U15s Newtown 1 – 6 Johnstown

Johnstown travelled to Newtown on Wednesday night and knew they needed to make amends for the last time these two met.

The home side found themselves 1 up inside the first few minutes after a mix up in the Johnstown defence. The Newtown striker ran onto a long ball over the top and lobbed the ball over the helpless Murphy into the net. It took a while for the away team to settle and they should have levelled when Chinchilla raced through on goal but couldn’t keep his effort down. Their next chance fell to captain Adam O’Connor who saw his shot from outside the box cannon off the bar.

Chinchilla levelled the match 5 minutes before half time with a cool finish into the bottom corner after some good work from Finnegan and O’Connor. This was the break the away side needed and quickly made it 2-1 when Paddy Gaffney went on a mazy run and finished from distance into the bottom corner. Both Dowdall and Davies had efforts to increase the lead, the latter volleyed straight at the keeper and Dowdall hit the post.

HT 1-2

The second half saw a more composed Johnstown outfit and they quickly began to impose themselves on the game. The home team found themselves under alot of pressure and Johnstown got their third of the game 10 minutes after the restart. Centre half Cummins won the ball on the half way line, he then drove forward skipped by two players and powered in an unstoppable shot past the keeper from distance. The away side began to show their class and played some lovely football. They got their rewards with three more goals, Mark Dowdall got his first of the game with a shot from outside the box. He quickly got his second with a header from a Chinchilla corner.

The last goal of the game was scored by Cummins and it was a carbon copy of his first. Once again he won the ball high up the pitch, he then went on run which saw him beat two and he then riffled the ball into the top corner. This was a very good display from the entire team and there were a number of stand out performances by Gaffney, Junior, O’Connor, Dowdall and MOTM Cummins.

Team: D. Murphy, G. Sheeran, A. Barrett, A. Cummins, P. Gaffney, D. Finnegan, A. O’Connor, A. Barry, C. Davies, A. Chinchilla, M. Dowdall.
Subs: B. McCullagh, A. McGovern, D. Clarke, L. McKeever, M. O’Leary

U15s Div 1 Kingscourt 0-4 Johnstown

Johnstown travelled to Kingscourt on Saturday and came out of top largely down the brilliance of hatrick hero Darren Finnegan.

The home team started the game at a good tempo and put the Johnstown rearguard under some early pressure with a number of corners. Johnstown responded well and started to play some good football and had some good opportunities to open the scoring. The lively Ciaran McCann shot into the side netting and he made the keeper work on a few occasions. The best chance of the half fell to Mark O’Leary who was put through on goal but his finish was well saved by the home keeper. Johnstown kept up this pressure and were nearly rewarded but for a goal line clearance from the Kingscourt defender. The away side were always a threat from set pieces and should have opened the scoring after an in swinging corner was met with the head of the Kingscourt centre half but he headed just over.

HT 0-0

On resumption of the game Johnstown quickly began to dominate proceedings and within 5 minutes Johnstown got that all important opening goal. Adam Cummins intercepted the Kingscourt striker and played the ball forward to O’Connor who turned and found Darren Finnegan on the edge of the box. The latter showed some good footwork and turned and shot into the top corner. It wasn’t long before Johnstown were two up when Finnegan was played in on goal by Chinchilla and he calmly finished into the corner. Johnstown were on top for the remainder of the half and added two more goals. Chinchilla got the third of the game when he finished off a good move with a shot from just outside the box. Darren Finnegan got the final goal of the game and his hatrick with a neat finish from inside the box.

Best for the winners were: A. Cummins, A. O’Connor, C. McCann, Junior and MOTM D. Finnegan.

Team: D. Murphy, A. Barry, A. Cummins, G. Sheeran, P. Gaffney, A. O’ Connor, D. Finnegan, C. Davies, M. O’Leary, C. McCann, A. Chinchilla. Subs: A. McGovern, C. Leonard & R. Kelly

U15s Q/F Cup Trim Town 0-1 Johnstown

Johnstown made the short trip to Trim on Saturday to take on the current premier div leaders Trim Town.

