Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 2
St Pauls 1-10-2-10 St Johns
Kevin Herron reports from Hannahstown
CONAL BOHILL struck a goal in the final minute of added time to ensure that 14-man St Johns saw off the stern challenge of West Belfast rivals St Pauls with a 2-10-1-10 win in their Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 2 clash at Hannahstown on Sunday afternoon.
The sides went into the game on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Johnnies two from two and sitting on top of the table whilst St Pauls were resigned to the fact their Championship campaign would continue beyond this weekend in the fight for survival.
St Johns were ahead inside of 60-seconds through a converted Patrick McBride free, and he doubled the advantage a few minutes later after taking a lay-off from Andy McGowan.
A close range free brought McBride’s and St John’s tally to 0-3 ahead of Niall McStravick kicking St Pauls first of the afternoon following Sean Og McLaren fielding the subsequent kick-out from Pearce Donnelly.
The Johnnies lead extended through a further McBride point before Andy McGowan joined his team-mate on the scoresheet, floating an angled shot over the bar.
St Pauls were guilty of wasting numerous scoring opportunities in the opening period and Shea Burns popped over before the break, with Paddy McBride bringing his tally to five on the stroke of half time as his side led 0-6-0-2 in a game that was really to spark to life.
The opening goal of the game arrived within a minute of the restart, Ciaran O Dufrigh appeared to touch a floated ball over the line, a scramble ensured and any uncertainty was banished as Cormac Trainor shot home.
Paddy McBride swung over a point to get the Johnnies up and running, with O Dufrigh converting a free.
St Johns extended their lead after Andy McGowan had his run checked outside the arc and talisman McBride kicked the two-pointer.
A breach allowed O Dufrigh to add to his tally and with a quarter of an hour remaining he tied things up with a splendid attempt from outside the arc that dropped over to make it 1-6-0-9.
McBride turned provider for Conal McGlade to nudge his side back in front, and they took a firm grip on proceedings when a malfunction saw Jack McAufield’s short kick out intercepted and Ronan Quinn slipped a short pass into Conal to blast low into the corner of the net and open up a 1-10-1-6 lead.
It looked as though the Corrigan Park outfit were back in the ascendancy though referee Darren McKeown halted play and issued a red card to Odhran Quinn for dissent.
St Pauls aimed to make the use of their numerical advantage and halved the deficit when Ciaran O Dufrigh played a one-two from a free and clipped over his second two-pointer.
The Shaws Road side pushed for the leveller and were rewarded in the 59th minute, O Dufrigh pulled off his third two-pointed score in the space of 14-minutes to make it 1-10 apiece.
Composure was required in the dying embers and St Johns claimed the points with a goal two minutes into added time.
A long pass into Conal Bohill was gathered and Bohill made no mistake, lashing a low shot past Jack McAufield.
It proved the difference at the conclusion a minute later as St Johns completed their Group 2 campaign with three wins from three, while St Paul’s attention will turn to retaining their senior status as they enter the relegation play-offs.
ST PAULS: J McAufield, A Kavanagh, C Hughes, C Killyleagh, M Duffy, R Hamill, N McKenna, C Trainor, C Finnegan, N McStravick (0-1), S Og McLaren, P Magee, S Burns (0-1), B Burns, C O Dufrigh (1-8, 3×0-2pt, 2f). SUBS: C Duffy for B Burns (53).
ST JOHNS: P Donnelly, O Jackson, E McGurk, P McDiarmaid, R Quinn, C O’Neill, C McGlade (0-1), A Oliver, R Donnelly, J Wilson, C Bohill (1-0), P McBride (0-8, 1×0-2ptf, 2f), O Quinn, A McGowan (0-1), C Quinn (1-0). SUBS: M Leydon for P Donnelly (36), J Bohill for E McGurk (37), T Adams for A McGowan (53).
REFEREE: Darren McKeown (ST GALLS)
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