Resurgent St Joseph's record fine victory

St Joseph's 5-21, Kilbeggan Shamrocks 3-15

Not even the most ardent of St Joseph’s supporters saw this result coming. They might well have dreamt of overpowering their neighbours in the Junior 1 Football Championship, but they could never have imagined a record scoreline in their first ever victory over their biggest rivals.

That’s exactly what happened in Kinnegad on Friday evening in a fantastic contest.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks lost their way having led by 3-3 to 0-1 after 14 minutes: David Fennell’s departure through injury didn’t help, but it was their failure to win primary possession at midfield and a lack of conviction in defence that really conspired against them. They notched an impressive tally and have players to return and strengthen the side, but the high concession rate is certainly a reality check as they aim to make a quick return to the intermediate grade.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks may have contributed to their own demise by choosing to fist over scores when there were clear goal-scoring chances during their period of dominance in the first half. The new game is unforgiving. Fisting over points (set to be outlawed next year) to keep the scoreboard ticking over must now be confined to the closing minutes when you're comfortably ahead because, in the modern game, you are never really out of sight until then.

It looked promising when Jack Molloy found the net in the fourth minute after Fennell’s pass, while Cillian Rochford did likewise when Padraig Carton’s effort came off the crossbar 12 minutes in. Wing-back Jacob Browne got forward to score their third major, and they appeared to be coasting.

But there was a twist. By half-time St Joseph’s were leading, 2-12 to 3-6, after Dean Slevin and Aaron McDonnell both netted, the latter punishing some indecision on the part of ‘keeper Niall Rabbitte. Slevin was superb in attack and Jordan McDonnell at centre forward began to exert his influence, a sublime two-pointer from play levelling matters in the 25th minute.

Momentum is everything and St Joseph’s, once they got a grip at midfield, really drove home their supremacy, scoring 2-6 and conceding just a point in a brilliant 11-minute spell. Trapped in the maelstrom, Kilbeggan Shamrocks could find no response.

The second half had the potential for further drama, but it was St Joseph’s who won it, 3-9 to 0-9. It was finely balanced early on when Nigel Scally notched a two-pointer free, but Ros Elliffe fisted home St Joseph’s third goal in the sixth minute. And after another Kilbeggan surge that brought four scores without reply to leave it 3-14 to 3-12 by the 43rd minute, Jordan McDonnell shot 1-1 to effectively kill off any threat.

His goal came from a penalty that he converted with impressive skill and authority. He could even afford to fluff a second later in the game.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks managed two points in the last 14 minutes; St Joseph’s shot 1-6 in the same period. Their fifth goal came from Jordan McDonnell, who drilled home a shot when sub Nathan Corcoran and Elliffe combined.

Scorers - St Joseph’s: J McDonnell 2-12 (1-0 pen.; 1tp; 1tpf; 0-1f), D Slevin 1-4, A McDonnell 1-1, R Elliffe 1-0, A Conlon 0-2, B McDonnell and N Corcoran 0-1 each.

Kilbeggan Shamrocks: J Molloy 1-2, J Browne 1-2 (1tp), C Rochford 1-1, N Scally 0-6 (1 tpf; 3f), P Carton, D Coffey, C Delaney and D Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

St Joseph’s: Steven Fennessy; Denis Leen, Pearse Weir Norris, Brian Killian; Daniel Keegan, Ben McDonnell, Andy Scally; Noah McDonnell, Mikey Lynam; Aaron McDonnell, Jordan McDonnell, Dylan McDonnell; Dean Slevin, Ros Elliffe, Alan Conlon. Subs: Nathan Corcoran for A McDonnell and Dylan Drake for Killian (44), Jamie McDonnell for Conlon (58).

Kilbeggan Shamrocks: Niall Rabbitte; Martin Ward, Colin Draper, Joao Godoi; Jacob Browne, Shaun Pidgeon, Mark Wrafter; Darragh Coffey, Ray Kennedy; David Fennell, Conor Delaney, Cillian Rochford; Nigel Scally, Jack Molloy, Padraig Carton. Subs: Dean Fitzgerald for Fennell (inj., 12), Michael Coffey for Draper (40), James Finnegan for Molloy (42), Danny Scully for Browne (inj., 60).

Ref: Eoin Gorman (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge).