Furey Coaches Sponsored SFL Division 1 League Rd 8:  

St. John’s 1-4 St. Molaise Gaels 3-13

St. John’s slump to 5th league defeat

St.John’s slumped to their 5th league defeat in this years campaign against a well drilled and fitter Molaise Gaels in Monsignor Hynes Park on Friday evening last, writes Michael McGee.

St. John’s were forced to line out  without nine  first team players and with injury’s to key personnel it was a evening to forget. With the fading light and dark storm clouds gathering overhead at the end of the game the same could be said in the St. John’s dressing room following a below par performance.

Molaise Gaels Keelan Watters opened his sides account with a pointed free after just 2 minutes.  The full forward line of Keelan Watters, Gerard Brady & Niall Hoey contributed 3-8 of the Molaise Gaels entire tally  of 3-13 and it was Watters & Brady that tormented & toiled an overstretched St. John’s defence throughout. Watters doubled his sides lead 2 minutes later. Niall McLoughlin’s slotted over the bar from 30 metres out for a well taken point.  St. John’s got on the scoreboard after 9 minutes following a great burst of speed from  midfielder Tommy Kelly through the Molaise Gaels centre  given a neat lay off to James Murphy who finished well.   Molaise Gaels then got the first of their 3 goals a minute later with a 3 man move involving Niall McLoughlin on the left wing expertly kicking the ball into the hands of the totally unmarked Centre half back Darragh Fallon 30 metres out and he in turn passed it to full forward Gerard Brady who fired the ball past the St. John’s goalie  Noel O’Donnell from 14 metres out.  St. John’s full back Jamie Grehan excelled in the close exchanges and was like a man mountain breaking up a number of dangerous Molaise Gaels attacks.   Molaise Gaels midfielder Cathal Burns fired over a great score from all of 45 metres that sailed between the posts to put Molaise Gaels  1-4 to 0-1 up after 13 minutes of play. Noel O’Donnell in the St. John’s goals pulled of the first of a number of great saves this time from Gerard Brady who burst past the St. John’s rearguard but O’Donnell was equal to it pushing a way a goal bound shot from the flying full forward.  St.John’s got their 2nd score of the game from a Ian Rossitor free after Paul McNamara was fouled. Rossitor’s booming free off the ground from 25 metres after 18 minutes of play gave St.John‘s hope.  Molaise Gaels for the remaining 12 minutes pulled well clear with  Keelan Watters 3 points, Niall McLoughlin, Niall Hoey, Jamie McLoughlin and a 28 minute goal from Gerard Brady his second for Molaise Gaels had them firmly in the driving seat and putting the game  effectively out of St. John’s  reach by half time.  Molaise Gaels went into the interval 2-10  up with St. John’s  just 2 points to show for their efforts.

Brian Harris gave the Carraroe men some hope after the interval when he was fed a high dropping ball and  drilled home  for a goal on 33 minutes.  An Ian Rossitor free two mintues later and this was added to with another point from Fiachra Grennan from 25 metres but they failed to score for the remaining 24 minutes.   Noel O’Donnell pulled off another outstanding save denying Keelan Water what looked like a certain goal. Oisin Cox  had a chance to reduce the lead  but his strongly fisted shot went wide of Conor Loughlin’s goal. Niall McLoughlin got Molaise Gaels first score in the second half which took all of 18 minutes to come with a free.  St. John’s began to tire in the last 10 minutes and Molaise upped the pace again.   St. Molaise got their third goal following good work from Jamie McLoughlin who fed Noel Hoey and his high dropping ball onto the edge of square was held up in the breeze long enough for Keelan Watters to rise highest over the St. John’s goalie and fist it into the empty net. Watters added 2 further points for the Grange men in the remaining minutes with the result leaving St. John’s reeling.

Best for St. John’s were Noel O’Donnell, Tommy Kelly, Shane Stenson, Jamie Grehan & Paul McNamara.  While St. Molaise Gaels were best served by  Darragh Fallon, Cathal Burns, Niall McLoughlin, Keelan Watters, Gerard Brady & Jamie McLoughlin.

Scorers St.John’s:  Brian Harris 1-0,  Ian Rossitor 0-2 (2 frees) Fiachra Grennan 0-1, James Murphy 0-1.

St.Maloise Gaels.Keelan Watters 1-6 (2 frees)  Gerard Brady 2-1, Niall McLoughlin 0-3 (1 free), Cathal Burns 0-1,  Niall Hoey 0-1, James McLoughlin 0-1.

St.John’s: Noel O’Donnell, Daniel Smith,  Jamie Grehan, Alex Selby, Enda Roche, Shane Stenson, Brian McGowan, Tommy Kelly,  Paul McNamara, Mark Rooney,  Brian Harris, Oisin Cox, Fiachra Grennan,  James Murphy,  Ian Rossitor.

Subs used:  Killan Sweeney for Enda Roche (34 mins)

Molaise Gaels: Conor Loughlin, Tommy Kennedy,  Gavin Gilsenan, Tadgh Kelly, Brian O’Connor, Jason Brennan,  Darragh Fallon, Peter Wilson, Cathal Burns, Jamie McLoughlin, Niall McLoughlin, Conor Watters, Kellan Watters, Gerard Brady, Niall Hoey.

Subs used: Paddy Watters for Brian O’Connor (51 minutes)

Referee:  John Doyle Naomh Eoin