Senior Football League Division 2
Johnstownbridge 2-11
Clane 1-7
by Ronan Flanagan

Johnstownbridge made it two wins from two in Division 2 with a good perfromance on home soil seeing off Clane. Just as in their league opener Cathal McNally found the net inside the first minute and the same man raised another green flag in the second period to help kill off the game.
With the county men available this game saw Brian Flanagan marshall a determined home defence who gave very little away all day. Keith Cribbin also shone hit two points after McNally scored his first goal. But Clane bounced back as aidan Dunne followed in a high ball to bundle into the net, but Cribbin and Eoin O’Donoghue responded for the Bridge
Clane’s Kevin Fogarty and danny Egan’s efforts sandwiched a point from Cathl McNally kept his side three to the good. Then in the 25th minute Stephen Lyons had a great chance to sqaure things but his shot blazed over.
Minutes later down the other end Padraig Hurley was fouled in the sqaure and he stepped up to try to convert the spot kick. His shot lacked power but Robbie Eyers got down very well to keep it out. Hurley eased over moments later to leave it 1-6 to 1-3 at the break.
After the change of ends the men in white seemed to have finally got going as Danny Egan hit a brace of points, one free and one from open play. With a kick of a ball in it Cathal McNally gathered, spun and finished to the net once again.
Another free Egan off the sod kept Clane very much in the game but Johnstownbridge then pulled away with four scores without reply. Shane Flanagan kikced the first against the stiffening breeze with Keith Cribbin (2) and Eoin O’Donoghue added the others.
Danny Egan scored Clane’s last of the day with Johnstownbridge’s O’Donoghue having the final say with a wonderful outside of the boot effort. Considering the time of year this was a lively game but Clane could not do enough to break down the home defence who were helped withy great work from Will Holton and Eoin O’Donoghue tracking back. The only blot on a good day was the fact that Seamus McNally had to go off injured with a suspected broken arm.
JOHNSTOWNBRIDGE: David Maguire, James O’Connor, Michael Donnelly, Des Holton, Noel Cawley, Brian Flanagan, Paul Mooney, Barry McNally, Padraig Hurley 0-1, Will Holton, Keith Cribbin 0-5 (3f), Seamus McNally, Eoin O’Donoghue 0-3, Shane Flanagan 0-1, Cathal McNally 2-1. Subs: Damien Murray for O’Connor (36mins), Diarmuid Holton for S McNally (37mins), Jason O’Keefe for Flanagan (41mins).
CLANE: Robbie Eyers, Karl O’Sullivan, David Lyons, