Category: Seniors 1st Team

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Julian Lee

Johnstown Chop Woodview Down

Johnstown completed an unbeaten January with a fine 6-2 victory over Friday night’s visitors to the MDL, Woodview Celtic.

The Dundalk side were unlucky not be in front after a dominant opening period, being thwarted a couple of times by Dylan Byrne in the Johnstown nets & a superb last ditch tackle by Jamie Connolly with Woodview through on goal.

Johnstown began to grow into the game & it was not too long until they made Woodview regret their missed opportunities.

A quick fire double from Kacper Żeberek put his side in control just after the half hour.

His first came from a quick corner on Johnstown’s right as Żeberek met Sean Challenger’s far post cross with a superb diving header.

3 minutes later, it was 2-0. The ever influential Challenger released Dylan Bollard with an excellent ball down the right. The Johnstown right back powered in the area and played in Żeberek who slotted home across the keeper.

With a few minutes to play in the first half, Arnold Luco was through on goal. He went down under the challenge of a defender in the box but the referee waved the away loud appeals from the home side.

The hosts came out after the interval, firing on all cylinders once again and within 2 minutes were 3-0 up. Wayne Cahill’s perfectly weighted through ball found Vinny Murphy’s run. As he entered the area, Murphy pulled his left foot shot across the keeper into the bottom corner.

As Johnstown’s dominance grew in this period of the game, they could have been further ahead. Luco was first denied by a combination of keeper & post before Murphy was released in an almost carbon copy move that lead to his goal, but as the keeper stood tall, the Johnstown man could only chip into the waiting keeper’s hands.

Then came the moment that breathed life back into Woodview Celtic’s challenge in the game. With an hour elapsed, their forward tumbled in the box under a challenge from Darren McQuillan. The referee showed no hesitation this time in awarding the penalty. Despite his best efforts, Byrne could do little to keep out the spot kick as his side’s advantage was reduced to 3 goals to 1.

This set back did not deter the home side, and soon after, they restored their 2 goal cushion. Challenger’s vision & execution of pass freed Wayne Cahill who grateful accepted the chance to chip in his 10th league goal of the season.

With 15 minutes left, Woodview came back again. They stole possession high up the field on their right and following a quick interchange of passes laid the ball back for a shot driven home low to Byrne’s right.

The game stood at 4-2, and as the old cliché goes, the next goal would be crucial and it came with 5 minutes left. Kacper Żeberek held off a number of defenders before laying the ball off across the face of goal to the waiting Adam Ivers. The second half substitute tapped into an empty net making it 5-2, securing the points for his side.

In the final minute, Ivers turned provider as he set up Arnold Luco for another tap in finishing off the scoring.

This 6-2 win ensured Johnstown finished January unbeaten with 3 wins & a draw from their 4 games and will fill them with confidence ahead of a return to cup action next week.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, D. Bollard, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, D. Grumley, W. Cahill, S. Challenger, V. Murphy, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: J. McDermott for Colton, A. Ivers for Murphy, P. Challenger for S. Challenger, P. Dempsey for Cahill.

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Julian Lee

Black Bull Fight Back to Hold Johnstown

Table toppers Black Bull were the visitors to the MDL on Friday night, where they played out a 2-2 draw with Johnstown.

The opening quarter of an hour saw both sides have their share of possession without either showing any real cutting edge until a fine ball by Dylan Bollard released Vinny Murphy on the right. He cut into the area and fired his shot high over the keeper only to see it thunder back off the crossbar.

Dylan Bollard was instrumental in the next chance created in the game 5 minutes later. This time, however, he was key to keeping his side level as he cleared a Black Bull header from a corner off the line.

The scoring was opened shortly after as a precise move down their right saw Black Bull cross to their front man free in the area to slot home a low shot across goal.

The hosts had a couple of chances to level things before the break, both falling to full back Jason Colton. The first was an acrobatic effort as he connected with a cross from Vinny Murphy. The second, a header from a Sean Challenger delivery from a free kick. Unfortunately neither effort found the net.

