PJFC: Eoin Downey goal downs St James' as St Nick's evade relegation

St Nicholas’ 1-11 St James’ 0-12

St Nicholas’ never led by more than four points, but were in front from start to finish – thanks to Eoin Downey’s goal inside the first 30 seconds in Newcestown on Saturday.

Despite St Nick's being able to build up a comfortable gap at any stage, a goal was all St James’ needed, but they couldn’t find one – and the west Cork side have been relegated from the Premier Junior Football Championship.

It was closely fought and James’ wouldn’t sink without swimming – but Nick's got the job done, putting a stop to their downward slide through the grades.

The Carbery outfit did manage to bring the gap down to one point in the 43rd minute, when Conor Hayes combined with Frank Hayes to set up Ian Evans for a well taken score, but that was as close as they would get.

The northsiders had an answer every time their opponents looked to be getting a foothold in the game, this time as Kenneth McCarthy Coade pointed on the three quarter mark, 1-9 to 0-10.

Gavin Marshall, the best player on the pitch throughout – scored an excellent long range point, his sixth in total on the day, but Danny Morris’ free after 52 minutes was key for Nick's.

Their three point gap was restored, and survival looked imminent.

Again, St James’ fought back.

Gavin Marshall for St Nicholas' is challenged by Peter Whelton, St James'. Picture Denis Boyle

With a goal chance to level it in the 62nd minute, a superb diving block from Ben Heffernan stopped Frank Hayes from levelling it.

A minute later, Donnacha McCarthy struck for goal – but it was just over the bar. The goal continued to elude St James’ and Nick's survived.

Being able to call on Cork senior hurlers Robert and Eoin Downey certainly helped, and when the latter was set up by Josh Galvin for the early goal – they were in front.

Morris assisted Marshall for the next point after four minutes, but scores from Joe O’Sullivan and Frank Hayes had it 1-1 to 0-2 after 11 minutes.

James’ struggled against the crosswind and the teams traded scores four times, until Donagh Coughlan and Marshall put them back into a four point lead at the break, 1-7 to 0-6.

On the resumption the west Cork side came out swinging and again their two most effective forwards – Hayes and O’Sullivan raised white flags to leave it 1-7 to 0-8 after 35 minutes.

St James' Frank Hayes and St Nicholas' Kenneth McCarthy Coade battle for the ball. Picture: Denis Boyle

Half-time substitute Dean Brosnan set up Marshall to leave Downey’s goal between them, though they still couldn’t put St James’ away.

James’ Alan O’Shea did well to get away from Heffernan before teeing up Hayes for a point, 1-8 to 0-9 with 40 minutes elapsed.

But Nick's held firm at the back and survived the scare, with Fiachra O’Driscoll and Josh Galvin impressive – though the latter had to come off as blood sub late on, with selector Robert Brosnan replacing him.

Scorers for St Nicholas’: G Marshall 0-6, E Downey 1-0, J Corkery 0-2 f, D Coughlan, K McCarthy Coade, D Morris (f) 0-1 each.

St James’: J O’Sullivan (2 f), F Hayes 0-4 each, I Evans 0-2, A O’Shea, D McCarthy 0-1 each.

ST NICHOLAS’: E Fuller; B Heffernan, E Varian, D Dunlea; F O’Driscoll, R Downey, Z Lynch; K McCarthy Coade, D Coughlan; E Downey, D Morris (Cpt), J Galvin; G Marshall, C Maguire, J Corkery.

Subs: D Brosnan for Maguire (HT), L Quilligan for Corkery (48), R Brosnan for Galvin (58-FT temp), S Horgan for E Downey (60+1 inj).

ST JAMES’: N Evans; Micheál McCarthy (B), D Hayes, T Feen; C Hayes, K O’Leary, P Whelton; C Whelton, J O’Driscoll; C Hennessy, J O’Sullivan, D White; A O’Shea, C Hayes, F Hayes (Cpt).

Subs: I Evans for O’Shea (15-19 temp), Micheál McCarthy (D) for McCarthy (B) (22 inj), Evans for O’Shea (41), D McCarthy for White (50), J O’Sullivan for Whelton (58 inj), K O’Brien for Evans (60+4).

Referee: Ciarán O’Regan (Ballyhea)

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