The early exchanges were dominated by the home team and Johnstown found themselves under pressure right from the start. Trim had a few good opportunities to open the scoring but some good defending and a save from Daniel Murphy kept them at bay.

Although Johnstown struggled to match Trim for the entire half Mark Dowdall had the best chance to open the scoring. A rare attack from the away team led to them winning a corner. The resulting corner was met by the head of Dowdall whose effort was straight at the keeper.

HT 0-0

With a change in formation and the introduction of Kennedy, Johnstown started the half with a bit more belief. The home team continued to press but they were always open to the counter attack. The away team nearly opened the scoring 10 mins into the half, Dowdall was put through on goal but his effort was parried by the keeper and back into Mark’s path. Unfortunately he couldn’t adjust his feet and finished just over the bar.

This spurred Johnstown on and they were rewarded mid way through the half. Ciaran McCann swung in a corner and the ball was met by the foot of Cummins which flew low into the net.

Trim increased the pressure and were unlucky not to equalise. The defensive effort of the away team really was top class but it was nearly undone when Trim were awarded a penalty. Murphy became the hero of the day when he saved well low to his left.

Team; D. Murphy, P. Gaffney, A. Cummins, D. Finnegan, D. Clarke, C. Davies, A. O’ Connor, A. Chinchilla, C. McCann, M. Dowdall, B. McCullagh Subs M. O’Leary, A. McGovern, C. Leonard, J. Barry, L. McKeever, K. Odin

U15s Div 1 Robinstown 2-3 Johnstown

Johnstown made the short trip to Robinstown this weekend and came out on top in this 5 goal thriller.

The away side started brightly and created their first chance of the game inside the first 5 mins, Aaron Chinchilla saw his shot well saved which fell to the feet of McCann whose effort was cleared off the line. The away side threatened again when Chinchilla shot from distance but his effort failed to trouble the keeper.

Robinstown started to get a foothold in the game and this pressure resulted in a number of corners that were well defended. Daniel Murphy was called upon mid way through the half and saved well at the feet of the Robinstown attacker.

The home team were rewarded a penalty after Glenn Sheeran pushed the Robinstown winger as he was running away from goal. Up stepped the Robinstown player who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

This spurred the away team on and they nearly got back onto level terms. Conor Davies found himself in the box but his shot from a tight angle hit the side netting. The away teams next chance was created by Davies who unselfishly squared the ball for McCann whose pass went out of play.

Half time 1-0

The away team got their first goal of the game shortly after the restart. The impressive Chinchilla found Adam O’ Connor whose pin point pass set Darren Finnegan through on goal. Finnegan showed great composure and lifted the ball over the approaching keeper into the back of the net.

Johnstown took the lead for the first time in the match when Breen McCullagh finished from close range after some good play from O’Connor and Dowdall. Johnstown were unlucky not to increase their lead after a very good save from the Robinstown keeper. The home team equalised after a mix up in the Johnstown defence which let  Robinstown in on goal. The attacker rounded the keeper and calmly slotted home.

The last 10 minutes was a very tense affair with both teams looking to grab the winner. Murphy was called upon after he palmed the ball onto the bar after a shot from distance. The away team continued to push for the winner and when it was looking like they would leave with a share of the spoils, they snatched the winner in added time. A quick free kick found the feet of Finnegan whose shot on goal was bundled over the line by captain Adam O’Connor.

Best for Johnstown; A Cummins, A Barrett, A O’Connor, M Dowdall and A Chinchilla.

Team; D Murphy, G Sheeran, C Leonard, A Cummins, A Barrett, A O’Connor, D Finnegan, M Dowdall, C Davies, C McCann, A Chinchilla, Subs; P Gaffney, D Clarke, B McCullagh, M O’Leary, A McGovern, L McKeever, A Barry