Johnstown’s equaliser came 9 minutes into the second half. A foul on Colton gave Johnstown a free kick 20 yards out on the left of the penalty area. Kacper Zeberek’s shot took a wicked deflection as it passed through a gap on the end of the wall and snuck into the bottom corner at the far post with the keeper completely wrong footed.

Within a minute, Johnstown hit the front. Zeberek’s ball freed Arnold Luco on the left. He held off a number of defenders as he ran across the area before pulling his shot back across goal into the net.

The first red card of the night came on 64 minutes as a deliberate handball in midfield resulted in a second caution for the Black Bull man reducing his side to 10 men.

Worse was to befall the men from Drogheda as 3 minutes later, they were further reduced to 9 men. Luco ran on to a through ball, rounded the keeper and shot from wide. It was destined to make it 3-1 until the timely but illegal intervention of a defender, as he reached out and handled on the line.

The referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty, and after a further confrontation the area, a red card to the guilty party. On as a second half substitute, Pierce Challenger took the responsibility of taking the penalty. His well struck spot-kick was brilliantly saved by the visiting custodian.

5 minutes after all the drama, Johnstown were made to pay. A ball from deep caught out the Johnstown defence and saw a Black Bull forward steal in ahead and nick the ball over the advancing Byrne in the Johnstown net before hammering home to level matters.

With a 2 man advantage it was no surprise that Johnstown dominated the remainder of the game but they rarely troubled the opposition goal.
As the final whistle sounded, the air of disappointment around the Johnstown camp was palpable as the reality of what was 2 points dropped against the league leaders sunk in.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, D. Bollard, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, D. Grumley, W. Cahill, S. Challenger, V. Murphy, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: P. Challenger for Grumley, J. McDermott for Colton, A. Mooney for Cahill, A. Ivers for Bollard, M. Grumley for Murphy

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Julian Lee

Johnstown Overcome Albion Challenge

For the second time in three days, Johnstown secured progression in knockout competitions with a highly competitive 3-2 Tully Cup win over Division 3 side Albion Rovers at the MDL on Friday Night.

With the game just one minute old, Albion broke swiftly down their right and delivered a cross to the back post where the waiting man could not take advantage of his free header. A portent of what was to come.

Just 4 minutes later, a Johnstown pass in midfield was charged down. The ball rebounded to an Albion striker clear of the defence. Despite protestations from the home side, he bore down on goal before giving his side the lead at the second attempt after his initial effort came back off the post.

For much of the opening half hour, Johnstown failed to impose any control over their lower division opponents with Albion looking much the better side.

Then with 32 minutes on the clock, Johnstown began a spell of 3 goals in 9 minutes.

First, Sean Challenger showed great vision to release Arnold Luco down the right. Luco cut infield and across the 18 yard line, passed a number of Albion defenders before pulling his left footed shot back across the keeper and into the net.

Five minutes later, Kacper Zeberek made it 2-1. Taking possession in midfield, Zeberek turned and ran at the defence, beating 3 players before unleashing an unstoppable shot from distance that dipped over the keeper into the net.

On 41 minutes, the combination of Challenger and Luco proved decisive once again for the home side. Challenger’s perfect through ball found Luco cutting in from the right. Despite the keeper’s best efforts, the Johnstown man’s shot found the inside of the far post giving his side a 3-1 lead going into the break.

During a second half dominated by the home side, Johnstown should have put the game to bed. A number of chances went abegging.

With 15 minutes to go, Luco raced clear. He rounded the advancing keeper, but only succeeded in further narrowing his angle. From this tighter position, he watched his attempt ricochet off the foot of the near post and away.

Two minutes later, Albion pulled a goal back as they finished across Dylan Byrne in the Johnstown net to set up a nervy end to the game.

The Louth side finished off the game with 2 excellent chances to get back on level terms. However they were thwarted on both occasions by Byrne.

With Albion constantly probing for the equaliser, the final whistle was greeted with more sighs of relief than outright celebration as Johnstown avoided a cup shock and moved onto the next round.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, D. Bollard, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), D. Grumley, W. Cahill, S. Ivers, S. Challenger, V. Murphy, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: A. Ivers for Murphy, A, Sirb for Cahill, J. Caffery for Challenger

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Julian Lee

Johnstown Prove Too Strong For Rock Celtic

After a disappointing end to 2016, in which they lost their last 4 games, Johnstown bounced back with a perfect start to the New Year with a superb 4-2 win over Premier side Rock Celtic in the LMFM Kilmessan Shield on at the MDL Tuesday night.

It took the hosts less than 5 minutes to open the scoring. Vinny Murphy received the ball in space and beat 2 Rock Celtic defenders before unleashing a shot from 25 yards which sailed into the net high above the keeper.

Murphy almost doubled his side’s lead a little over 10 minutes later with an almost carbon copy effort, only to see his wickedly swerving shot thunder back off the crossbar.

With 5 minutes left in the first half, this season’s top goal scorer, Wayne Cahill scored Johnstown’s 2nd of the evening. Having timed his run to perfection, Cahill found himself clear of the defence just inside the area, where he met Kacper Zeberek’s pass with little dink over the keeper.

Rock Celtic began the 2nd half the strongest and, but for a couple of smart saves from Dylan Byrne, they could have pulled one back before, on 54 minutes, a cross from Celtic’s left went through Byrne’s hands and dropped into net.

60 seconds later, the Louth side missed a chance to equalise as they could only send their effort wide.

Johnstown’s next attack was started by Mark Grumley as he played a fantastic ball down Johnstown’s left. Arnold Luco’s powerful run allowed him to reach the goal-line inside the area, from where he pulled the back setting up Zeberek who fired home Johnstown’s 3rd, leaving the visitors to rue their earlier missed opportunity.

With 10 minutes left to play, Zeberek was again on hand to score Johnstown’s 4th. Sean Challenger’s through ball released him into space and into a 1-on-1 with the Celtic keeper, who came off the stronger following Zeberek’s first effort but could do nothing as the Johnstown man finished at the second time of asking.

With the game deep in injury time, Rock Celtic pulled a second goal back, as their player chipped Byrne, amidst appeals for offside, completing the scoring on night, and seeing Johnstown progress the next round by 4 goals to 2.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, J. McDermott, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, W. Cahill, D. Grumley, S. Challenger, V. Murphy, K. Zeberek, A. Luco
Subs: M. Grumley for McDermott, D. Bollard for Murphy, S. Ivers for Luco, J. Gaffney for Cahill, E. Donnelly for Zeberek.

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Julian Lee

Cahill’s Birthday Brace Helps Johnstown Beat Rovers

Johnstown stretched their unbeaten run to 6 games in all competitions with a comfortable 4-0 win over visitors Kentstown Rovers at the MDL on Friday night.

The first half was a fairly scrappy affair with neither side taking control. Both Aaron Mooney and Adam Ivers went close for the hosts without finding the back of the net before Dylan Bollard opened the scoring 5 minutes before the break. A Johnstown corner was not dealt with, prompting a goal line scramble, before Bollard poked home from close range.

Johnstown’s second came immediately after the break. Under pressure, Dylan Byrne in the Johnstown net cleared towards Arnold Luco. Chasing what appear to be a lost cause, Luco’s pace put him ahead of the defender. Once he reached the byline, Luco pulled the ball back to the unmarked Wayne Cahill. He took one touch before dispatching his shot into the net.

Shortly after, Kentstown had their best chance on the night. A strong run through the Johnstown backline saw their man through 1-on-1 with Byrne. The shot was wide of the Johnstown keeper but also crucially wide of the target.

On a blustery evening the next opportunity of the game came on the next attack. A Dylan Bollard cross was caught by the wind, destined to sneak in at the back post, until Rovers’ keeper tipped it on to the bar.

With 20 minutes to go, Johnstown made it 3-0. Jake McDermott at left back moved forward in possession before picking out Luco in the area. His close control and tight turns manufactured the space he needed to hammer home his shot.

The night’s scoring was completed 4 minutes later. Kentstown’s keeper took a poor kick out straight to birthday boy Cahill gifting him is 2nd of the night and 10th in all competitions this season as he chipped the stranded keeper making it 4-0.

The home side saw out the rest of the game with relative ease and little threat to their first clean sheet of the season, a timely confidence boost for the defence as, on the horizon, are 2 trips to Dublin to face AUL side in the Leinster and FAI Junior cups.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, J. McDermott, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, W. Cahill, P. Challenger, A. Ivers, D. Bollard, A. Mooney, A. Luco
Subs: K. Zeberek for Mooney, J. Forde for McQuillan, V. Murphy for Bollard, C. Murphy for Ivers, S. Conroy for Luco.

by Jonathan Purvis

NEFL Senior Cups Draws

Last night the NEFL did their Cup Draws live on Facebook and for those that missed it here is how we fared.

Senior First time have gotten a bye to the Second Round of the NEFL Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup.

Second Team will play Belurgan Away in the Reserve Cup.

Third Team will play Ardee Celtic Away in the Reserve Cup.

None of the games are scheduled yet but keep an eye out for updates when it does happen.

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Julian Lee

Terrific Town Trounce Torro

Johnstown 8

Torro Utd 1

The last 3 Thursday night games featuring Johnstown have produced 24 goals. This week that high scoring continued as Johnstown demolished visitors Torro Utd 8-1 in the O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 encounter at the MDL.

 

On 13 minutes Wayne Cahill, in a rich streak of form, dribbled through the Torro rearguard. Having looked as though he had taken it a bit too far, a lucky ricochet at the end saw him through 1-on-1 with the keeper with time to pick his spot and open the scoring.

 

Just 4 minutes later, Johnstown doubled their lead. Pierce Challenger tried to place his 20 yard shot past the Torro net minder who managed to get a strong hand to it but could only parry it into the path of the on rushing Adam Ivers. With the keeper still on the turf, Ivers calmly lifted the ball over him into the net.

 

It was not all one way traffic and mid way  through the first half Torro had 2 guilt edged chances to find a foothold in the game. A brilliant diving header at the back post and close range shot could easily have produced a goal but for the excellent reactions and positioning of Dylan Byrne in the Johnstown net.

 

On the stroke of half time the hosts went 3-0 up. Kacper Zeberek nodded on a high ball to the ever eager Cahill. His low shot was pushed out by the Torro custodian but straight to Pierce Challenger who fired into the net.

 

The second half continued in much the same vein with early chances for Arnold Luco and Pierce Challenger but neither could find the net, until on the hour, Luco made it 4-0. A move that started with left back Jake McDermott, allowed Cahill to turn and sprint away from his marker. With time and space, Cahill picked out the run of Luco in the area. His powerful cross was deftly turned in across goal by last season’s top scorer.

 

Within 2 minutes they were 5 clear. Again, the man of the moment Cahill was the scorer, following a wonderful solo run on the left, cutting into the area before slamming an unstoppable shot past the keeper.

 

Next came one of the best goals I have seen at this level. Retaining possession for what must have been close to 2 minutes, Johnstown had Torro chasing shadows as the man on the ball always had at least 2 options to pass to. With this slick passing and movement Johnstown gradually made their way upfield. Following a cross from Luco, the eventual finishing touch was applied by Jamie Connolly making it 6-0 with over twenty minutes still to play.

 

At this point, Johnstown’s management team made a raft of changes, which resulted in their side dropping the intensity slightly as the substitutes took a few minutes to get into the game.

