St John's

2008 has again proved to be a highly successful year for St. John's GAC, particularly at juvenile level.

Development at underage and senior level has been ongoing in football, hurling and camogie. Well planned coaching, training and continuous hard work, by a dedicated team of managers, mentors, coaches and committees, have resulted in a successful year for the club. The highlight of 2008 was the historic dual Féile win, with the under-14's scooping the Féile na nGael and Féile Peil na nÓg.

Féile na nGael

The St. John's under-14 hurlers headed South at the end of June for the National Féile na nGael finals. Having defeated the North Antrim Champions in the County final at Dunloy in May, preparations then began for the Féile na nGael. St. Brendan's provided the opposition in the County final, but the Johnnies were aware that they could expect a much tougher challenge in the National finals.

The Johnnies contested the 2007 Féile na nGael and were defeated in the final by Castletowngeoghegan, but they hoped that their trip to the 2008 finals would prove more successful.

Action from the FinalThe St. John's club was hosted over the Féile na nGael weekend by the Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton club of Laois, who are based at O' Keefe Park. They played their host club in the first game on the Friday evening and this was followed by group games on the Saturday, against Camross and the Carlow representatives. The Johnnies played all their group games at Borris in Ossory.

During the Féile na nGael weekend the St. John's under-14's played excellent hurling throughout all their games. They accounted for Borris in Ossory/Kilcotton, their host club, Camross and Muinebheag, in the group games and Celbridge (Kidare) in the semi-final.

Celebrations began shortly after winning the Féile na nGael final at O' Moore Park, in Laois, on the Sunday afternoon. The Johnnies won the Canon Fogarty Trophy, following a 2-9 to 1-1 win over Portlaoise, in a highly exciting and competitive game, played in front of a large group of spectators, many of them St. John's supporters!

The St. John's captain, Ciaran Johnston, received the Canon Fogarty trophy from GAA President, Nickey Brennan.

Presentation of the cup
GAA President, Nickey Brennan presents the Canon Fogarty Trophy to Ciaran Johnston

Féile Peil na nÓg

Following their Féile na nGael win, the Johnnies were on the road again, this time for the Féile Peil na nÓg, the National Féile football final. Having defeated Dunloy in the Antrim All-County final, the under-14 squad travelled to Cavan in the hope of securing the Féile double.

The St. John's footballers were hosted by Cavan club, Cootehill for the Féile weekend. Jack Hannigan captained the squad throughout the competition, with group games against host club Cootehill, Drumgoon and Enniskillen Gaels.
 
During the group stages of the football Féile, St. John's had comfortable wins in all their group games. They defeated Monaghan Harps, 2-9 to 1-1, in the semi-final to qualify for a final spot against Portlaoise, who incidently were the team that the Johnnies defeated in the hurling Féile at O'Moore Park.

The Football Féile final was played at Breffni Park and after a tense and exciting game both the Johnnies and Portlaoise couldn't be seperated, scoring 1-3 apiece and sending the final into extra time. With minutes remaining and Portlaoise leading by the narrowest of margins, the Johnnies hammered one to the net, from the boot of Ciaran Mc Kenna, to claim victory, winning on a 2-3 to 1-4 scoreline.
 
U14 Footballers
St Johns U14 Footballers Celebrate there success

St. John's captain, Jack Hannigan collected the silverware from GAA President, Nickey Brennan, to complete a unique All-Ireland Double for the Whiterock Road club.
 
 
Juvenile Success

Although the double Féile success was the highlight of the year, there were other successes at juvenile level for St. John's GAC. The under-14's defeated St.Comgall's, Antrim, in the All-County football championship in October at Casement Park. At under-12 level the young Johnnies footballers achieved success in the O'Donnell Cup.

They tasted success in June, when they defeated Rossa in an exciting game played at MacRory Park. During the first half of the game it was a very close contest, with the narrowest of margins separating the teams at halftime. In the second half the Johnnies increased their lead and proved too strong for the Rossa challenge, winning on a 6-7 to 3-6 score line.

The under-12's were unlucky not to do the double, but lost by the narrowest of margins in the final of the Nipper Quinn final, with Rossa claiming the honours. The under-16 hurlers won the South Antrim hurling Championship, defeating a strong Rossa side, but in the County final Ballycastle edged it, by a single point, to win the All-County title. Success continues at underage level in both football and hurling, with our club underage teams participating and winning honours in many under-10 inter club tournaments. Congratulations to all the teams, who worked hard over the year and a big thanks to all their parents, managers, mentors and supporters.