O’Neill’s ACFL Division One
Lámh Dhearg 1-16-2-08 St Johns
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
Lámh Dhearg slightly eased pressure of finishing in the relegation play-off spots with a 1-16-2-08 victory over St Johns in what was essentially a preverbal ‘four-pointer’ at Hannahstown on Wednesday evening.
Mark Lowe delivered a fantastic pass on top of Conor Murray to swing over the opener inside of 60-seconds, but St Johns replied almost instantly through an advanced mark from Conal McGlade.
Although it took the hosts almost six minutes to restore their lead in the form of a converted Murray free- they would kick another five unanswered to seize firm control of proceedings.
Murray’s younger nephew Ross took a clipped pass and floated over a point before Paddy Cunningham converted his first free of the evening.
A fabulous Declan Smith point followed, and Paddy Cunningham dropped over his first from play, with Lowe firing high over the bar on the 19th minute to make it six without reply.
St Johns halved the deficit with the game’s opening goal on the 21st minute. Domhnall Nugent carried the ball forward and linked the play with Andy McGowan, he soloed and popped a pass off which founds it way back into the path of Nugent- who bustled his way forward and scuffed a shot that bobbled and found the back of the net to make it 0-07-1-01.
The sides then traded scores in the aftermath, Adam Murray swinging a fine shot over from Donal Martin’s lay-off and McGlade converting a second advanced mark of the opening half.
Three-unanswered points before the break would ensure that Lámh Dhearg were firmly in the ascendancy at the interval.
Paddy Cunningham kicked successive free’s to double his personal account and with the final act of the half Eoin Matassa fisted over from close range to give his side a 0-11-1-02 lead at the midway point.
The Johnnies were rejuvenated in the first ten minutes after the restart, Conal McGlade cut inside and shot over his first from play and Conor Adams converted a free shortly afterwards.
Ronan Quinn should have found the net on the 37th minute after taking a lay-off from Domhanll Nugent- but Gerard Smyth parried, and the danger was eventually cleared.
It was a warning shot that the hosts didn’t heed though and less than 60-seconds later the visitors found their second goal to reduce arrears to a single point.
Paddy Cunningham’s free dropped short and the Johnnies turned defence to attack with Andy McGowan steering a ball forward that was slipped on into the path of Enda McGurk- he momentarily lost control before thumping a shot into the roof of the net to make it 0-11-2-04.
Pressure was on the Lámhs after their six-point lead had almost diminished- but they responded with a goal of their own on the 42nd minute.
Donal Martin switched the ball to Adam Murray to drop in a shot that was tailing inches wide, only for Conor Murray to gamble and get a palm to the ball that carried it into the net.
By the 47th minute they had restored their interval lead with Conor Murray playing a one-two to Paddy Cunningham to shoot over his second point from play and substitute Shaun McManus popped a shot over moments later.
Stephen Tierney found an opening and fisted over in response- though the Corriagn outfit required another goal to set-up a grandstand finish.
Converted frees from Paddy Cunningham and Murray moved the hosts closer to victory, however St Johns kicked three unanswered of their own.
Conal McGlade brought his tally from the placed ball to five, kicking two further frees between an impressive, angled point from Ronan Quinn.
A late Adam Murray point finished the scoring for the evening as Lámh Dhearg moved four-points clear of the Johnnies in the race away from the bottom four and the dreaded relegation play-off spots.
Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, R Murray (0-01), M McGarry, A McAufield, D Smith (0-01), P Mervyn, D Martin, E Matassa (0-01),M Lowe (0-01), C Fegan, T McCrudden, P Cunningham (0-06,0-04f) , C Murray (1-03, 0-02f), A Murray (0-02). Subs: S McManus (0-01) for A McAufield (40), D Straney for E Matassa (44), N McGarry for P Mervyn (51), R Diamond for D Smith (55), J Quinn for C Fegan (59).
St Johns: ER Lambert, C McEvoy, J Garland, D King, R Quinn (0-01), A McGowan, D McKeogh, E McGurk (1-00), D Nugent (1-00), D Bellew, S Tierney (0-01), C McGlade (0-05, 0-01m, 0-03f), C Quinn, C Adam (0-01f), L Pedan. Subs: F McCrudden for D King (HT), M Darragh for L Pedan (HT).
Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)
