Club News

01/06/03 Hurlers dispatch Gortnamona back up the 'Rock in league

Once again conditions were not great for this senior hurling encounter. The previous two days of heat and sunshine were replaced with a rainy, windy day and wet pitch, however this did not dampen the Johnnies' hurlers spirit or resolve as they thoroughly trounced their Belfast neighbours by more than 10 points at Corrigan Park.

The first twenty minutes of the first half were close enough at times, Gortnamona having a huge wind at their backs and scoring 5 points (the majority coming from frees, with some help from the wind), however St. Johns went clear by 5 points thanks to a well worked goal from Donal O'Hara - who plucked the ball in the full-forward position and sent his shot past the keeper - and points from Brian McFall, Liam Boyle and Ronan Heenan.

The St. John's full backline played well, Noel Rooney (as with Liam Boyle the week before) producing a great senior hurling debut and the ever youthful Kevin McGeogh, making a 'phoenix from the flames'-like return to the senior firsts, settled the defense and kept out the Gortnamona forwards. Likewise the half-back line were solid, Monty made a welcome return to form for the senior hurlers after a few games in the wilderness and Gerard Cunningham (captain for the day) playing solidly.

The first half ended 1-7 0-5.

The second half saw St. John's take complete control, the defense blocked out the Gortnamona forwards (they managed only one point in the entire half against the Johnnies' backs) and the St. John's forwards upped their scoring prowess, registering a further 9 points in the second half. Brian McFall converted the majority of the frees awarded and nonchalantly sent over a simply sensational point, way out on the left wing (right on the sideline) at the beginning of the second half.

Locky McCurdy was immense at midfield, he seemed to be everywhere at once at important periods of the game and the forwards generally played well - though in all honesty the margin with which they dispensed with Gortnamona should have been much more.

In the end Gortnamona quickly fell back on their time honoured tradition of 'throwing the stick in' during the match, but St. John's kept their cool and finished off the game with some degree of ease. The match finished up 1-16 0-06.

 

		St. John's
		C. Cunningham
C. Gannon		K. McGeogh	N. Rooney
G. Cunningham		P. Montgomery	C. Clarke
		G. Clarke L. McCurdy
S. Thompson		R. Heenan	B. McFall
L. Boyle		D. O'Hara	J. Mead
(Subs: N. Kelly for G. Clarke, C. Thompson for J. Mead)