Johnnies unconcerned by poor start

St John's Conor Johnston

THE Johnnies have yet to win a game in this year’s Antrim Division One Hurling league but new boss Liam Donnelly is not worrying.

Instead, he has been pleased with his team’s performances against some very difficult opposition.

“We have had a bit of a tough start. We played Ballycastle away, Loughgiel and then Cushendall who only beat us by a couple of points. We are happy enough that we were able to compete with two of the top teams in Ulster,” Donnelly said.

The weather was not great during their away clash with Cushendall, and perhaps that led to some poor shooting from both sides, but at half time the Johnnies found themselves leading 1-6 to 0-8.

Midway through the second half, Cushendall took control though, when Shane McNaughton’s 65 dropped short and Mark Donaghy sent it to the net. Cushendall boss Aidan McAteer introduced Neil McManus late on, and he helped to guide his team over the line.

However, this was never a game that St John’s would have marked down as one they could win.

“We are looking to pick up points down the line,” said manager Donnelly. “We know there are other teams out there that we have a real chance of beating.”

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday May 17. Buy your copy now either online; by clicking the subscribe button on this page, or in your local newsagent