St. James' turn on the style in easy win over hapless rivals

St. James’ 2-14 Killanin 0-7

Noel Carney at Pearse Stadium

THERE was an easier than expected win for city side St. James’ who were far too strong for a game but limited Killanin in the opening game of Saturday evening’s double bill in the first round of the Claregalway Hotel-Bon Secours Hospital senior football championship at sundrenched Pearse Stadium.

St. James’ fielded quite a few of their all conquering under-21 county championship winners at the start, including Cathal Walsh, Aaron Connolly, Ronan O’Connell and Eoghan O’Regan and introduced Lee Vahey and All-Ireland winning minor hurler Owen Teagle as the game went on. They will be well satisfied with their performances.

They had plenty of experience in their ranks as well of course, including Galway seniors Jonathan Duane who was surprisingly placed at centre half-forward and Paul Conroy, while Eoin Concannon made a comeback after a long period out through injury. Though he probably needed the game and was withdrawn during the second half, he always showed for the ball, got two points and was unlucky to see a low piledriver come back off a post in the first half.

Killanin lost several of last year’s panel and had to line out without Galway under-21 star Patrick Sweeney who suffered a bad collarbone injury when playing against Mayo in the Connacht championship. He is a long term absentee. They were hanging on grimly, 0-8 to 0-2 behind, when a killer goal by Alan O’Donnell on the stroke of half-time dealt them a devastating blow.

To turn around after the break and try to overhaul a nine-point deficit was an enormous task for Killanin and though they were game to the last and never stopped playing their hearts out, they never looked capable of doing so. In fact, if St. James’ were more direct instead of going across the field with over-elaborate passing movements on many occasions, the margin could have been bigger.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.