Furey Coaches Sponsored Sligo SFC Rd 1:  St. John's 1-9 Curry 2-9

St. John's rank outsiders for this year's Sligo Senior Championship just came up short against a Curry side who battled back from a two point deficit at half time to win by three in the end, writes Michael McGee

The crucial goal coming from Curry's Fergal Brennan in the 15th minute of the second half proved decisive against a much more rejuvenated, energized and spirited St. John's who bravely fought to the end of an exciting match in Markievicz Park on Saturday evening last.

The maturing Brian McGowan opened St. John's account with the first attack slotting over after just 30 seconds of play. Within a minute later Curry were on front with a 3 man movement involving Brian McDonagh breaking past a couple of weak challenges he then fed Kenneth Morley who in turn saw Denis Coffey free and the midfielder made no mistake from 14 metres out firing a low shot past the St. John's net minder Noel O Donnell.  O'Donnell was quickly in action soon after when he stopped what looked like a certain second goal from Curry's Kevin Giblin. Curry's Cathal Brennan's well struck 45 sailed between the posts to put  Adrian Donohue's charges 1-2 to 0-1 up in the eight minute. St. John's defence in particular Robbie Galvin & Robert Fahy managed to break down a number of threatening Curry attacks while Kevin Giblin was playing well in the Curry half forward line.  In the ninth minute St. John's David Rooney who was making a welcome return following injury blazed a screaming shot narrowly over the crossbar following a good pass from his brother Mark over on the stand side from 24 metres out.   Curry sliced through the St. John's centre, again a 3 man movement involving Sean Davey, Keith Davey who passed to Cathal Brennan and he duly fisted over the bar close to goal.  St. John's Shane Stenson who was a doubt before the game came more into the game and following good interpassing between himself and Conor Brennan. Stenson took on the responsibility and put over a wonder point from a very difficult angle on the right side for St. John's third point after twelve minutes of play.  It was to get even better for the Carraroe side with Sligo star Eoin Flanagan's blistering 30 metre run right at the heart of the Curry defence and he laid off a perfect pass to David Rooney who drilled a low ball pass the despairing dive of James Walsh in the Curry goal.  St. John's had their tails up at this stage with David Rooney again landing a skyscraper of a point from 25 metres out. Great work from Shane Stenson seen Conor Brennan bearing down on goal but a brilliant save from Curry's goalkeeper James Walsh averted the danger. While at the other end Conor Greene managed to block down a goal bound shot from the dangerous Curry attacker Conor Brennan. St. John's great team play was evident again with some intricate passing seen David Rooney slotting over his third point of the half from 20 metres.  Another Stenson special from the right corner had St. John's three points to the good but on the stroke of half time a Jason Marren free from 13 metres left the half time score reading St.John's 1-6 to Curry 1-4.

Just after half time St. John's received a setback when forced to bring in Jamie Grehan for Mark Cunningham who received a black card for looked like a very innocuous challenge on a Curry defender. Brian McDonagh with his second point of the match and Jason Marren's attacking instinct seen him race ahead of his marker and floating over a point over his right shoulder tied the game up at 1-6 each in the 36th minute. Ian Rossitor's magnificently judged free off the ground from all of 45 metres was beautifully curled in over the bar against a strengthening breeze in the dressing room end of the grounds to put St. John's into a narrow lead

St. John's Conor Greene powerful shot cannoned back off a Curry defender when in a good goal scoring position.  Quick movement down field immediately afterwards seen Curry turn defence into attack with Keith Davey passing the ball to the inrushing Fergal Brennan and he fired low past Noel O'Donnell in the St. Johns goal in what was the turning point in the match.  Two more quick scores from Jason Marren & Cathal Brennan put Curry well out in front by 2-9 to 1-7 with ten minutes left. St. John's to their credit never gave up hope but a number of bad wides (10 in total) didn't help their cause. They kept plugging away with David Rooney pointing his fourth of the match while Conor Kerins stole a yard on his opposite number and blasted a point narrowly over the bar to reduce the lead. Curry's Robert Wynne received his second yellow card in the dying minutes but had no effect on the outcome of the match. St. John's couldn't find a way through a resolute Curry defence and ran time out on the Sky blues.

Curry will be pleased to have got over the first hurdle in this year's Championship format while St. John's in defeat can still be justifiably pleased with their efforts which belied their lowly league position.  Their performance was full of earnest hard work and their conviction restored much needed pride back into the side.
A little more accuracy in front of goal and taking the right options could have meant an altogether different result.

Best for St. John's were Robbie Galvin, Robert Fahy, Shane Stenson,Paul McNamara, Eoin Flanagan and Rooney brothers David & Mark. While Curry's top performers were Jason Marren,  Cathal Brennan,  Kevin Giblin , Kenneth Morley, Denis Coffey & Sean Davey.

St. John's: Noel O'Donnell, Robert Galvin, Robert Fahy, Eoin Flanagan, Conor Greene, Paul McNamara, Michael O'Hehir, Mark Rooney, Mark  Mark Cunningham, Conor  Brennan, Ian Rossitor, Brian McGowan, Fiachra Grennan, Shane Stenson, David Rooney,
Subs:  Conor Kerins for Connor Brennan (half time) Jamie Grehan for Mark Cunningham BC (32 mins)

Curry:  James Walsh, Enda Walsh, David Wrynne, Stephen Marren, Robert Wrynne, James Connolly, Kenneth Morley, Niall McDonagh, Denis Coffey, Keith Davey, Kevin Giblin, Brian McDonagh, Jason Marren, Sean Davey, Cathal Brennan
Subs:  Fergal Brennan for Kevin Giblin (45 mins) Richard Wrynne for Dennis Coffey (50 mins) Conor Mahon for Keith Davey (58 mins)

St. John's scorers: David Rooney 1-4 , Shane Stenson 0-2, Brian McGowan 0-1, Conor Kerins 0-1, Ian Rossitor 0-1 (1 free)

Scorers Curry:  Jason Marren 0-4, Cathal Brennan 0-3 (1 free), Denis Coffey 1-0,  Fergal Brennan 1-0,Brian McDonagh 0-2,

Referee John Doyle.

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