Group 2, round three
St John’s 1-27 Rossa 2-16
Cushendall 1-24 Dunloy 0-19
WHEN it came to the crunch, St John’s just had the extra gear to power home against old rivals O’Donovan Rossa at a scorching Corrigan Park on Saturday to march into an Antrim Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final.
It may have said Group Two on the tin, but this was knockout hurling as both needed a result from this do-or-die derby and both teams served up a superb game befitting of its status.
It hung in the balance heading into the final quarter with the sides level - a result that would have been enough to see Rossa advance on scoring difference - but that came from a 1-2 burst in the space of three second half minutes, whereas they scored just a further four points in that second period.
Much of that was down to an exceptional Johnnies’ defence that shut down the Rossa attack and laid on chance after chance for their flying forwards to thrive - 28 scores in total but with 13 wides and a penalty saved, creating 42 scoring opportunities for a potent inside line was always going to spell trouble.
Both had lost out to Cushendall and Dunloy in their previous games, so it was all or nothing on Saturday and St John’s manager Michael Johnston was delighted to see his side get on the dancefloor for the knockout phase.
“We would be disappointed we didn’t hit 2-30,” he offered, an honest appraisal considering they passed up some decent chances.
“We have a good inside line and the half-forward line that works hard, but everyone put their shoulder to the wheel and the boys came on to finish, something we’ve been working at all year to have 20 St John’s men to finish which is good to see.
“The rivalry between St John’s and Rossa is brilliant and great for city hurling. Both clubs are at that appreciative level of knowing how tough it is for hurling in the city. But nothing is won. We are out of the group, that’s our first stage, and we’ll see where the next game takes us.”
Rossa made the much better start with Pearce Short fielding a Micheal Armstrong delivery to turn and bury to the net just three minutes in.
Their goal threat was apparent in the opening period with Simon Doherty called into action to deny Eoin Trainor, Jack Bohill making a timely intervention to thwart Short from bating home a second and Stephen Beatty saw a shot from an acute angle just flash the wrong side of the posts.
They led 1-4 to 0-4 after 10 minutes but the Johnnies were beginning to purr in attack with Conor Johnston deciding he was taking their challenge by the scruff, rattling off six points in total, while Shea Shannon finished with nine - mostly from placed balls but including an early sideline to inspire his team.
Bit by bit, St John’s were getting on top and their goal arrived on 21 minutes as the low sun caught out Ciara Orchin with Stephen Tierney in behind to net.
Rossa rallied to get level with their top-scorer Seaghan Shannon landing three and Thomas Morgan also on target, but late scores from the St John’s Shannon and Conal Bohill gave their side a 1-12 to 1-10 lead at the half.
They began the second half better and Johnston won a penalty early only for Rossa goalkeeper Donal Armstrong to make a save from the same situation for the second game in a row, but St John’s moved five ahead only for that Rosa rally as Morgan got in behind to finish at the second attempt after his initial whipped effort clipped the post.
Points from Dominic McEnhill followed to see the teams level with 45 played, but the hosts would out-score the visitors by nine to two as their defence stood tall and forwards availed of their graft to finish and see them home.
In Saturday’s other game in the group, Cushendall banked top spot and a direct route into the last four with a 1-24 to 0-19 win over Dunloy on home turf.
There wasn’t the same jeopardy hanging over this as events in the city, but the defending champions made a statement nonetheless as Joseph McLaughlin’s meteoric rise as one of Antrim hurling’s top names continues, bagging 1-9 including an early second half goal that helped put a bit of light between the teams.
Seaan Elliott and Kelan Molloy hit 13 of Dunloy’s scores between them, but Cushendall would send out a message they are in no mood to loosen their grip on the Volunteer Cup with an impressive display as they will bypass the quarter-final stage.
ST JOHN’S: S Doherty; J Bohill, Ciaran Johnston, S Wilson; R McNulty (0-1), P McCallin, C Morgan; A McGowan, M Dudley (0-4); O Donnelly, Connor Johnston (0-6), C Bohill (0-2); S Shannon (0-11, 9f, 1 sideline), S Tierney (1-0), A Bradley (0-2).
Subs: D Carson (0-1) for A McGowan (HT), D McGuinness for S Tierney (47), R Galbraith for O Donnelly (59), O MacManus for A Bradley (60).
ROSSA: D Armstrong; C McGuinness, C Orchin, C Boyle; Stephen Shannon, G Walsh (0-1), C Shannon; D McCartney, E Trainor (0-2); S Beatty, M Armstrong (0-1), T Morgan (1-1); D McEnhill (0-3), P Short (1-0), Seaghan Shannon (0-8, 6f, 1 65).
Subs: N Crossan for C Shannon (53), J Connolly for P Short (53), D Rogan for Seaghan Shannon (58), J Kerr for C Boyle (59)
REFEREE: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)