St John’s hit back to take the spoils

St John’s hit back to take the spoils

15 June 2016

CARRYDUFF dominated the first half of this competitive meeting and led by two points at half-time, but a resurgence in the second half saw a buoyant St John’s take the two points.

Carryduff got off to a dream start. A run from Ronan Beatty drew the St John’s defence and he cleverly laid the ball off to midfielder 

Peter Lavery who finished to the net. 

Under pressure from the Carryduff defence, St John’s kicked three wides in the opening four minutes as John Clarke and Conor Morgan both took some time to settle. 

Morgan converted a free sixth minute to register St John’s first score, but Carryduff points from Daniel Guinness and Ronan Beatty gave the visitors a four point advantage by the 10th mminute.

Sean McGonigle missed an opportunity in the 12th minute before St John’s were awarded a penalty, but Conor Morgan’s spot kick was blasted wide.

Ronan Beatty converted a free to provide Carryduff with some breathing space and St John’s defender Cathal O’Connor picked up a yellow card and was promptly replaced.  

Conor Morgan converted one free, but missed a second before Darragh Connolly pointed for Carryduff.

St John’s managed to prise open the Carryduff defence when Anthony Doran finished to the Carryduff net after 25 minutes.

Carryduff responded immediately but a promising attack ended when St John’s netminder Darren McMullan pulled off an excellent save. Peter Lavery added a further point for Carryduff, but the final score of the first half went to St. John’s and Martin Keenan.

Despite their relative dominance of the first half, Carryduff had only a two point advantage, 1-5 to 0-3, at half time.

St John’s had a dream start to the second half, carving open the Carryduff defence and Conor Flannagan finishing to the Carryduff net.

This marked a clear turning point in the game as both teams increased their intensity. Ronan Beatty (33rd) pointed for Carryduff to leave the teams level. Carryduff’s centre half back Donal McKeever picked up a yellow card and further points for St. John’s from Conor Morgan (2) increased the pressure on Carryduff.

Two further St John’s points put the hosts into a three point lead, but Carryduff had every opportunity to salvage the game when Donal McKeever was played through by Ronan Beatty and scored Carryduff’s second goal with ten minutes to go. 

Daniel Guinness gave Carryduff the initiative, but a fine point from John Clarke from an acute angle levelled affairs again.

Disaster struck for Carryduff when Martin Keenan got himself in behind the Carryduff defence and had the simple task of knocking an oncoming pass into the Carryduff net.

John Clarke added a further point as St. john’s bossed most of the possession in the last five minutes. Peter Lavery’s late point was little consolation to Carryduff who are sitting at the bottom of the Division 2 table.

St. John’s: Darren McMullan, Cathal O’Connor, Conor Flanagan, Mark Grant, Darren Savage, Ryan Flanagan, Conor Branniff, Daniel McKay, Ryan Gibney, Anthony Doran, Hugh Flanagan, John Clarke, Conor Morgan, Christopher McKay, Martin Keenan.

Carryduff: Mark Hinds, Josh Connery, Conor McFlynn, Mark Morris, Darragh Connolly, Donal McKeever, Barry O’Neill, Conor Beatty, Conor Cassidy, Michael McGrath, Peter Lavery, Daniel Guinness, Ronan Lawlor, Sean McGonigle, Ronan Beatty. Substitute: Shane O’Neill (for C Beatty, 50).