 

With 10 minutes to go, a quick break by Johnstown down the right culminated with substitute Ger Lynch crossing for Wayne Cahill who dispatched the ball first time into the Torro goal and completed his 2nd hat trick in 7 days, making it 7-0.

 

5 minutes later, Cahill was at it again. Sean Challenger took possession. Following a strong driving run through the Torro midfield, he played in Cahill to score his 8th goal in 3 games, and his 4th of the night.

 

In the dying moments, Torro struck a consolation goal denying Johnstown a much needed clean sheet that has proved elusive so far this season.

 

Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, J. McDermott, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), J. Connolly, W. Cahill, P. Challenger, S. Challenger, A. Ivers, K. Zeberek, A. Luco

Subs: G. Lynch for Luco, S. Conroy for Ivers, P. Dempsey for Zeberek.

 

by Jonathan Purvis

League Tables 4th September 2016

Here are this weeks League Tables as issued to us by the League

 

First Team - O Neils Sportswear Division 1

PosClubPWDLFAPts
1151032532830
214923402229
313841291328
411821311626
513625413523
614554292820
712525211917
8164210294814
914329244311
10153210224911
1112318273210
121323823369
130000000

Second Team - Bradys Seat Premier Reserve

PosClubPWDLFAPts
1161015352431
215915443028
314914332628
414815432325
514734441824
616556332820
713625282820
816538364318
9153111164010
1015221121738
110000000

Third Team - Bradys Seat B Reserve

PosClubPWDLFAPts
1141211381237
2131102401433
314725522023
416646354122
512705292421
615438364315
714437213315
814428183114
9154110255413
10163310184412
1115249223910
120000000

 

All League Tables for the NECSL can be found on their webpage

http://www.necsl.ie

 

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Jonathan Purvis

Johnstown Hit 6 To Progress in Shield

Johnstown 6

Oldcastle 1

Thursday nights in the MDL are proving to be a feast of entertainment when Johnstown are playing at home. For the 3rd successive Thursday, their home match produced plenty of goals as they overcame Division 2 side Oldcastle 6 goals to 1 in the LMFM Kilmessan Shield.

The opening quarter of an hour did not see much between the 2 teams with the visitors edging it slightly until Wayne Cahill opened the scoring for Johnstown.  A superb ball played over the top by Sean Challenger, found the late run of Cahill who lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.

This helped settle the home side and 10 minutes later they doubled their lead. A neat combination between Adam Ivers and Aaron Mooney saw the latter feed Cahill to make it 2-0.

With a pre-match requirement of a clear 4 goal victory to progress in the shield, Johnstown were half way there, with well over an hour left to play. In fact, their half time lead should have been greater had their attacking players timed their runs a bit better as they caught offside on numerous occasions.

The first attack of the second half, ended with Johnstown’s 3rd of the night. Aaron Mooney pounced quickest following a fine save by the Oldcastle keeper from an Adam Ivers shot.

On 52 minutes, Johnstown made it 4-0. Dylan Bollard and Ivers combined well down the right to set Vinny Murphy free. His pinpoint cross found the unmarked Aaron Mooney at the back post who headed home his second of the night.

Having opened up the 4 goal margin they needed, Johnstown seemed to ease off a little and with 22 minutes remaining, Oldcastle pulled one back.

Showing the levels of spirit and performance so praised by manager Iain Sheridan after the final whistle, Johnstown lifted their game again.

With 10 minutes left, Wayne Cahill completed his hat trick. Sean Challenger, instrumental yet again, dissected the defence with the pass of the night. An intelligent dummy by substitute Peter Dempsey, saw Cahill run free onto the ball and finish neatly making it 5-1.

With time running down, Shane Kelly broke through the Oldcastle back line. Looking odds on to make it 6-1, he was unceremoniously hacked down on the edge of box by the last man. Once the red card was issued, it was time for Johnstown’s free kick.

