01 Sep 2010

In a sunny Louth Village this evening, the Joes faced the four club combination side of St Mochtas, Annaghminon Rovers, Sean O Mahonys and Dowdalshill, as they took the first steps to attempt and retain their minor title.

It is fair to say that the first half of this game was pretty lacklustre and lacking in any really pace or intensity. In fact with 29 minutes played there was only a total of seven points scored in the game and all of them were from frees. Alan Lynch kicked the first two Joes frees, one of them from distance. Conal Smyth, who showed well in attack, scoring the other. Three of the home sides frees came from Ciaran Byrne, with the other coming from Stephen Kilcoyne. The only real incident of note was Liam O Leary, for the second time in three days having to leave the game in the first half, after one of his own men running into him! Good thing the lad seems to be made of sturdy stuff, as he was fixed up and back on after five minutes!

Apart from this, the only real spark in the half came in the four minutes of injury time at the end of it. Quick thinking from Sean Mc Quillan saw him take a quick free into Alan Quigley, who laid off to Lorcan Doyle who scored the first point from play of the match, a great point from tight into the right corner. Conal Smyth then set up the hard working John Mc Kenna who put the Joes back in front, before another Ciaran Byrne free levelled matters for the sixth time! The Joes would go in ahead at the break though, thanks to Sean Mc Quillan. He intercepted a ball out of the Mochtas defence, played an interchange with Jack Mc Namee and pointed with the last kick of the half.
Half Time Score: St Josephs 0-6, Mochta/Annahminon/O Mahonys/Dhill 0-5

Just as had been the case in the first half, the scoring was opened by a Ciaran Byrne free within a minute of the throw in. This would be the seventh and final time that the teams would be level, with the Joes decisive move starting off with another neat Lorcan Doyle point in the ninth minute. He would turn provider minutes later, when John Mc Kennas last act before moving to the backs was to stretch the lead out to two scores for the first time in the game. This was soon followed by an Alan Quigley goal chance which was well saved at point blank range. But with twenty minutes played and game still up for grabs, the other Alan in the Joes attack did hit the net, to put some clear daylight between the sides for the first time. The goal was nicely set up by the raiding Sean Mc Quillan. Points from Conal Smyth and Lorcan Doyle followed, with a Shane Mc Mahon point for the combination side coming in between them.

With 29 minutes played Alan Quigley was fouled close in and when he dispatched the free himself it pushed the lead out to an unassailable seven points. Mochtas would get their first point from play of the match in injury time, when the right half back came forward to score. Another Ciaran Byrne free rounded off the scoring.
Full Time Score: St Josephs 1-11, Mochta/Annahminon/O Mahonys/Dhill 0-9

This was a well attended game and it was certainly good to see that this minor team are drawing the same level of support as last years one did. This was a good away win and keeps the dream alive, but there is no doubt that stiffer challenges will lie ahead and we wish the lads the very best of luck in facing them.

Team: Shane Mc Quillan, Chris Brennan, Kieran O Hare, Philip Brennan, Liam O Leary, Sean Mc Quillan (0-1), Daragh Smith, Daire Mc Kiernan, Robert Samson, Jack Mc Namee, Alan Lynch (1-2), John Mc Kenna (0-2), Alan Quigley (0-1), Conal Smyth (0-2), Lorcan Doyle (0-2).
Substitutions: Kieran Langan for Chris Brennan, Jack Mulligan for Jack Mc Namee
Referee: Paddy Matthews Tweet

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