Johnstown 2 – Trim Town 2

Top of the table Johnstown welcomed unbeaten Trim Town to the NEFL complex on Wednesday night. An evenly matched game saw the teams share the spoils in an exciting Group B clash.

Having lost their unbeaten start to the season last week, Johnstown were keen to get back to winning ways and a bright start saw them almost take the lead in the opening 5 minutes.

James Kennedy, impressive in midfield throughout the game, played an excellent ball toward Marius Tekorius but it was knocked out for a corner. Ian Murphy took the set piece, crossing to the far post where it was met by Dave Grumley whose goal bound header was cleared off the line.

The action was not all one way traffic however, as soon after this chance the visitors created their own opportunity to opening the scoring. A perfectly weighted ball in from their left was met on the half volley and needed the alert Pat Hegarty to steer it low around the post.

The deadlock was broken just after the quarter hour. Ciaran Tansey found Tekorius inside the area. His quick feet and awareness allowed him to play in Josh Byrne. He took one touch to set himself before picking his spot and curling his first of the season into net.

This lead was to be short lived however. A quick throw by Trim on their right, caught Johnstown sleeping. The visitors delivered a cross to the far post where it was finished easily, leaving Hegarty with little chance.

The second half began with 2 goals in 2 minutes. First the visitors took the lead following a tricky run, leaving 2 Johnstown defenders on the ground before rolling the ball into the net.

Immediately after this set-back, Johnstown were on the attack. A heavy tackle on Murphy in the Trim area saw muted appeals for a penalty, but the referee awarded a corner instead. Once again, Murphy played it to the back post. A Johnstown head played back across the goal where it dropped invitingly for Tansey who hammered the equaliser into the roof of the net.

Johnstown could have retaken the lead about five minutes later. A long pass by Barry Sanfey was flicked on by Murphy. Shane Sheridan raced on to the ball, but his shot saved well by the Trim keeper.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Trim Town become increasingly dangerous in their attacking third. A deflected shot fell nicely for their forward, who found himself 1 on 1 with Hegarty. He looked favourite to score, until the Johnstown keeper saved with his feet.

Hegarty’s night was not finished there. In Injury time, a headed clearance fell short of safety. A Trim midfielder met the dropping ball sweetly. The first time volley was destined for the top corner, until Hegarty once again came to his side’s rescue, getting a strong hand up to the ball diverting the danger and preserving a hard earned point for Johnstown.

Johnstown FC Team: P. Hegarty, B. Sanfey, D. Grumley, J. O’Brien, C. Tansey, S. Sheridan, A. Burke, M. Tekorius, J. Kennedy, J. Byrne, I. Murphy.
Subs: D. McElroy, M. Berry, M. Coleman.

A stellar performance from Johnstown saw 6 different players find the net in this 9 goal midweek romp as they completed a league double over local rivals Navan Cosmos.

The tone was set for the night ahead, when in the very first minute Johnstown went close to opening the scoring courtesy of a Peter Dempsey free-kick that went narrowly wide. Just minutes later, Rory McGrath played Marius Tekorius in on goal. Tekorius’ touch took him round the keeper but too close to the goal line where he could not get his shot on target.

The goal the hosts had been threatening in the opening stages came on 9 minutes. A deep corner by Rory McGrath, was met at the far stick by the head of captain Dave Grumley, as he comfortably opened the scoring making it 1-0 to Johnstown.

Johnstown had to wait until the half hour mark to double their lead. McGrath picked out left winger Tekorius who took the ball in his stride and advanced into the area. As the keeper came out, Tekorius found J. Byrne with his back to goal and under pressure from the defence. Some quick thinking by the forward, saw him finish the move with a cheeky back heel scoring his second of the season.

More than a hint of controversy followed 5 minutes later. As Peter Dempsey raced through and rounded the keeper, the referee adjudged the visiting custodian to have handled outside the area. Although Dempsey put the ball into the net, the official had awarded a free kick and left himself with no option but to reduce Cosmos to 10 men.

Having seen his goal struck from the record, Dempsey was not letting anyone else take the resulting free kick on the edge of the D. His effort in the opening minute, proved to be a perfect sighter, as he dispatched a perfectly placed shot in off the underside of the bar putting Johnstown 3 to the good.

