ACFL Division 1
St John’s 1-13 St Gall’s 4-9
St Gall’s hit four goals at a wet and windy Corrigan Park on Wednesday to keep pace with Cargin as they overcame the spirited challenge of a St. John’s side, desperate to get some much needed points on board.
The visitors struck with two early majors, which kept their noses in front throughout the opening half but St. John’s battled all the way in search of their first points of the present league campaign.
The Milltown Row side were always able to find a response as they added two more goals in the second half to leave them five clear at the final whistle.
St Gall’s kicked two early wides and dropped one short before striking the game’s opening goal when Callum Walsh broke at pace and exchanged passes with Barra McCaffrey before firing low to the net in the 5th minute.
The Johnnies made an immediate response and looked in for a goal of their own but Niall McCurdy smothered Conor Hand’s effort when he looked set to score.
Four minutes later for St Gall’s made another decisive strike as they moved the ball at pace and Ruairi Wilson placed Danirl Quinn, who found Barra McCaffrey and the left the corner-forward finished into an empty net.
Walsh added a point before Odhran Quinn finally got the Corrigan men of the mark but McCaffery replied with a point at the other end as St. Gall’s continued to avail of their opportunities’
St Gall’s continued to take the game to their opponents with their kick passing opening up space in the St. John’s defence but they were guilty of some poor shooting as they went looking for 2 pointers.
Brendan Bradley and Paddy McBride swapped scores before Niall Burns added another at the other end but St Gall’s should have been further ahead at this stage as their wide tally continued to rise.
St John’s were beginning to have a wee bit of success and narrowed the gap by the break with Quinn kicking a free and Conal McGlade adding another from play as the half came to a close.
Indeed McGlade might well have had a goal but McCurdy pulled of a smart save to push it onto the bar to keep his team 2-4 to 0-4 ahead.
The St. Gall’s net minder was called into action again, early in the second half to deny Ryan McNulty and it was St. Gall’s who would add to their half time lead as Niall Burns converted a free.
McGlade and Quinn replied for the Johnnies but Daniel Quinn kept the visitors lead in tact as he split the posts at the other end.
The Johnnies were still in contention and were awarded a free for a 3v3 offence, and Paddy McBride opted for a 2 pointer which he struck sweetly between the uprights.
Just when it looked like the Whiterock men might get something from the contest St Gall’s hit back with a Quinn point and the visitors then struck with a third goal in the 47th minute as McCaffrey’s dipping delivery was palmed home by Niall O’Neill.
O’Neill’s goal moved the visitors 8 ahead but St. John’s were still fighting hard to turn matters around and Conor Adams and McBride fired over with Conor Hand on target from a two-pointer to get them right into contention.
McCurdy was again called into action as Odhran Quinn’s half-blocked effort seemed to be heading for the corner but the danger was cleared and the visitors were now coming under increasing pressure.
The Milltown side hit with a counter punch five minutes from time, with a fourth goal as Eoghan McCabe burst through and found McCaffrey, who passed inside for Brendan Bradley to fire past Lambert.
The Johnnies efforts finally paid off when Conor McEvoy registered from the penalty spot after John McCaffrey impeded Hand inside the area, but time was against the hosts with Quinn thumping over the insurance score.
St. John’s: ER Lambert; R Hannigan, J Bohill, E McGurk; C McEvoy (1-0 pen), R Quinn, S Wilson; C Hand (0-3, 1xtp), R McNulty; P McBride (0-4, 1xtpf), D McGuinness, S Tierney; C Quinn, O Quinn (0-3, 1f), C McGlade (0-2).
Subs: P Nugent for C Quinn (26), C Adams (0-1) for D McGuinness (42), R Donnelly for O Quinn (53), A Bradley for S Tierney (58)
ST Gall’s: N McCurdy; J McCaffrey, C Mac Adhaimh, E McCurdy; R Wilson, D Mac Liam, C McCabe; C Stinton, C Burke; N Burns (0-2, 1f), B Bradley (1-1), C Walsh (1-1); B McCaffrey (1-1), N O’Neill (1-1), D Quinn (0-3).
Subs: E McCabe for C Burke (HT), L Lynn for C McCabe (36)
Referee: Ray Matthews (Rossa)