In-form Conroy proves the key man again for lively St James’

Alan Dooley at  Tuam Stadium

St. James’ 1-12 Kilkerrin-Clonberne 0-8

A decent if not spectacular performance from St. James’, driven on by a dominant midfield showing from Paul Conroy, was good enough to see off the tame challenge of Kilkerrin-Clonberne at Tuam Stadium on Saturday evening.

The city side’s place in the last eight looked a safe bet from the moment Tommy Walsh drilled in a 35th minute penalty.

While the decision to award the penalty may have been contentious – the challenge on Shaun Donnellan as he bore down on goal looking fairly innocuous – Kilkerrin-Clonberne could not argue with their fate as St. James’ were in control of this contest once they had opened up an interval three point lead.

Conroy was at the heart of most things that St. James did well throughout and his ability to engineer frees and create scoring opportunities for his colleagues was a crucial ingredient to their success. While Mark Kelly was a key asset as a defensive sweeper for St. James’, Kilkerrin-Clonberne’s attempts to break down their massed ranks were nowhere near good enough, their final point from play coming 20 minutes from time.

Odds-on favourites coming into this clash, St. James’ were glad to have Eoin Concannon back in their starting line-up, and while the full forward started sluggishly, he gradually became more influential as the tie wore on. Sadly, the opening quarter was one best forgotten in a hurry, one in which St. James’ led 5-3 on the wides count whilst the scoreboard had registered only a pointed free apiece.

The standard added much credence to the argument in favour of a change of format to the football championship, with Kilkerrin-Clonberne looking every bit a side who hadn’t had a knock-out tie in three months since their victory over Annaghdown. While neat in possession, their inability to deliver quick ball gave St. James’ time to funnel men back and crowd out their danger men.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.