ACHL Division 1
St. John’s 1-23 Ballycastle 0-14
St. John’s maintained top spot in the ACHL Division 1 when they recorded a comprehensive win over visitors Ballycastle at Corrigan Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Johnnies raced into a three point lead by the third minute as they opened on the front foot and were five ahead by the 8th minute as the visitors struggled to contain their early onslaught.
It could have been worse but Ryan McGarry in the ‘Castle’ goals pulled off a smart save with ten minutes on the clock but by half time it was the Corrigan side who looked in a strong position when they led 0-13 to 0-7.
Aaron Bradley, Michael Dudley 0-2, Conor Johnston 0-2 and Shea Shannon were the early marksmen for St. John’s with Oran Kearney striking a long range reply for McQuillan’s.
Tiernan Smyth hit Ballycastle’s second of the day from a free and the corner-forward would account for the majority of his side’s scores over the hour as they battled to hang on to their opponents coat tails.
Conal Morgan, Conor Johnston, Aaron Bradley and Shea Shannon moved a sweet moving St. John’s further ahead with Smyth striking three further frees and Seamus McAuley on target from play as the visitors enjoyed their best period of the opening half.
St. John’s finished the half on the front foot however with Aaron Bradley 0-2 and Shea Shannon brought their total to 0-13 and another pointed free from Tiernan Smyth bringing the Ballycastle total to 0-7
HT 0-13 TO 0-7
The visitors needed a good start to the second half if they were to make inroads into the Johnnies lead and Tiernan Smyth added to his tally with a couple more pointed free but Conor Johnston replied with two at the other end to keep the gap at six.
Ciaran Butler and ace marksman Smyth closed the gap to four after 8 minutes but St. John’s were always able to respond and Shea Shannon pointed a free and followed with another from play.
The visitors were still fighting hard and looked to have brought themselves right back into contention when Neal McAuley appeared to get the final touch but their goal celebration was ruled out for a square-ball infringement.
The Whiterock men turned the screw after that as Conor Johnston 0-2, Michael Dudley, Shea Shannon and Domhnall Nugent added points and when a Castle defender deflected a shot to his own net in the 25th minute it was all over.
The sweet striking Tiernan Smyth replied with two more pointed frees and substitute Darragh Kelly added another from play with Aaron Bradley and Domhnall Nugent replying for the home side to see them comfortably home.
St. Johns: 1 Declan Cregan 2 Conor McEvoy, 3 Conal Morgan, 4 Aidan McMahon, 5 Matthew McCartin, 6 Stephen Tierney, 7 Darragh McGuinness, 8 Shea Shannon, 9 Andy McGowan, 10 Conor Johnston, 11 Domhnall Nugent, 12 Michael Dudley.13 Donall Carson, 14 Lorcan Heenan, 15 Aaron Bradley
Ballycastle: 1 Ryan McGarry, 2 Oran Kearney, 3 Dermott Donnelly, 4 Jack McGowan, 5 James McLister, 6 Eoin McAlonan, 7 Ryan McCook, 8 Cian Waldron, 9 Reuben McClean, 10 Criostai McAuley, 11 Ciaran Butler, 12 Seamus McAuley, 13 Orann Donnelly, 14 Neal; McAuley, 15 Tiernan Smith, 18 Darragh Kelly
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)
