Senior Hurling League – Division One
Dunloy 0-9 St John’s 1-7
Sunday 1 June
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
A 58th minute goal from Conall Carson proved to be the decisive score of this match as the Johnnies defeated Dunloy by the minimum. In a match played in horrible conditions more accustomed to early winter than late spring, this was a contest won by the team that made less mistakes.
The Cuchullains hit an uncharacteristic number of wides in both halves and while St John’s didn’t fare much better, they took the goal chance that came their way.
Defensively, St John’s were solid with Ryan McNulty, Michael Darragh and Conal Bohill all excelling while Kevin Molloy, Deaglan Smith and Oran Quinn performed well for the home side.
Both sides looked to play a short passing game to combat against the elements. There wasn’t much room for any articulate hurling but both St John’s and Dunloy went about their business with controlled aggression and precision.
The home side started brighter with Nicky McKeague pointing frees either side of an Aodhan McGarry point to give Dunloy a three point lead by the seventh minute.
Oisin MacManus fired over for the Corrigan Park’s side first point of the match in the seventh minute to get the Johnnies firing but despite playing against the wind, Dunloy were making hay.
Points from the influential Tom McFerran and Ryan Mort stretched the Cuchullains lead to four points by the 10th minute but it would be over 15 minutes before the home side would register another score.
St John’s fired over four points unanswered in the same time period with Aaron Bradley, substitute Michail Dudley, Shea Shannon and MacManus tying the scores before a Nicky McKeague free in the 26th minute gave Dunloy a one point lead at half time.
Goal chances were at a premium in the first half with Eoghan Richmond not troubled while Domhnall Nugent did well to deny Nicky McKeague’s rifled effort midway through the half as the rain came down to resemble that of a monsoon.
With the elements showing no signs of improving, both sides work rate never dipped. Space was in scarce supply in forward areas with MacManus firing over the opening score of the half in the 34th minute.
Aodhan McGarry split the posts for his second point of the match moments later but that would be the last score of the game for almost 20 minutes. Dunloy had another half chance of goal with Luke McFerran going close with a drive from distance but Nugent was equal to his shot.
Nicky McKeague stretched the Dunloy lead to two points with four minutes of the hour remaining and with the Cuchullains looking to see out the hour, St John’s found the back of the net. Running off the shoulder, Conall Carson collected the sliotar and fired to the back of the net to give his side the lead for the first time in the match.
A point from the impressive Aaron Bradley followed to give his side the insurance they needed and while the home side pushed for a goal, a point from substitute Paul Shiels was all they could manage in the time that remained.
With these two facing off in the championship group stage later this year, both will be hoping that they’ll be playing with more fluidity and maybe drier weather. Winning the two points takes the Johnnies to the top of the table as the league splits ahead of the next round of fixtures.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Eoghan Richmond; Eoin McFerran, Sean Og Blaney, Oran Quinn; Ben O’Kane, Kevin Molloy, Deaglan Smith; Ciaran Elliott, Ryan McGarry; Sean Martin-McShane, Nicky McKeague, Tom McFerran; Aodhan McGarry, Luke McFerran, Ryan Mort
Scorers: N McKeague 0-4 (4fs); A McGarry 0-2; T McFerran 0-1; R Mort 0-1; Paul Shiels 0-1
St John’s: Domhnall Nugent; Ronan Donnelly, Ryan McNulty, Michael Darragh; Daragh McGuinness, Conall Bohill, Enda McGurk; Sean Wilson, Shea Shannon; Aaron Bradley, Danaan McKeogh, Oisin MacManus; Conall Carson, Michael Bradley, Ruairi Galbraith
Scorers: C Carson 1-1; O MacManus 0-2 (2fs); A Bradley 0-2; S Shannon 0-1; Michail Dudley 0-1
Referee: Mark O’Neill
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