Category: Seniors 1st Team

by Jonathan Purvis

Harry provides Johnstown FC with the magic touch.

Thanks to Apache Pizza Navan for sponsoring the man of the match award.

Johnstown continued to gather some momentum in the league with a hard-fought win at home against Donacarney Celtic this evening. It was tit for tat in the first half, the game being played with the sun low on the horizon of this lovely May evening. Johnstown took the lead after a free kick from deep ricocheted in the box and fell to the man of the match Harry Shivmangal, who duly slotted home. Donacarney managed to grab a goal back not long after, a nice through ball split the home sides defense with the Donacarney player finishing well. Johnstown managed to grab an important goal before the break after some lovely interplay from Adam Foy and a mazy run and finish from Adam O’Connor.

After the break Donacarney started stronger, piling on the pressure. They were rewarded after some nice play in the middle, leading to a square ball which left the Donacarney striker with an easy enough finish. The game was tightly balanced at this stage but the home side began to rally. The all-important breakthrough came in the 80th minute with a lovely weighted cross from Eoin Kelly out on the left meeting the hard running Harry Shivmangal, he finished with a well-placed header. Donacarney pushed on for the last ten minutes, piling players forward, but the home side held firm.

Best for the victors were Harry Shivmangal, Jay Connolly, Darragh Keegan, and Adam O’Connor. Johnstown FC now looks forward to the visit of Athboy Celtic FC next Thursday in the MDL.

Pat Hegarty congratulates Harry as he receives his man of the match award thanks to Apache Pizza Navan
by Jonathan Purvis

Johnstown FC Senior Presentation

Player of the year ;
Shane Conroy
Topscorer ;
Ryan Farnham,
Young Player of the year ;
James Finnegan,
Thanks to Christy Kavanagh (Manager) for presenting the trophies, also thanks to Christy and Fergal Beirne and Adrian for the time and energy they put into this team, two good runs in the Cups ,and a 3rd place in the league wasn’t a bad return, also thanks to O’Briens for the food provided and Apache Pizza Navan for sponsoring our Man of the match award every week.

by Jonathan Purvis

Apache Pizza Navan to sponsor senior Man of the match

Johnstown Fc again wishes to thank @Apache Pizza Navan for their generosity in their sponsorship of our senior team tops. They have also agreed to sponsor the man of the match as picked each week by the senior management team.  The first man of the match will be announced after the senior game tomorrow vs Redeemer Celtic at 14:30 Aisling Place, Dundalk.

Thanks, Danny and Apache Pizza Navan for the continuing sponsorship of Johnstown FC.

The picture below of Christy Kavanagh, 1st Team manager, Pat Hegarty Goal Keeping Coach and Danny of Apache Pizza Navan.

The picture below of Christy Kavanagh 1st Team manager, Justin Flynn Senior Player\Commitee Member and Danny of Apache Pizza Navan

by Jonathan Purvis

Johnstown FC are delighted to announce our new training and coach education partner EI Sports.

Post from EI Sports today:

Having met with the club we could see the passion the committee had to take the club forward from a Player Development & Coach Development perspective.

We will now be launching a New Club Academy program in the coming months to support Player development for ages 7 to 13. Having seen the growth in our own Academy program on Wednesdays in Navan with players from Johnstown FC and having had players on our trips over the past 2 years it is great to be bringing the program now directly into the club.

Further Developing the Club Nursery program to expand from 2011s to 2014s Boys & Girls.

Launch a new Coach Education Mentorship Program starting next week which will see a Coach the Coach program , supporting coaches with Session planning, new session ideas and enhancing the development opportunities for all the players in the club. This will include our very successful Junior Coach Mentorship program which will be launched shortly also.

We wish to Thank the Committee & Chairman Kevin for partnering up with us and we look forward to supporting the club in its Development Goals.

by Julian Lee

Johnstown Take Spoils In Basement Battle

Thanks to a brace of goals from Arnold Luco and a solitary strike from Adam Ivers, Johnstown saw off the challenge of bottom side Navan Town in their O’Neills Sportswear Division 1 tie at the MDL on a freezing cold Friday night.

