U21 A Football semi-final
St. Gall’s 3-14 St. John’s 0-5
St. John’s made the short trip to Milltown on Sunday, confident that they could build on last weekend’s excellent win over St. Paul’s at Corrigan in the quarter-final and when Conor Hand kicked them into a two point lead after 8 minutes that confidence looked justified.
The young Johnnies flattered to deceive however as St. Gall’s responded through Manus McCrossan in the 9th minute and Daniel Quinn had it all square with 11 minutes on the clock.
The Milltown Row side were starting to get on top and they struck with a well worked goal at the end of the opening quarter with several involved in the build-up before Niall Fallon finished emphatically to the net.
Daire King replied with a point for the Whiterock side but with McCrossan dictating matters around mid-field it was St. Gall’s who finished strongly and Callum Walsh kicked a great point from out on the left.
The St. Gall’s pressure was beginning to pay dividends and Daniel Quinn punished a bad kick out to return the leather between the posts and the same player concluded the first half scoring with another from play to leave it 1-5 to 0-3 at the half way point.
St. John’s needed a good start to the second half if they were to make inroads into their opponents lead but things went from bad to worse for the Corrigan Park side when substitute Padraig Murray fired to the net with only ten seconds gone.
Daniel Quinn fisted a point as the visitors looked rocked by the early onslaught before their best on view, Conor hand replied with his third and his side’s fourth of the afternoon.
It failed to inspire his side however and with Manus McCrossan covering every blade of grass for the home side they responded with three on the bounce from Liam Lynn 0-2 and Barra McCaffery.
St. Gall’s were now playing with great confidence and another good move saw the impressive Daniel Quinn fire to the net for their third goal in the 10th minute with Padraig Murray following with a point.
Conor Hand continued to carry what little threat the visitors were providing and the Johnnies number 8 pointed an 18th minute free for his fourth of the evening but it would be the Johnnies final score of the contest.
They did look in for a goal soon after but Ciaran Og Mullan produced an excellent save and it was St. Gall’s who finished on the front foot to run out convincing winners.
Joe Diamond added points in the 20th and 25th minutes with the excellent Daniel Quinn wrapping matters up with a pointed free in the 27th minute and another from play as the game edged into time added on.
A good win for the Milltown side and it should make them slight favourites against Con Magee’s Gaels in next weekend’s final. They are sure to face a stiffer test however against a side who recorded a good semi-final win over St. Mary’s Aghagallon at Fr. Maginn Park.
St. Gall’s: 1 Ciaran Og Mullan, 2 Dubhaltach MacLiam, 3 Gairech MacAdhaim, 5 Ethan Walsh, 6 Conall McGirr, 7 Liam Lynn, 8 Che Smyth, 9 Manus McCrossan, 10 Aodh Mullan, 11 Daniel Quinn, 12 Aaron Mackel, 13 Barra McCaffery, 14 Niall Fallon, 15 Callum Walsh
St. John’s: 1 Padraig Graham, 2 Michael Darragh, 3 Enda McGurk, 4 Matthew Mallon, 5 Joshua Robb, 6 Ronan Quinn, 7 Daire King, 8 Conor Hand, 9 Ronan Donnelly, 10 James Wilson, 11 Odhran McAuley, 12 Conan McKinney, 13 Fintan McKinney, 14 Odhran Quinn, 15 Fionnbar McKernan
Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)
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