| St Josephs off to good start |
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| Thursday, 10 March 2011 10:52 |
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Playing with the advantage of the wind in the first half, the Joes built up an early three point lead and were dominant in the early stages. Derek Mulligan was just wide with a goal chance before John Murtagh pointed from the resultant kick out. A few minutes later Mulligan was on the scoresheet, when Philip Kinahan intercepted a ball in the Joes defence and Conor Murtagh played the ball direct to Mulligan. With eight minutes played Sean Mc Quillan set up Alan Mc Kenna for a point off his right foot. But the Fechins soon sparked to life and the sides would share the next six points. Ronan Holcroft getting them off the mark, before he nearly goaled a minute later. The other two Fechins points in this period also coming from play from Colm O Neill and Owen Duffy. Two of the Joes three points coming from Derek Mulligan, one from a tight angle in the right corner, the other coming when David Mernagh came forward with conviction and pointed well.
At this point, given the wind advantage, it is fair to say that being only three points down, the Fechins were very much still in the game. However, just after the 20 minute mark John Murtagh burst through the Fechins defence and although his shot was saved, Alan McKenna was on hand to sidefoot the rebound to the net and crucially push the lead out to six points. There could have been a second goal minutes later, when a move that involved the three full forwards saw Conal O Hanlon put through on goal, he opted to take his point. Ronan Holcroft pulled two points back for the visitors, one from play, one from a dead ball. But the final say of the half would go to the Joes, when Alan Lynch tenaciously won a ball back to set up a move that was finished by Derek Mulligan. Half Time Score: St Josephs 1-8, St Fechins 0-5 The Joes looked to be comfotable when they added two points inside the opening minute of the second half, from Sean Mc Quillan and Brendan O Donoghue. However, the Fechins hit back with four unanswered scores to leave the gap at just 1-10 to 0-9 with a full twenty minutes to play in the half. This was the Fechins best period in the game and they had the Joes rocking. The scoring burst was kick started by a Holcroft 50 yard free, he would kick another two of the four, one from a free that he earned himself. The other point coming from full forward Leo Cunningham. Just when it seemed that the visitors were back in with a chance, a point from Conall OHanlon in the 14th minute settled the Joes and lifted the siege. Further points from play for Alan Mc Kenna and Brendan O Donoghue would leave the Joes seven points up with seven to play and settle any nerves that there was. Dermot Mc Connell would score one more for the Termonfeckin men towards the end. But the icing was put on the cake in the closing minutes when Alan Quigley grabbed a goal and a point with his first two touches. For the Joes, this was a good all round team performance, with the best for the winners being Derek Mulligan, John Murtagh, Sean Mc Quillan and Alan Quigley, while Owen Duffy, Ronan Holcroft and Mark Hynes impressed for the Fechins. ST JOSEPHS: Robert Sansom; Philip Kinahan, Kevin Woods, Andrew Cluskey; Sean McQuillan 0-1, Conor Murtagh, David Mernagh 0-1; Tomas Smyth, John Murtagh 0-1; Alan Lynch, Alan McKenna 1-2, Cian Smyth; Derek Mulligan 0-4, Conall OHanlon 0-2, Brendan ODonoghue. Subs: Peter Mulligan for A Lynch, Alan Quigley 1-1 for B ODonoghue, John McGuinness for C Smith. ST FECHINS: Mark Savage; Harry McArdle, David Collier, Paul Dillon; Mark Hynes, Brian Devlin, Owen Duffy 0-1; John McGlew, Dermot McConnell 0-1; Jamie King, Colm ONeill 0-2, Paul King; Niall Devlin, Leo Cunningham 0-1, Ronan Holcroft 0-5. Subs: Conor Phillips for J King. REFEREE: Gabriel McKenny [Report: Michael Kinahan] |