Seeking the goal his performance deserved, Sean Challenger stepped up and hit his free kick. Having beaten the wall, his attempt was destined for the back of the net until the keeper dived desperately to get a hand to it and keep it out. Unfortunately for him, Peter Dempsey, reacting quicker than men half his age, was on hand to tap home, showing there’s life in the old dog yet, to make it 6-1 giving Johnstown the extra cushion to see the game out comfortably.

“Having leaked so many goals in recent games, we worked on our defence this week and are lucky to have great players who took our advice onboard” beamed assistant manager Christy Kanavagh.

Johnstown FC Team: K. Zeberek, D. Bollard, J. Colton, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, W. Cahill, J. Connolly, S. Challenger, V. Murphy, A. Mooney, A. Ivers

Subs: P. Dempsey for Mooney, S. Kelly for Bollard, C. Murphy for Ivers

BY JULIAN LEE

 

Seniors First Team 15-16
by Jonathan Purvis

10 Goal Thriller Sees Points Shared

Johnstown 5

Enfield Celtic 5

For the second week running, Johnstown were involved in a free scoring O’Neill’s Sportswear Division 1 encounter as they shared 10 goals and the points with visitors Enfield Celtic on Thursday night at the MDL.

Johnstown started slowly and could have been 3 down inside 10 minutes, but for some wayward shooting from Enfield Celtic. Their poor quality of finishing was not to last however, and the visitors were 3 to the good by half time.

In need of some drastic changes, assistant manager Christy Kavanagh, brought on the returning Arnold Ruksenas for centre-back Jay Connolly. Last season’s NEFL Division 1 Player of the Year wasted no time and was immediately involved in the action. His pace and power were instrumental is setting up Sean Challenger in the 1st minute of the second half, with Challenger’s shot flying just over the bar.

Johnstown’s first of the evening came 4 minutes after the interval. Kacper Zeberek beat 2 Enfield defenders before laying the ball out to Wayne Cahill cutting into the area from the left.  His low driven shot nestled into the net at the far post. Johnstown were back in the game.

Shortly after, Johnstown reduced the deficit further when Zeberek and Ruksenas combined quickly at the throw in. Ruksenas then ran directly at Enfield back line before teeing up Challenger who made no mistake with his accuracy this time as his shot found the bottom corner making it 2-3, and capping a superb performance by the midfielder.

It was to get even better for Johnstown when, just after the hour mark, captain Darren McQuillan completed his sides astonishing comeback. The Enfield keeper allowed a Mark Grumley corner slip through his hands. It fell to McQuillan’s feet at the back post and gratefully accepting the invitation, he levelled the game at 3 apiece.

On 66 minutes, Kacper Zeberek was felled in the area. Unfortunately, his spot kick was well saved by the Enfield net minder and the game remained 3-3 but not for long.

2 minutes later, McQuillan was again on hand, as he latched onto a loose ball in the Enfield area. His low shot across the goal, aided by a slight deflection, gave Johnstown the lead for the first time on the night.

On an evening of end-to-end football, Enfield recovered from Johnstown’s blistering 2nd half performance to go 5-4 up in the next 10 minutes.

Having hauled themselves back into a game that looked lost at half time, Johnstown would have to do it all again. This time with the clock working against them.

For the third time on the night, McQuillan was involved in the Enfield box. Rising highest at the back post, his goal bound header was stopped on the line by an Enfield defender’s hand. Another penalty, and this time a red card. Up stepped Ruksenas and levelled the game 5-5 with just 4 minutes remaining.

When asked for his thoughts after the game, assistant manager Christy Kavanagh joked “Someday we’ll keep a clean sheet and win 5-0!”, his mood at full time being a polar opposite to that when the half time whistle went.

 

Johnstown FC Team: E. Kairys, J. Colton, J. Connolly, D. McQuillan (c), M. Grumley, D. Bollard,  S. Conroy, W. Cahill, S. Challenger, G. Lynch, K. Zeberek

Subs: A. Ruksenas for Connolly, Arron Mooney for Cahill, E. Donnelly for Lynch.