Liatroim get one over on neighbours St John’s

Liatroim get one over on neighbours St John’s

1 December 2021

A VERY competitive derby fixture played out at Fontenoy Park between two sides with winning momentum behind them.

Missing key personnel, the Liatroim management team of Danny McKay, Aodhan Morgan and Sam Walsh were forced to make a number of positional changes prior to throw-in.

The away side got off to a blistering start, with Caolan Burns coolly dispatching a third-minute penalty past Fontenoys net minder Eoin Cotter. 

Midfield pairing Oran Carew and Oisin Hastings were central in the lead-up to the penalty, with slick interplay. 

Burns was a thorn in the side of the home defence from start to finish, linking up cleverly with Christopher Cope and Owen Madine in particular. 

Deputising goalkeeper Damien McMullan performed strongly, his efficient kick-outs finding wing backs Conor McMullan and Adam McCourt, who were having good duels with  Michael McAleenan and the dangerous Donnacha O’Toole.

In the 16th minute, O’Toole finished a swift Fontenoy counter-attack to the net to swing the momentum in favour of the home side. 

The strong running of Eoin O’Hare, Cormac McElroy and team captain Mark Owens ensured the Fontenoys were able to transition at speed. 

However, Carew and Hastings were gaining a foothold in the middle sector and used precious primary possession intelligently, offloading to the always available Ryan Morgan and Chris Cope. 

Cope’s point from the tightest of angles in the 21st minute was sublime. From the resulting kick-out Carew won possession before sending over a mammoth effort to put the Johnnies back in the ascendancy. 

With both teams displaying huge work rate, the challenge for the Johnnies was to play through the Fontenoy press and find space. 

Ryan Morgan’s pace, and incisive angled runs were a crucial factor in carving a way through a Fontenoy backline that was being well marshalled by Queens University’s Niall McElroy. 

Cope and Madine combined to create an exceptional team score in the 28th minute, but the Fontenoy response was swift and the energetic Eoin O’Hare burst through to raise the green flag in the next phase of play.

Caolan Burns and Eoin McCrickard kept the scoreboard ticking over with well taken frees for their sides.

A key battle within the game was that of Johnnies centre half Oran O’Connor against Michael McMullan. O’Connor was readily available each time the full back line of Aaron Murphy, Adam Walsh and team captain Rory McMullan gained possession. 

McMullan’s brave block from a Shea Moorehead effort in the 49th minute typified the spirit within this young Johnnies team, his cousin Conor McMullan claimed the resultant rebound and found Cope who won a late free on the far sideline. 

From fully 40 yards out, Ryan Morgan launched a majestic effort that found its way to the Fontenoy net to leave just one score between the teams. The next kick-out was pivotal. Kevin Middleton managed to fist the ball down to the onrushing O’Toole to claim a vital possession for the Fontenoys who held out for a narrow win.

A great game played in a good spirit and well officiated by referee Colm Gribben.