by Jonathan Purvis

Under 15 Match Report 19th March 2016

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

by Jonathan Purvis

U11 Colm Cooper Cup Match v Kells

Johnstown U11 Red started the game very strong and went 3-0 up before half-time with 3 well taken goals, 2 coming from corners.  However they started the second half slowly and Kells pulled a goal back.  Johnstown should have had the game wrapped up soon after when the were awarded a penalty for handball but the spot kick was put over the bar.

Kells kept fighting and to their credit got the game back to 3-3 but with 2 minutes left Johnstown found the winner with a strong burst from midfield, to progress to the semi-finals.
Johnstown 4- Kells 3
U17 2015-2016
by Jonathan Purvis

17s V Virginia Match Report

Virginia 0-5 Johnstown.

As the score suggests this game was all about a very good performance by Johnstown.

Johnstown got the best start possible by scoring in the first 3 minutes, a brilliantly taken goal by Josh balligan. Johnstown kept up the pressure with great team passing and possession. They were rewarded with another 3 goals in the first half, scored by Mark Rafferty and Aiden Regan.

 

The second half saw Johnstown make a number of changes. They remained in control and were again rewarded with a well taken goal by Aiden Regan. It would be difficult to name a ‘man of the match’ as it was such a great team performance.    Well done to all and we wish Mark Rafferty a speedy recovery from a knee injury suffered during the match.

by Jonathan Purvis

Congratulations Amanda

More great news coming through tonight as Amanda McQuillan wins the FAI Under 17 Women’s International Player of the Year.  This is an fantastic achievement and of course no surprise as Amanda is a very talented player.

Congratulations Amanda on another incredible accolade. We are very proud of your achievements and are delighted to see you go from strength to strength.

by Jonathan Purvis

U14 Match Report 19 March 16

Johnstown 3 Parkvilla 2
 
Johnstown went into this game against league favorites Park Villa on the back of a hard fought win the previous week. In the early stages both teams went close to breaking the deadlock, villa keeper parried a Vilnis drive from 12 yards and at the other end Johnstown keeper Makinde produce a brilliant double save, which resulted in home keeper diving bravely at the feet of the on rushing forward.
Both sides threatened to score, but midway through the 1st half the away side drew 1st blood, a free kick taken quickly from 25 yards caught the home keeper off his line. Parkvilla began to dominate possession and looked the more likely to score again, but the Johnstown defence held firm through solid play from center pairing McQuillan and Hill. The Johnstown team showed great character and just before half time they where rewarded for their hard work, Lee showed great determination by disposing the villa winger, he quickly put Johnstown on attack, clever play by Byrne on the right put Vilnis through on goal who coolly finished in the bottom left corner.
HT 1-1
Johnstown started the the second half how they finished the 1st, the home side began dominating possession with midfield trio Kelly, Taylor and Gorman pulling the strings, Vilnis confidence was up and was unlucky not to score again, both Gorman and Burton where also denied by the inform Villa keeper. With the game still poised Makinde came to the rescue again when we pulled off a wonderful save to claw away a rare Villa attack. Eventually Johnstown’s dominance paid off, good work on the left from Burton forced a corner and the resulting set piece from Taylor caused confusion when it eventually fell to Gorman who fired Johnstown into the lead. Johnstown went in search of a third, good link up play between Byrne and Burton who played to Vilnis, he broke through the Villa rearguard and was unlucky not to score when his brilliant chip hit the bar.
Villa pressed for an equalizer and with 15 minutes remaining, the away side scored, excellent strike from the edge of the box, turning the game on its head, putting their title challenge back on track. However Johnstown rallied and introduced Suchan and Healy to inject some fresh legs to the team, with minutes remaining Johnstown got the deserved winner, excellent pressing from Suchan, forced a Villa mistake and it was Vilnis who punished the away side to blast Johnstown to victory.
FT 3-2
Best for Johnstown: Vilnis, Hill and Burton
Team: Damisola Makinde, David Lee, Kyle O Hara, Josh Hill, Andrew Mcquillan, Benji Taylor, Ryan Kelly, Daniel Gorman, Conor Byrne, Euan Burton, Nauris Vilnis, Viktor Suchan, Conor Healy.
by Jonathan Purvis

Under 14s Match Report

Bridge Park 2 Johnstown 3

Johnstown started the game brightly and the should of capitalized on their early possession, only for the home keeper to deny both Vilnis and Byrne. Despite Johnstowns dominance Bridge Park broke the deadlock midway through the 1st half. Johnstown’s backline defended brilliantly to keep the hosts at bay, near the stroke of half time Vilnis was taken down on the edge of the box, Taylor’s resulting free kick cracked the bar but the hard working Gorman smashed home the rebound.
HT 1-1
Johnstown  took the lead early in the 2nd half through a wonder strike by Taylor from 25 yards, this was following good johnstown play assisted by Kelly. The home side would not give up despite Makinde’s efforts they leveled the match with 15 mins to go. Johnstown went in search of a winner, Vilnis, Suchan and Martinho all went close, it seemed all was lost when Kelly popped up to coolly slot home the winner from a healy assist.
FT 2-3
Team: Damisola Makinde, David Lee, Oscar Mooney, Josh Hill, Andrew Mcquillan, Benji Taylor, Ryan Kelly, Daniel Gorman, Conor Byrne, Euan Burton, Nauris Vilnis, Viktor Suchan, Duarte Martinho, Conor Healy.