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.

U13 Premier Johnstown 1 – 2 Kells Blackwater

Top of the table clash last Saturday morning in the MDL attracted a decent size crowd to see the leagues two form teams battle it out. Adam Murphy continued his impressive scoring run with a strong run and powerful finish to put JFC 1 up , the game was contested mostly in midfield with very little to choose between the two sides.  JFC looked to be going in at half time with the lead when a Kells free kick took an unlucky deflection off a JFC player past the excellent Oisin in goal, 1-1 at half time.

The second half continued in the same vein a close tense game and looked to be heading for what possibly would of been a fair drawn result. Five minutes to play and Kells took the lead somewhat against the run of play as JFC pushed forward to get the winner that would of taken them top of the table.   A great effort on Saturday and every member of the squad can be proud of their efforts in the game.  Some nice words of encouragement from opposition manager to our lads at the end. The lads left the pitch disappointed  but certainly going in the right direction in terms of their football week in week out now.

SFAI CUP U13 Laytown Utd 3 – 4 Johnstown Fc

the Old adage a game of TWO halves was alive and well out at the coast on Sunday Morning, in possibly Phil & Joe’s team best first half ever, ‘’ footballing wise’’ JFC stormed to a 4 – 0 lead by half time.

Recent weeks sluggish starts were put to bed right from the start with some slick passing and quick forward movement.  Ironic so that JFC took the lead when Cormac Walsh lobbed the keeper Beckham Style from the halfway line, a stunning goal.  But we didn’t have to wait long for possibly that goal to be topped by Abraham who took on the full back and cut in to the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner , so hard it bounced back out of the net !

Soon after Abraham added a 3rd and Adam Murphy continued his scoring streak to make it 4 – 0.  Finn Malone skilfully controlling some neat midfield play and Kian Merrigan’s engine had us well in control at half time.

All the right talk was made at halftime to keep the lads focused , but a change in in style of play in the second half with some long balls over the top to there Tall physical centre forward soon reaped rewards.  To their credit the same play had Laytown not once , twice but three times back in the game 4- 3 in what seemed a blink of an eye.  Pressure on and momentum with the home side  it was time for some players to step up to the plate and they didn’t fail to deliver.  Lee Fitzgerald and Jamie Byrne having been caught out with the change of attack against them , gained their composure and adapted their play to combat the attacks.

Patrick Warren and Jo Jo Hanningan also adding to the back four trying to regain a foothold in the game.  Despite the switch of dominance in the early part of the second half we still had chances to put the game to bed and as the last 10 Minutue’s of the game ebbed and flowed back and forth in a game worthy of knock out cup football.  The JFC Goal Keeper Oisin coming to the rescue with a stunning save at the feet of the on rushing Laytown centre forwards feet in virtually the last kick of the game.  Never has a touch line been so relieved to hear the full time whistle , great game , credit to both side’s efforts and now on to the regional Semi Finals for Johnstown after a thoroughly entertaining morning out near the sea.

Trim 1 – 3 Johnstown

A bright lunch time kick off on Saturday did not produce a bright start once again for JFC.  A spirited Trim side were content in avenging a defeat earlier in Season and went into the break 1 – 0 up.

The ball was coming back far to quick to the JFC back four in the first half and a bit of half time disciplined team talk and couple changes by Phil Warren had JFC up their game right from start of second half.  Adam Murphy show continued in rich vein with another hat-trick in 15 minutes though one may go to the dubious goal panel as the Trim goal keeper was unlucky to hold and then let go of Adam’s shot.  Patrick Warren and Jamie Byrne stood out in the back four for JFC today both getting stuck in with important challenges.  Cormac Walsh was unlucky to be sent of ten minutes from time for a second bookable offence

. Another 3 points , second in the table keeping the pressure up on Kells .A good days “second half” work. On to next week.

Kells Fc 3 – 1 Johnstown FC

JFC’s winning start came to an end today in a top of the table clash away to a seasoned tough Kells side.  In a very competitive game JFC can feel slightly more than aggrieved not to get something from the game.  Johnstown leading 1-0 at half time once again thanks to the ever improving goal a game Adam Murphy with a Sublime lob from 25 yards over the on rushing Kells Goal keeper. 6 or 7 goals for the season now for Adam, we’ll Have to check!