The home side’s first came with less than 100 seconds on the clock. Having initially lost the ball, Vinny Murphy regained possession with a determined tackle on half way and fed Lee Fahy. Fahy showed excellent vision and with a precise through ball released Arnold Luco, who streaked away from the defenders and coolly picked his spot across the keeper, opening the scoring.

Murphy almost doubled Johnstown’s lead just 2 minutes later. Great work on the right between Andre Sirb and Luco, saw the latter cross to the back post where the awaiting Murphy volleyed just wide.

It was not all one way traffic, and for the next 15 minutes, Navan Town looked more likely to equalise than Johnstown were to increase their lead. However, they never really troubled the Johnstown net.

With 26 minutes gone, the flash point which effectively decided the game arrived. After a clash on the half way line, Jamie Connolly and his opposite number went toe to toe and exchanged some verbals. All harmless and would have resulted in nothing more than a yellow apiece until have run 30 yards to get involved, a Navan Town front man blindsided Connolly with a shoulder in the back running at pace. The interloper saw red, literally and figuratively.

When the football resumed, Johnstown controlled what remained of the half with both Murphy and Halligan unlucky not to double their lead.

Navan Town did have a chance late on to make their hosts rue those missed opportunities. Having beaten the Johnstown back line, and faced with a 1-on-1 chance the front man pulled his effort wide and Johnstown survived to half time with a 1 goal lead.

10 minutes after the restart, Dan Halligan and Josh Gaffney combined well on the left resulting in a cross into the area where the awaiting Luco could only volley over from close range.

As the game entered its final quarter, Johnstown’s numerical advantage began to show. First a passage of play where numerous Johnstown players were lined up waiting to score, but none could dispatch their shot as Navan Town threw their bodies on the line, until Halligan, free on the left side of the area, hit his shot only to see it career back off the post.

Finally, the visitors’ resistance was broken with 19 minutes to go. Darren McQuillan began the move carrying the ball out from the back. Dan Halligan found Adam Ivers on the right. Facing down the keeper, Ivers’ first effort hit the post but luckily came straight back to him. He made no mistake the second time and put Johnstown 2 to the good.

2 minutes later, Johnstown were 3 up. A Bryan Gibney corner was thumped into the net by the head of Luco, a finish rarer than an honest politician.

On a bitterly cold night, the only one seemingly unaffected by the conditions was the referee who insisted on playing 7 minutes injury time despite the promised warmth of indoors. Eventually he blew the final whistle giving Johnstown their first win since September.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Shields, D. Bollard, J. Gaffney, D. McQuillan (c), J. Forde, J. Connolly, L. Fahy, V. Murphy, A. Sirb, D. Halligan, A. Luco
Subs: B. Gibney for Sirb, A. Ivers for Murphy, J. McDonnell for Gaffney, P. Dempsey for Halligan, W. Cahill for Bollard.

by Julian Lee

Johnstown Make it 4 from 4 in September

In form Johnstown made it 4 wins on the bounce with a hard fought win over Carrick Rovers by the odd goal in five in their O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 encounter at the MDL on Friday night.

The opening quarter was littered missed opportunities from both sides as they each tried to take control of the game.

Just after the half hour mark, Johnstown hit the front. Having been up field for a corner, Darren McQuillan found himself in possession in the Carrick area. His quick feet and nimble turn bamboozled the visiting defender who clumsily brought Johnstown’s captain down, leading the referee to point to the spot.

After a brief conversation between Murphy and Luco, the latter eventually dispatched the spot kick low to the keeper’s right giving his side the lead.

5 minutes later, Johnstown were 2 up. Vinny Murphy was tripped in the area. A second spot kick was awarded and having won the penalty, there was no need for any consultation on the taker. Murphy strode up and converted with ease.

Being 2 down at the interval, Carrick Rovers come out for the second half and increased their work rate. Within 5 minutes, they had pulled one back. A cross from out on their left eluded the Johnstown defence and found their man unmarked at the back post. Although Dan Shields saved marvellously from the first effort, with no one following in, the Monaghan man tapped in the rebound.

