Joes come though in tight game in Gaelic Grounds
St. Joseph’s 0-16, O’Raghallaighs 1-11
The Joes came away from the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday evening with a hard earned two point win. The Joes started brightly with Conal O’Hanlon pointing from a free in the first minute and they went two up when Ben Collier pointed from play. The sides traded wides with Stefan Pots making a timely interception for the Joes before John Horan got O’Raghallaighs on the score board after 6mins of play. The sides were level when O’Raghallaighs Kyle McElroy pointed from a free, both sides hitting three wides in the opening ten minutes. The Joes regained the lead from a Conal O’Hanlon free following of foul on Daire Smyth. The only goal of the game came on 12mins when Kyle McElroy got through to shoot low to the Joes net. The Joes hit back immediately with points from play and a free, both from Conal O’Hanlon. The last action before the water break was a point from a 20m free by Kyle McElroy to leave the O’Raghallaighs ahead by 1-3 to 0-5.
Excellent work by the Joes defence saw Gabriel Bell surge forward and his shot come back off the cross bar, the Joes winning a free that was converted by Alan McKenna to tie the score on 19mins. The Joes had the better of the exchanges and following good work by Jack Mulligan, Conal McCaul found Conal O’Hanlon for the mark to put the Joes in front on 26mins. A minute later the sides were level again when Ollie Clutterbuck collected a shot off the post to point for the O’Raghallaighs. Great fielding by Conal McCaul was followed by a long range point from the same player. The O’Raghallaighs had the final score of the half when Evan Sweeney broke forward to point, sending the sides in level at the break O’Raghallaighs 1-5, St. Joseph’s 0-8.
The Joes started the second half as they had started the first and it was a point from play from Ben Collier who put the Joes ahead in the first minute. Strong tackling from both sides and some nervous moments in the Joes defence saw Alan Quigley combine with his defence to clear their lines. The Joes with strong runs from Jack Mulligan and Killian Staunton increased their lead to two with a point from Gabriel Bell on 37mins. Alan McKenna made the margin three when he pointed a free following fine play by Ben Collier and Conall McCaul. On 40 mins the Joes had Alan Quigley in the Joes goal to thank when he pulled off a fine save to deny the home team an equaliser. The sides exchanged points with midfielder Danny Reilly on target with an excellent long range point and Alan McKenna on target for the Joes. The O’Raghalliaghs upped the attack and centre back Stephen Murphy pointed, quickly followed by a pointed free to leave just one between the sides at the water break. Joes 0-12, O’Raghallaighs 1-8.
Within a minute the sides were level when Ben Rogan pointed a close in free, a collision between two Joes defenders led to a delay and it was a second point from Stephen Murphy that put the O’Raghallaighs ahead on 50mins. On 53mins a Joes free from Alan Quigley came off the upright, the resultant 45 was also taken by Quigley who again hit the woodwork and the O’Raghallaighs cleared in a goal mouth scramble. On 55mins the Joes drew level when Conall Smyth was fouled and Conal O’Hanlon pointed the free to leave the score 1-10 to 0-13.
In a tension final period the Joes shot wide from distance and a long range free from keeper Joe Flanagan for the O’Raghallaighs also drifted wide. The Joes regained the lead on 59 minutes when McCaul, Mulligan and O’Hanlon setup Conall Smyth for the point. A minute later Conall McCaul pointed a free from wide left on the 45 to put two between the sides. Daire Smyth for the Joes added a point following an excellent through ball from Oisin McGuinness on 61mins. The closing minutes saw the O’Raghallaighs throw everything into attack, superb defence by the Joes with support from Daire Smyth with a goal saving block to keep the O’Raghallaighs down to a point on 64 minutes. With wides at both ends it was a welcome final whistle for the Joes and their supporters on 68mins, the Joes were narrow winners on a score line of St. Joseph’s 0-16, O’Raghallaighs 1-11.
St. Joseph’s
Alan Quigley, Conor Neary, Aidan Kieran, Stefan Pots, Ben Collier (0-2), Killian Staunton, Gabriel Bell (0-1), Oisin McGuinness, Conall McCaul (0-2,1f), Jack Mulligan, Alan Lynch, Craig Doherty, Daire Smyth (0-1), Alan McKenna (0-3,3f), Conal O’Hanlon (0-6,4f), David Kieran, Conall Smyth (0-1), Killian McDonnell.
O’Raghallaighs
Joe Flanagan, James Morgan, Alan Doyle, Ollie Clutterbuck (0-1), Emmet King, Stephen Murphy (0-2), Evan Sweeney(0-1), Eoin Moore, Danny Reilly (0-1), Chris Smith, Ben Rogan (0-1), Cillian Curran, Daniel Morgan, John Horgan (0-2), Kyle McElroy (0-2).
