July 15, 2019

Good Start to Junior Football Championship: 

St Josephs 4-13 Delvin 1-13 

A sunny warm day in The Downs saw us open our Junior Football Championship campaign with a useful but hard earned win over a good Delvin side. For much of the game, little separated the teams as the lead changed hands three times in the opening half but a burst of scores which yielded 1-8 without reply from the 13th to 26th minutes of the second half decided the issue. A lively start saw Delvin start better with the first two points of the game in the 3rd and 4th minutes. Indeed they were unlucky not to be further ahead as Andrew Meares had to react sharply to a goal bound effort in the 5th minute. From the clearance, St Josephs broke downfield and swept home the games opening goal in the 7th minute from Jordan Mc Donnell. This was cancelled out in the 10th minute with Delvin gaoling but Ross Elliffe finished from close range in the 14th minute to put St Josephs 2-2 to 1-3 ahead.  A third goal came in the 22nd minute from Andy Scally and St Josephs led by 3-4 to 1-07 at the break. Delvin started the second half well with two swift points to reduce our lead to a point before Eoin Kelly fired over a good point in the 5th minute to leave two between the teams. Delvin again closed the gap to one point in the 8th minute but this was to be their last score until late on in the game as St Josephs got a grip on matters. Six successive points in as many minutes from the 13th to 19th minutes of the second half put us 3-11 to 1-10 ahead with Niall Moran,Andy Scally,Ross Elliffe and Jordan Mc Donnell all on the scoresheet. We were well on top now and despite a close range miss for a fourth goal in the 22nd minute it came in the 24th minute with Andy Scally netting. Two further points left us 4-13 to 1-10 ahead with four minutes left and despite three points from Delvin in the latter stages the win for this first round game was decided. This was a lively game with plenty of entertainment and both sides certainly gave it their best. St Josephs can look back on a number of good performances Andrew Meares steady in goals and the full back line of Andy Conway,Jerry Gleeson and Brian Killian all dealing with physically bigger opponents very well. Eoin Kelly,Mick Larrigy and Brian Keegan manned the half back line with Brian Keegan having a very good outing at number 7. Brian Fitzgerald and Wayne Mc Cormack had a hard battle with their direct opponents but were instrumental in that scoring surge during the second half. The half forward line of Dean Slevin,Ross Elliffe and Daire Lynam all had useful games while the full forward line of Niall Moran,Jordan Mc Donnell and Andy Scally chipped in with a large percentage of the scores which saw us win this opening round game. Next match is against Loughnavalley. 

Team:Andrew Meares,Andy Conway,Jerry Gleeson,Brian Killian,Eoin Kelly,Mick Larrigy,Brian Keegan,Brian fitzgerald,Wayne Mc Cormack,Dean Slevin,Ross Elliffe,Daire Lynam,Niall Moran,Jordan Mc Donnell,Andy Scally