O’Connell’s goal proves vital as St James’ squeeze home

St James’ 1-11

Cortoon Shamrocks 0-11

ST James’ made it two wins from two in Group 1 of the senior football championship as Dave O’Connell’s second half goal proved crucial in their victory over Cortoon Shamrocks at Kenny Park on Saturday. In doing so, the city side heaped more relegation worries on Cortoon as Paul Bradley’s side have now lost their opening three fixtures in the group.

Without the injured Paul Conroy, James’ never really hit top gear but they looked in control for large parts of the game. O’Connell’s goal came in the 55th minute and put his side six points clear, 1-10 to 0-7, and though Cortoon mounted a late rally, James’ were fully deserving of the win.

Their effort wasn’t without cost, however, as Johnny Duane was stretchered off with a leg injury early in the second period and were he to join Conroy on the sideline for a lengthy spell, it would be a major blow.

Both teams made a slow start to the game and the small crowd in attendance had to wait until the eighth minute for the game’s first score when Adrian Varley fired over a neat effort from the left-hand side.

St James’ responded well and were ahead inside the next 90 seconds. Eoin Concannon got the city side off the mark with a free in the ninth minute. Aaron Connolly then won a mark from the restart before sending a long ball into Concannon close to goal. The full-forward laid the ball off to Ronan O’Connell before Concannon came around on the loop and kicked the ball over the bar.

That play set the tone for much of the first half in which St James’ dominated proceedings around midfield and weren’t afraid to launch the ball into their full-forward line. The city side won all of their own kickouts in those 30 minutes while also winning the majority of Cortoon’s.

Martin Boyle drew the sides level with a sweetly converted free in the 18th minute before Ronan O’Connell pushed James’ ahead again. Cortoon then hit two scores on the bounce to take a 0-4 to 0-3 lead, Hugh McDonagh and Adrian Varley raising white flags.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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