Tag: Match Report

Second Team 2017-2108
by Jonathan Purvis

Reserve Cup Semi-Final Match Report

Johnstown Vs Ardee Reserve Cup Semi-final report Saturday the 28th April 2018

Johnstown has been struggling with a relegation battle for the last number of weeks so the reserve cup was a very welcome break and to add fuel to the fire the last time both of these teams met Ardee came well out on top 8-1 !

In fairness to Johnstown over the last number of months have stabled the ship with some very positive results and really look like a team that can stay up in the Premier reserve under the guidance from Fergal Bernie.

Johnstown started the game in very positive form with most of the opening possession with Johnstown, it took Ardee about twenty minutes to really get going with the number 10 up front a constant threat. However, Johnstown pressed really well with Richie Nevin out on left making some fantastic runs ripping the Ardee defence apart time and time again.

Johnstown controlled the first half completely with some fantastic performances from Dave Grumbly and Barry Halpin in the back also the three midfielders Shane Kelly, Barry Quinn & Jimmy Caffrey dominated.

Johnstown had most of the chances in the first half the best fell to veteran striker Peter Dempsey, Kelly split the defence with a fantastic pass Dempsey pounced with fantastic pace

And tried to do a Mo Salah and chip the keeper, however, the keeper was quick off his line and made a fantastic save to deny the veteran striker his 19th of the campaign but then up popped Richie Nevin with the follow to hit the bar he should have scored …….

Minutes later a nice lay off by Dempsey set Kelly up with a fantastic strike from 30 yards which came back off the crossbar. Ten minutes later Johnstown had another fantastic attempt by Jimmy Caffrey which struck the crossbar again which was followed up quickly by Dave Grumbly who headed back across the goal to his defensive mate Barry Halpin but he was unable to put it away. The chances kept on coming, Nevin made another fantastic run on the left and squared it to Dempsey but the pass was slightly ahead of him.

The second half started very much like the end of first half with Johnstown pressing very high and the opening goal came from a fantastic pass into Dempsey by Caffrey Dempsey turned his defender inside out looked up and seen Nevin out on the left and with the outside of his boot he split the defence and put in on a plate for Nevin to slot it home Johnstown one nil up.

Ardee pushed really hard after losing the goal and in fairness where the better team for the next twenty minutes with the Ardee number 10 a constant threat, however, Adam Ivers who worked tirelessly on the right-hand side made a great run and slid Dempsey in down the channel Dempsey skipped passed the oncoming defender and picked out a pass across the box to Nevin who held it up well then turned his defender inside out and put it in the top corner for his second on day fantastic.

In fairness to Ardee, they came back really strong and the big number 10 who had been threatening all day went around three Johnstown players and slotted into the back of the net game on 2-1.

 

Johnstown was dealt a big blow with 20 minutes to go Karl (Johnstown keeper) went over very awkwardly on his ankle after 10 minutes of treatment he had to come off.  Big thanks to Karen Byrne for looking after him, with a lot of discussions between the Johnstown team Dempsey decided to put himself forward to go in goal.

Johnstown played out the reaming 20 minutes really well with fantastic contributions from young Adam Foye , Alan Burke & Andrea Sierb, in the end, Johnstown held out to claim their place in the Reserve cup final next Saturday 3 o clock MDL .

12 Girls 2017
by Jonathan Purvis

U13 Girls V Carrick Rovers 7th April 2018

This was the first competitive match for the team using the full size FIFA One pitch at the MDL.  Any concerns that this pitch would be too big for the 13s were soon set aside.  From a Johnstown tip off Hanna had an early shot saved by the Carrick keeper.  Soon after Ava sent in a shot that just went wide.  Teagan had a few well directed early throw-ins which lead to a Johnstown attack helping to keep the pressure in the Carrick half.

Vital interception and clearance just inside the Johnstown half by Abbie helped launch one of many early attacks. Aoibha scored a great goal after about 5 minutes to make the score 1-0.

