09/09/05 St. John's Minor hurlers into 3rd consecutive Championship final

County Antrim Minor Hurling Semi-Final Casement Park

St.Johns 5:07 (22) St.Galls 2:06 (12)

St.Johns U-18 hurlers made it through to their 3rd consecutive Minor Hurling final at the expense of St.Galls on Friday evening in a cool and wet Casement Park.

Kevin McGuinness opened the Johnnies account in the first minute from 15m. This was followed up a minute later by a Fionntain McKillop point from 8m. St.Johns full forward Paul Gribbin then latched onto a breaking ball 5m out and lashed to the Galls net to leave the Johnnies 1:02 to 0:00 in front after six minutes. Several more wides followed from St. Johns before Aidan Gribben opened the Galls account on 13 minutes with a well taken point. This was followed a minute later by a goal from Conor McGourty who was the quickest to react to a dropping ball which he deftly flicked to the corner of the Johnnies net. Peter McGarrity then replied for St. Johns with a hard won point before Kevin McGuinness broke through on a 25m solo run to clip over a fine point to leave the Johnnies 1:04 to 1:01 in front after 20 minutes.

Conor McGourty was then fouled in possession shortly afterwards and points the 18m free to leave the scores at the interval St.Johns 1:04 St.Galls 1:02.

Upon resumption a high dropping 45 from St.Johns Simon McCrory is flicked on sharply only to be brilliantly saved by St. Galls goal minder Kieran Bellew. But a minute later St.Johns David McGarrity neatly collects on the Galls 21 and drove a rasping shot to the Galls net to give the Johnnies some breathing space (2:04 to 1:02).

On 40 minutes McKillop gains possession and solos 25m across the Galls goal before releasing a sweet strike to the roof of the Galls net. But St. Galls began to recover. Some great work on the right wing from McGourty resulted in a delivery to Simon Dowds who blasted to the Johnnies net to raise the Galls banner 3:04 to 2:02. Anton McCaffrey then pointed from 30m for St. Galls to help put more pressure on St. Johns. But a minute later some good work from Peter McGarrity on the left wing resulted in a cross to the back post which found McGuinness waiting and he duly doubled to the Galls net from 3m. But Simon Dowds replied for St.Galls with an excellent point a minute later to leave six points between the sides.4:04 to 2:04.

The lively skillful looking St.Galls substitute Declan Dalton opened his account a minute later with a sharp point but Barry McFall replied almost immediately with a point before David McGarrity flicked in a goal for the Johnnies. Shortly afterwards Simon McCrory stormed out of the Johnnies defence with a great solo run and point. McGourty then pulled a point back before McKillop pointed for St Johns with the last score of the game.

Certainly St. Johns will be pleased in reaching a 3rd consecutive Minor decider. St.Galls on the other hand will be disappointed in a game they were always chasing. St.Johns had steady performances through out most of their team but Brian Holmes , Anthony Moore, Ciaran McCurdy, Paul Gribben and David McGarrity were to the fore. For St.Galls Padraig Flannagan, Brendan Early, Chris Dowds, Simon Dowds, Conor McGourty and substitute Declan Dalton all looked sharp.

St.Galls 1.Kieran Bellew 2.Brendan Austin 3.Sean Burns 4.Tiernan Kennedy 5.Chris Dowds 6.Padraig Flannagan 7.Mark Kelly 8.Chris Wylie 9.Brendan Early 10.Aidan Gribbin 11.Anton McCaffrey 12.Stephen McCann 13.Brendan Guiney 14.Conor McGourty 15.Simon Dowds.
Substitutes : 18.Declan Dalton for 12. Stephen McCann 20 minutes. 22.Peter Owens for 13 Brendan Austin 49 minutes.
St.Galls Scorers: Conor McGourty 1:02(1f), Simon Dowds 1:01, Anton McCaffrey 0:01, Aidan Gribbin 0:01, Declan Dalton 0:01.
Wides: 7.
Manager: Paul Flannagan
Mentors: Sean McGourty, Tony Early, Sean Kelly.

St.Johns: 1.Tomas Shannon 2.Conal Maskey 3.Ciaran McCurdy 4.Anthony Moore 5.Brian Holmes 6.Simon McCrory 7.Barry McFall 8.Eoghan Caldwell 9.Gerard McCann 10.Peter McGarrity 11.Kevin McGuinness 12.Aodhan Mulholland 13.David McGarrity 14.Paul Gribbin 15.Fionntain McKillop
Substitutes: 16.Tony Ferran for Aodhan Mulholland 24 minutes. 17.Aodh Hamilton 18.Conor McSteen 19.Gerard Carberry 20.Adrian Downey 21.Jamesey McGibbon
St.Johns Scorers: David McGarrity 2:00, Kevin McGuinness 1:02, Fionntain McKillop 1:02, Paul Gribbin 1:00, Peter McGarrity 0:01, Barry McFall 0:01,Simon McCrory 0:01.Wides= 16.
Manager Joe McCallin Mentors Colm McFall, Andrew McCallin.

Referee Jim Kane Naomh Eanna.