Within a minute, Johnstown almost restored their 2 goal cushion. An insightful through ball from Jason Colton freed Pierce Challenger. Under pressure from a couple of defenders, Challenger’s shot was saved by the visiting keeper.

Soon after, Johnstown were left rueing this missed effort as Carrick equalised. Again causing trouble on the Johnstown right, Carrick hit a low driven cross into the 6 yard area to the back post where, in his efforts to clear, Josh Gaffney could only find the back of his own net.

In fact, the score line could have gotten worse had Dan Shields not been on hand to steer a dipping shot from 20 yards, over the bar.

With the game entering its’ final quarter, the home side regained their lead. Making amends for his earlier mishap, Josh Gaffney drove powerfully forward before releasing Murphy on the left. Murphy beat a couple of defenders before pulling the ball back to the awaiting Luco. Without hesitation, Luco threw a long leg out and directed the ball into the net, securing the points for his side.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Shields, J. Colton, D. Grumley, D. McQuillan (c), J. Gaffney, P. Challenger, S. Challenger, B. Gibney, V. Murphy, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: L. Fahy for Gibney, J. Connolly for Grumley, D. Bollard for P. Challenger, J. Forde for Colton, D. Halligan for Murphy.

by Julian Lee

Johnstown Too Strong For Fort Rangers

Johnstown welcomed Kilkenny side Fort Rangers to the MDL for their LFA junior Cup 1st Round tie on Sunday afternoon.

Despite creating a number of chances, the home side’s solitary first half strike from Arnold Luco was cancelled out by the visitors leaving the game evenly poised at 1 apiece at the interval.

The second half saw Johnstown’s inability to convert chances continue as first, Sean Challenger, twice denied by the keeper, and then Kacper Zeberek, his headed effort cleared off the line, failed to restore the hosts’ lead.

Midway through the half, Johnstown were almost left to rue their profligacy. A quick break down their left, followed by a cross to the back post produced a shot that needed a fine save from Dan Shields.

Shortly after, the chance of the match fell to Fort Rangers. Another attack on the left finished with the winger pulling the ball back to an unmarked onrushing midfielder. With the goal at his mercy, the Kilkenny man could only steer his effort on to the upright, leaving Johnstown unable to believe their luck.

2 minutes later, substitute Adam Foy, with his first touch restored Johnstown’s lead, tapping in a Luco cross at the back post.

As the game wore on, and with the visiting team beginning to fade, Johnstown could have scored their third as chances went a begging.

With 6 minutes left, their third did arrive putting the game to bed. Zeberek jumped with the keeper in an effort to get something on Sean Challenger’s corner. This left Zeberek on the ground but the ball fell nicely for him to volley over his head into the net.

Johnstown could have added a fourth when Foy’s quick feet released Zeberek. Unfortunately on this occasion the keeper got a strong to his shot, making sure the score line remained 3-1.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Shields, J. Colton, D. Grumley, D. McQuillan (c), J. Gaffney, S. Challenger, B. Gibney, V. Murphy, P. Challenger, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: D. Halligan for Murphy, A. Foy for Gibney.

by Julian Lee

Johnstown Take Derby Spoils

Johnstown made it 2 wins in 10 days with an emphatic 4-0 derby victory over local rivals Navan Town at the MDL on Sunday.
Right from the off, Johnstown dominated possession but could have been 2 down in opening quarter of an hour as Navan hit out on the break.

One of these chances needed Dan Shields to be at his most alert. A deep free kick was played into the area where it was steered goalward only for Shields to dive to his right and keep it out.

Johnstown’s dominance was rewarded when Arnold Luco opened the scoring with 19 minutes played. A strong run by the front man beat 2 Navan Town players. He passed to Dylan Bollard, who returned the ball for Luco to finish inside the area.

5 minutes later, Johnstown were 2 to the good. Kacper Zeberek unleashed an unstoppable shot from 20 yards that flew in at the keeper’s near post.

It could have been worse for Navan Town had first Luco, whose shot was cleared off the line, and then Bollard, denied by the strong hand of the keeper, converted chances late in the half, however it remained 2-0 at the break.

