Torro Utd 0
Johnstown 3
3 red cards late in the game ensured this match lived up to recent encounters between these two sides, as Johnstown won out 3-0 in another closely fought meeting with Torro Utd in Kilberry on Sunday morning.

It could have been a different story had early Torro pressure yielded the goals their start deserved. Both Andy Tolan and Colm Gilsenan went close for the hosts but neither could find the target.

On 15 minutes, Johnstown punished Torro fully for their missed chances. Sean Challenger won possession in midfield. He passed to Mark Grumley on the Johnstown left who quickly fed Arnold Ruksenas in the left channel. He fired a low cross into Shane Conroy, who tapped in from close range, scoring his first of the season.

Within 2 minutes, Andy Tolan almost had Torro back on level terms. He closed and harried Jake Colton out of possession. Tolan turned but fired over from close range.

In an near carbon copy of their opening goal, Johnstown doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Mark Grumley passed to Ruksenas, playing on the left wing. His power and pace created room for him to cross for Kacper Zeberek who applied the finishing touch from close in.

The alert Ruksenas made it 3-0 in injury time as he robbed a Torro defender on the edge of the area and made no mistake, ensuring a comfortable half time lead for the visitors.

Almost immediately after the restart, Andy Tolan was again through on the Johnstown goal. This time, his effort was on target but Gintas Baltinas in the Johnstown net saved well, denying Torro a foothold in the game.

Just after the hour mark, Kacper Zeberek played in Obi Pilane. Under pressure, Pilane got his shot off but was thwarted by a good save from Conor Cullen in the Torro Goal.

With 5 minutes left, an incident in the area led to a penalty for the hosts. A foot left out late in the direction of Baltinas, prompted the Johnstown keeper to throw the ball at Kevin McKeever. Thus ensued a mass of pushing and shoving resulting in red cards for Jimmy Caffrey (Johnstown), Andy Tolan and Kevin McKeever (both Torro) and a penalty for the hosts.

Once order was restored and having escaped punishment for his involvement in the fracas, Baltinas dived low to his right saving the spot kick, securing Johnstown’s first clean sheet of the season.

Johnstown FC Team: G. Baltinas, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, J. Flynn, S. Conroy, C. Murphy, S. Challenger, A. Ruksenas, K. Zeberek
Subs: J. Caffery for Murphy, O. Pilane for Flynn, W. Cahill for Conroy.