ACFL Division 1
Aldergrove 0-8 St. John’s 2-22
When the going gets tough-the tough get going or so the saying goes!
Just over a week ago St. John’s found themselves in the relegation zone and were one of four sides stuck at the bottom of the table on six points. In midweek they came from behind and a late goal from Conor Hand gave them a share of the points against visiting Lamh Dhearg.
Returning county player, Conor Hand was again at the cutting age of his side’s convincing win over St. James, Aldergrove in Crumlin but few could have envisaged the ease with which they dealt with an out of sorts St. James side.
Darragh McKeogh and Odhran Quinn pointed the Johnnies into a two point lead before Conor Hand fired home his side’s opening goal with only 4 minutes gone.
The visitors were flying, obviously intent on putting the threat of relegation behind them and when a long delivery from Paddy McBride was parried by keeper Oisin McGarry , Odhran Quinn was on hand to finish to the net from close range in the 6th minute.
Quinn followed with a point and Conor Hand intercepted a misplaced pass to solo clear for another and St. John’s were ten ahead with only 9 minutes gone and at this stage they were in complete control.
Declan Gough replaced Malachy Burns in the St. James’ side and Seamus McGarry pointed a ‘45’ and added another from play to finally get the home side off the mark but Ross Hannigan replied with two for the visitors.
Declan Gough announced his introduction with a point for the Crumlin side but Paddy McBride and Conal McGlade replied for St. John’s before Sean Patrick Fay concluded the first half scoring with a point for St. James.
Trailing 0-4 to 2-8 at the break, it looked a long way back for St. James but James Trowlen added a point in the opening minute to give them a glimmer of hope but that hope didn’t last too long as Paddy McBride replied from a free and added another following a breach of the incursion rule.
Conor Hand, Conal McGlade, Ronan Quinn, Ryan McNulty, Odhran Quinn and Conal Quinn added half a dozen points on the bounce as the Aldergrove resistance crumbled.
Seamus McGarry and Declan Gough replied with St. James’ points, their first scores for more than 20 minute but at this stage they merely put a better look on the score card.
The Johnnies finished as they had started with Ryan McNulty, Conall Quinn, Paddy McBride 2pt and Conor Hand 2pt bringing their total for the evening to 2-22 with McGarry hitting a late consolation for the team in red.
In what has been a poor season for a team with such a proud record St John’s have once again shown that when the chips are down they would not be found wanting and this win guarantees them division 1 football for next season.
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