Club News

12/10/2003 JOHNNIES UNDER 16'S TAKE THE HONOURS
(But spirited St.Pauls make it tough at Rossa Park)

St. John's overcame a spirited challenge by a strongly motivated St. Paul's team to win their 3rd consecutive South Antrim U-16 Hurling title in ideal conditions at Rossa Park on Sunday last.

St. Paul's came roaring out at the Johnnies from the throw in and held possession in the St. John's half for the first ten minutes of play. However as their tempo eased St .Johns broke away after 12 minutes and registered their first score through a 21 yard free from Fintan McKillop. The Johnnies quickly followed this up with points from Simon McCrory (45m free), Kevin Kennedy, Eoghan Caldwell and McCrory again before Conal Maskey pointed a 60m free to leave the Johnnies six up.

Kevin Murray then replied with St. Paul's first score, an excellent 60-metre free from far out on the right. This was immediately followed by St. Paul's first score from play from Ciaran McAuley, followed again with a point from the industrious Kevin Murray on 25 minutes. St. Johns at this stage seemed slightly more capable of taking their chances than St. Paul's who shaded their first half possession.

Further points at this stage from McKillop & McCrory and a blasted opportunist goal from Barry McFall appeared to give St. John's an unassailable lead of 1-08 to 0-03. But St. Paul's struck back and after some hesitation in the St. John's defence, Brian Gillen latched onto a dropping ball in full flight for a superb drop-shot to the Johnnies net.
St. John's replied with further points from McKillop, Kennedy and McFall to go into the short whistle 1-11 to 1-03 in front.

Upon resumption St. Paul's threw everything at St. John's, sensing that the final had started to slip away from them. A 21 yard free from Andy McMorrow shortened the margin but despite holding the Johnnies in their own half for most of the first 15 minutes, they couldn't capitalise on possession with any scores.

The next 15 minutes witnessed the game ebb & flow with two short frees from St. John's McKillop and 21 yard frees, one each from McMorrow and Murray for St. Pauls kept things as they were. With ten minutes to go and St. John's 1-13 to 1-05 in front, St. Paul's mounted a spirited challenge with substitute Colm McGaughey showing great determination to score a brave goal, followed quickly by a good point from team mate Cabhra O'Caireallain to set up a storming finish.

Neither team could make a decisive breakthrough during the next five minutes and with two minutes to go, St. John's struck two goals in 40 seconds from Brian Holmes and a great 30 yard strike to the roof of the net by Barry McFall to finish the game with a flattering score line of 3-13 to 2-06.

Full credit must go to St. Paul's manager Ciaran Cooper and his mentors for turning this St. Paul's side into a championship force. St. John's Assistant Manager Colm McFall summed up feelings inside the camp. "We had lost three major juvenile finals this year at under-18, U-14 & U-12 level and we felt we had to lift this one today", said McFall, "but full credit to St.Paul's who battled all the way and made for a great final."

St. Pauls were well served all over the park with all departments wearing their hearts on their sleeves. MickeyJoe Cooper, Colm McGaughey, Ciaran McAuley, Cabhra O' Caireallain and midfielder Kevin Murray particulary stood out. St.John's strength lay in their defence with Peter McGarrity, Ciaran McCurdy, Kevin McGuinness and Conal Maskey and repelling countless St. Paul's attacks. Up front Kevin Kennedy,
Barry McFall and Fintan McKillop shone in flashes but Simon McCrory would have to take the man of the match accolade.

		St. John's
		P. Gribben
P. McGarrity		C. McCurdy	M. Elliott
K. McGuinness		C. Maskey	D. Corner
		G. McCann S. McCrory
F McKillop		B. McFall	E. Caldwell
B. Holmes		K. Kennedy	C. McStein
(Subs: C. McCrudden for C. McStein, S. Rooney for B. Holmes ) (Subs not used: Ciaran McKissock, Aodh Hamilton, Tomas Shannon, Aaron McKenna, Sean Wright, Brendan McGibbon)