves a lifeline, a long ball into the box found Finn Jemfrey and he forced his way into a shooting position and thumped the ball past Finn McIlroy to give the visitors a source of inspiration.
Although any hopes of a comeback were dealt a blow with 10 minutes remaining as Gerard Doherty was given his marching orders.
The 14-men continued to carry the fight to St Johns and closed to within three points by the 60th minute.
Calum Fegan saw his free from range helped over the bar and Declan Barr then converted his third free of the afternoon from close range.
Four minutes were added and Na Gaeil Óga almost forced extra-time when Finn Jemfrey cut the ball back and it was further slipped to Declan Barr- whose effort whistled past the post.
St Johns would see out injury time though to book their place in the decider with nearest league challengers All Saint’s in a fortnights time.
St Johns: F McIlroy, C Wilson, E McGurk (1-00), B Braniff, D King, L McCallin, F McKinney, R Donnelly (0-02), A Robb (0-01), O Hitchen, P Graham, C Darragh, C McCallin, O Quinn (0-07, 0-06f), F Thompson. Subs: D Ward for T Adams (36), O McAuley for C Darragh (39), T Adams for F Thompson (39), J McNally for O HItchen (46).
Na Gaeil Óga: O Devlin, C Mervyn, J Ward, O Lee, D McGibbon, C Camlin, D McLaughlin, C Fegan (0-01f), S McCarthy, C McMahon (0-01), D Barr (0-04, 0-03f), C McConville, G Doherty (0-01), F Jemfrey (1-00), A McStay. Subs: KB McArdle for O Lee (HT), R McCloskey for C McConville (45).
Referee: Paul Burns (St Comgalls)