The attack resulting from the Carrick tip off was cleared by Abbie again and soon the ball was back in the Carrick end with Hannah getting a 2nd goal for Johnstown.  Kellie did some great battling in mid-field winning most challenges and an important free which was taken by Caoimhe to keep the pressure on.  A goal kick from Méabh was volleyed forward by Teagan eventually finding it’s way to Hannah who’s shot was denied by the excellent Carrick keeper.

Aoibhha made an excellent run with the ball from midfield beating one defender and was very unlucky not to score. Chloe battled hard on the left side of midfield making an important contribution. Siobhán came on for Chloe a few minutes before half time and got straight into the action.

In the closing minutes of the half, a Carrick corner was solidly defended and was converted into an attacking opportunity. Another strike from Hannah was saved just before half time.

In the second half, Chloe restarted in place of Kellie who had to depart.  The defence continued to keep a good line throughout the half. Caoimhe was very dependable and made several clearances.  From her mid-field position Aoibha also worked hard in defence and at one point made a vital diagonal run back to the box to clear the ball and eliminate the danger that would have been inevitable.

With 5 minutes to go, after several unlucky attempts, Hanna and Jessie’s partnership up front paid off. An excellent cross from left of the goal into Jessie’s path allowed Jessie to slot that ball past the keeper making the final score 3-0.

by Jonathan Purvis

Under 13 Prem Match Report 31st March 18

Johnstown 1-1 Trim Celtic

This was a game of two evenly matched teams which, in the first half, led to few chances for either side. Johnstown, to their credit, defended very well in the first half with Trim only having a few long-range shots. Neil Mcginley, Adam Anderson, and Scott Taylor worked hard to drive Johnstown forward. The first half ended 0-0.

The second half started off well for both sides with Trim creating a couple of good chances. On the 15th minute of the second half Trim scored a well-placed goal. This spurred Johnstown into life and they were unlucky not to equalise, with both Neil Mcginley and Sean Christy coming close.

Johnstown finally got a lucky break 7 minutes from the end when Neil Mcginley scored from close range. The game ended 1-1 which was probably a fair result overall considering the chances both sides had.

Best for Johnstown were;
Luke Doyle, Scott Taylor, Neil Mcginley
& Aaron Clarke. Man of the match for Scott Taylor.

Team; Caoilinn Campbell-O’Brien, Sean Christy, Luke Doyle, Aaron Clarke, Scott Taylor, Kyle Murray, Neil Mcginley, Adam Anderson, Jack Allen, Charlie Reynolds, Jan Robert Panthers, Oliver Maloney &
Scott Byrne

by Jonathan Purvis

Under 13 Prem Match Report 24th March 2018

Johnstown 3 – 3 Parkvilla

This was Johnstown’s premier 1st game of the season.  Johnstown’s team was both a mixture of u12 and u13 players.  Parkvilla scored first midways through the first half. Johnstown equalised with a well-taken goal by Neil McGinley.   With Johnstown playing some very good football they scored again just before half time with a very well taken goal by Sean Christy.

The second half started at a very fast pace with Parkvilla trying to get back into the game.  Parkvilla scored 15 minutes into the second half to put the game level.  Johnstown were playing some great football but against the run of play, Parkvilla scored to go 3-2 in front.  Johnstown never give up attitude paid off when Neil McGinleys brilliant shot hit the back of the net to leave the game 3-3.

This was a very good team performance with some very good play from all. And a man of the match performance by Neil McGinley ley.

by Jonathan Purvis

Under 15s girls v Ardee Celtic 

Under 15s girls v Ardee Celtic

It was a case of third time lucky to get the season started for the girls.

And when they got underway they had the fire inside them lit with five goals in the first half. The first was a lucky own goal with pressure from a corner.

But from then on in it was attack after attack from Johnstown with another four goals from (Osarhumwense Osariemen ×1) (Ella Sheridan ×2) and (Anita Hosszu ×1)
Ardee pulled one back just before half-time.

Second half was a little bit quieter than the first with just the one goal from Anita Hosszu which made it 6 – 1 to Johnstown. Both teams played a great game of football and the sun played it’s part too.

Final result 6 – 1 to Johnstown f.c

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 .