Soon after the restart Shields was called on again. A quick break up field by Navan Town required the intervention of the Johnstown custodian with a low save to preserve Johnstown’s clean sheet.

As the half wore on, Johnstown’s superiority was evident if not illustrated by the score line as the in-form Navan keeper thwarted efforts from Luco, Zeberek and Sean Challenger.

Reward for their commanding display came on 70 minutes. A neat combination between Challenger & Luco led to a corner which was swung into a packed 6 yard box. The keeper failed to claim the cross which dropped to Jonathan Forde to finish first time at the back post.

2 minutes later, it was 4-0 to Johnstown. Kacper Zeberek set off on a solo run beating a number of defenders before finishing comfortably, his second of the day.

Although Navan Town still posed a threat on the break, the superb display by the defence as a unit ensured a very pleasing first clean sheet of the season as they look forward to next week’s LFA junior cup tie at home to Fort Rangers.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Shields, J. Colton, J. Connolly, J. Forde, J. Gaffney, D. McQuillan (c), S. Challenger, D. Bollard, V. Murphy, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: P. Challenger for Murphy, D. Grumley for S. Challenger.

by Julian Lee

Murphy’s Strike Ends Johnstown’s Barren Run

A dramatic injury time winner from Vinny Murphy clinched all 3 points for Johnstown as they finally opened their account this season, with a 5 goal thriller at the MDL on Thursday night.

The night began in familiar fashion. A loose ball in midfield was pounced on by the visitors. A couple of quick passes later, their front man was released and bearing down on goal. With Dan Shields backpedalling frantically, the Trim man’s effort came back off the crossbar. An early scare for Johnstown.

Soon after though, Trim Town hit the front. A quick break, followed by an unstoppable shot from just inside the area left Shields unable to keep it out at his near post with barely a quarter of an hour played.

As the clock ticked onto 30 minutes, a rather unsavoury incident on half way lead to the visitors being reduced to 10 men for striking out at Jason Colton on the ground.

Colton was involved in a more positive aspect of the game just before the interval. Following his strong run down the right, he fed Justin Flynn whose shot did not trouble the keeper.

With the numerical advantage, Johnstown started the 2nd half strongly. A Peter Dempsey lay off to Vinny Murphy led to the latter’s shot being deflected wide for a corner. The corner eventually broke to Sean Challenger on the edge of the area where he attempted to place his shot inside the left hand corner of the goal. However, on this occasion he could not impart enough bend on his effort and it went narrowly wide.

10 minutes into the half, Johnstown were level. A rapier-like break out from the back saw Wayne Cahill release Murphy down the left. His driven low cross found Dempsey at the back post. Illustrating an unselfish steak, the veteran teed up the onrushing Brian Gibney who finished off the move drawing his side level.

Just after the hour mark, Johnstown conceded a soft free kick about 25 yards from goal. The shot was spilled and with no Johnstown players following in, Trim Town were left with a simple tap in to restore their lead.

Johnstown’s second equaliser came on 74 minutes thanks to 2 second half substitutes. Arnold Luco, returning from injury, beat a couple of defenders down the right before picking out Dave Grumley, free in the area. With time to settle, Grumley blasted the ball home making 2-2.

For the rest of the match, Johnstown pressed and probed but could not find a finishing touch, all the while Trim Town were dangerous on the break, until the final moments of the game.

With 4 minutes of injury time elapsed, a Jamie Connolly cross to the back post, was met by Dave Grumley with the goal gaping. Showing the intelligence and experience garnered from many a year playing at his level, Grumley, rather than going for goal with defenders and keeper closing the available target, picked out Vinny Murphy with his header back across goal. Murphy, not needing a 2nd invitation, drilled home the winner, cueing celebrations among players, staff and supporters on the touchline, born as much from relief as from joy.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Shields, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), J. Gaffney, J. Flynn, S. Challenger, B. Gibney, P. Dempsey, V. Murphy, W. Cahill
Subs: A. Luco for Flynn, D. Grumley for Dempsey, J. Forde for Gaffney .