St Joseph’s AFC 3

Hanover/Killeshin AFC 2

This was a game of two halves, because of the very windy conditions and Joey’s took full advantage of the wind, at their backs and that coupled with a lack-lustre performance from Hanover/Killeshin saw them go ahead, within three minutes, when a quick ‘one-two’ between Arnas Karalius and Daniel Giedraitis, enabled Arnas to volley home for 1-0.

On ten minutes, it was 2-0, when Dillon Darcy, shot from distance and it flew over the keeper and into the net and at this stage Joey’s were dominant.

Half an hour in and Joey’s went 3-0 up, as Corey Connolly, also scored from distance and they took this comfortable lead into the interval.

After a half-time ‘dressing down’ it was a different Hanover/Killeshin that responded with a dominant second-half performance and on the hour mark, the deficit was reduced as Shane Murphy scored with a fine strike, from an acute angle for 2-1.

Twenty minutes later, it was ‘game on’, as a Shane Murphy corner caused mayhem in the Joey’s box, with the ball eventually falling to Ben Dorgan, who was ten yards out and he ‘rifled’ the ball into the net for 3-2.

With the ball now moving only in one direction and it seemed that it was going to be inevitable that Hanover/Killeshin would get an equaliser, but credit to the Joey’s defence, who stayed strong, as with ‘last-ditch’ tackles and defenders putting ‘their bodies on the line, they managed to hold out and take all three points.

Standing out for Joey’s were Ben Akerele-Smith, Kian Reddy, Daniel Giedraitis and Javk Akerele-Smith, whilst best for Hanover/Killeshin were Dylan Gately, Bill Fitzgerald, Brendan McDonald and Laisvydas Zilevicius.