Club News

19/09/03 Minor Footballers road to the County Championship Final

Following almost 3½ hours of hard, skilful and entertaining football, comprising of 3 games and 1 period of extra-time St. John's minors finally overcame St. Gall's at Casement Park on Saturday 6th September.

The first game was played on 25th August at De La Salle Park on a Monday evening.

This match really could have gone either way, with St. Gall's winning the majority of kick-outs throughout the game and taking a number of early scores to go in-front, but a superb individual goal by Gerardo Hamilton after 15 minutes saw St. John's claw back into the match and edge in-front. The fortunes of both sides 'see-sawed', with the St. John's defence being put under enormous pressure and St. Gall's getting the upper-hand, but an inspired Kevin McGuinness was brought on and scored a vital goal with minutes remaining until eventually the full-time whistle blew and a draw declared. The result seemed a fair one on the night.

The replay took place at Corrigan Park but this time it was St. John's who were pressing home the advantage for most of the game, and looked to have it in the bag until St. Gall's were awarded a number of penalties late on in the match. It ended all square, extra time was played and with St. John's also ahead in this period a win for the Whiterock men looked assured. Not so, as a free was awarded deep in the St. John's own half and from which St. Gall's converted to earn another draw.

Another day, another match, another venue and St. John's took to Casement Park with determination and purpose (perhaps the team talk from former St. John's player and international soccer star Gerry Armstrong did the trick). Gerardo Hamilton got the opening score of the match after 3 minutes for St. John's, followed by a further three from the Johnnies without reply (two from Gary Rafferty and one from Kevin McGuinness).

In fact it wasn't until the 25th minute that St. Gall's managed their first score, courtesy of Conor McGourty from a converted free. A further point brought St. Gall's within 2 points of St. John's, that is until Gerardo Hamilton's shot fell invitingly for corner forward Kevin McGuinness who scored a great goal into the far corner of the net from a very acute angle. Minutes later young McGuinness scored a superb point from play to give St. John's a six point lead going in at half-time.

At the resumption of play St. Gall's managed another point, however substitute Ciaran McCooey hit St. John's second goal to put his team into a strong lead. Joe Herald received a sending off after 10 minutes of the second half however this thankfully did not prove to be to the detriment of his team. Liam Boyle scored a point midway through the second half, whilst Conor McGourty did likewise for St. Gall's. Ciaran McCooey got his second score of the game with 5 minutes to go and whilst St. Gall's did get a goal to lessen their blushes Liam Boyle stepped up to register a point from play and the last score of the game. St. John's won 2-08 to 1-05.

The defence worked tirelessly to contain a couple of pacy St. Gall's forwards and the St. John's goalkeeper also turned in a good performance.

Upfront Kevin McGuinness and Gerardo Hamilton looked the most dangerous however, with Dermot Hartigan giving a dogged display at centre-¾'s.

This earned them a semi-final spot against St. Brigid's who had put in a very impressive league form this year.

Certainly this was to be a tight game with St. Brigid's sticking close to the Johnnies men for the most part, however St. John's broke through with a couple of goals which earned them yet another County final this year - The score 3-09 to 0-09.

They will meet a strong Davitts team in the final at Casement Park on Sunday and they will be hoping to complete the first part a potentially historic double of Minor Championship titles (the hurlers play their hurling final in early October) for the Club.

All supporters are expected to be in attendance to cheer on the Minors this Sunday, 21st September 2003, at 1pm.

Good luck to the Minors!!!