Although under pressure for large periods Of the game only to be expected away to Kells.  The balance of the game swung on a goal for Kells when it appeared the excellent JFC Keeper Oisin Perry had the ball safely held in his hands but the goal was awarded to Kells.

Kells got the break they needed and gained confidence from being allowed back in the game.  Patrick Warren showed again plenty of heart in his new right fulll position and showed some of his larger in size colleagues and oppenents how to get stuck in.  Kells gained momentum and converted two late chances as JFC ventured forward desperate for an equalizing score.  A positive for Phil Warren was once again all the Squad got valuable game time which in itself was no mean feat without upsetting the balance and rhythm of the side in a game of this competitive nature .

A mention for the Kells Midfielder No.8 Conor Kirwan who was a tower for his side today and possibly the difference between
these two excellent footballing sides . Johnstown were not too despondent as the final whistle went and left Kells feeling slightly hard done by but already relishing the prospect of Kells having to travel to the MDL in the second half of the season.

The 100% winning start continued Saturday for Philip Warren and Joe Hannigans Lads.

Conditions were poor due to constant rain and wind but JFC where not put off by the conditions and tried as best as they could to get their passing going. Some changes to the starting line up saw the side freshened up again and it wasn’t long before JFC took the lead with Abraham drilling in from the right low under the keeper.  Five minutes later Mantis made it 2-0 with a high drifting shot from the opposite side past the keeper.

To their credit Navan Cosmos stuck at their game and if it wasn’t for the intervention several times of Man of the Match Oisin Perri in goal for JFC they could easily have been level.  Perri not just made some crucial saves but his reading of the game sweeper like and also his distribution from long and short kick outs was exellent.

Just before half time the once again excellent Ciaran Cox went raiding down JFC left wing and lobbed the keeper which was pounced on by Abraham For his second and JFC 3rd – 3-0 at half time.

The second half started with JFC on the back foot as Navan Cosmos spirit didn’t waiver and Were unlucky not to get at least 1 but again for the resilience of Perri again keeping them out.  The wind and rain died a little and helped JFC to get a grip back on the game.  Then Adam Murphy netted a real centre forward six yard finish by bravely going in to convert a low cross into the Net 4-0.  Charlie was unlucky not to score a few moments later.

A cross from the left into Kian McMullen and Kian scored a superb volley for his first of the season and well deserved for him 5-0.

Game over Another good day at the office for Warren’s Wonders !!!

Johnstown U13s Progressed to the next round of the SFAI cup today away to a tough tackling Balbriggan FC.

Adam Murphy once again opened the scoring with another 20 yard pile driver to the roof of the net.  Johnstown were well in control of the game but conceded just before half time, to a deflected free kick to go in 1-1 at half time.

A  few changes at half time with the introduction of new signing Ciaran Cox and also Finn Malone soon had Johnstown on top.  Abraham rose highest to head a corner in at the far post to restore a 2-1 lead.  As always in cup games away JFC felt they were denied a couple of penalty shouts harshly.  No matter some key pressing and closing down well reaped the rewards with 5 minutes remaining as Mantis closed the keeper who directed his clearance off our tall striker into his net to make it 3-1.

match won, once again our back four did their job well with Captain Lee Fitzgerald a tower at the back and winning most duals in the air as our opponents tried to play it mostly over the top for their nippy centre forward. On to the next round the good start continues 3 wins from 3 so far this year.

Johnstown 2  – 1 Trim  U13 Premier in the MDL

JFC made it two wins out of two for the season.  In good conditions on Saturday in a game where Adam Murphy was excellent bagging a 20 yard screamer after two minutes and then an Ingenius flick off his back for his second.

In the second half. in truth JFC should of been 3 or 4 up at halftime but for some wayward finishing and excellent trim goal keeping, Once again the fruits of a full squad came into play with Kian McMullen playing a very competitive midfield role and doing it well.  The back four once again held the line well and Jamie Byrne looking solid and stronger each week. JFC nearly paid the price for earlier missed chances with Trim scoring five minutes from time to make it a nervy last few minutes.

The good start continues but a lot of work ahead in this short season