Dempsey’s half was not finished there as 2 quick fire goals, ably assisted by Tekorius, in the final minute of the half saw him complete his hat-trick in an astonishing 7 minutes!

Johnstown’s 5-0 half time lead soon became 6 just after the restart. McGrath, pulling the strings from central midfield all evening, found the perfectly timed run of Tekorius. The winger, who’d played the role of provider for much of the game, was through one on one. He took his time, picked his spot and finished easily passed the stand-in keeper.

Next to add their name to the score sheet was Dave McElroy. Grumley noticed McElroy’s run from deep and played a pinpoint pass up the right midfielder as he ran clear of the defence. McElroy made no mistake and blasted in Johnstown’s 7th of the night.

McElroy, a source of boundless energy since his introduction, showed good strength and fast feet delivering a cross to the back post. Darren Conway rose highest but saw his goal bound header cleared by the hand of a Cosmos defender. The referee pointed to the spot and perhaps knowing Johnstown had the game won, he chose not to send a second Cosmos player to the showers early. The penalty was duly converted by the impressive McGrath, getting the goal his performance deserved.

Later in the half, Dempsey again found himself in acres of space in the Cosmos area. Showing the cold blooded streak evident in all good strikers, he picked his spot and finished his 4th of the night, Johnstown’s 9th, completing the rout.

Johnstown FC Team: P. Hegarty, B. Sanfey, D. Grumley, B. Halpin, G. Merrigan, S. Sheridan, D. Byrne, R. McGrath, M. Tekorius, P. Dempsey, J.Byrne

Johnstown 3 Doolargey All-Stars 1

Looking resplendent in their new kit, proudly sponsored by The Old Bridge Inn, Kilcarne, Johnstown Over 35s kicked off their cup campaign with a fine 3-1 win over Dundalk side Doolargey All-Stars at the NEFL complex on Thursday evening.

It was third time lucky for James Kennedy, who’d gone close to opening the scoring twice earlier in the half, as his first time volley from the edge of the area broke the deadlock just shy of the half hour. Marius Tekorius playing on the left, cut into the area only to see his effort saving by the legs of the keeper. The ball rebounded high out to the awaiting Kennedy who dispatched his shot into net despite the presence of a number of covering defenders.

2 minutes later and Kennedy looked to turn provider as he played Peter Dempsey in on goal. Unfortunately for Johnstown, he could not find the target and could only look on as his shot rolled narrowly wide of the far past.

Dempsey did not have to wait long to make amends. Tekorius, again a danger on the left, advanced into the area where he laid the ball across the box to Dempsey. With the keeper coming out, Dempsey looked up and with an exquisite chip doubled Johnstown’s lead.

In the final minute of the half, Dave Grumley hit another trademark 50 yard pass up to Dempsey who showed good pace to run clear. As the keeper narrowed the angle, Dempsey chipped him again, a near carbon copy of his goal, only to see his effort drop wide.

Doolargey came out for the second half full of renewed vigour, knowing they had to attack Johnstown from the off to try and get back into this cup tie. Within 10 minutes, they had halved the deficit.

Some quick passing and good movement saw a forward find space at the back post. Doolargey found him with a well weighted pass, where after one touch he was able to slot the ball past Hegarty in the home side’s net.

Mid way through the half, Johnstown had a great opportunity to restore their 2 goal lead. Barry Halpin, now freed from his defensive duties, broke from midfield like a man half his age before playing in Alan Burke. Burke’s initial effort was well saved as he had just rounded the keeper. The ball ended up back at the Johnstown man’s feet. Burke played it on to Dempsey, but with the goal at his mercy, Johnstown’s top scorer could only pull his shot wide.

With the tie entering its final minutes, the visitors from Dundalk probed for an equaliser. As they attempted to build from the back, the alert Dempsey latched on to a misplaced pass. He ran into the area, rounded the keeper and made no mistake as he netted his second, Johnstown’s third, making the game safe, with the final kick of the game.

Johnstown FC Team: P. Hegarty, B. Sanfey, B. Halpin, D. Grumley, R. McGrath, M. Tekorius, J. Kennedy, S. Sheridan, T. Greene, A. Burke, P. Dempsey.
Subs: D. Byrne, J. Byrne, M. Berry, M. Coleman, D. Conway.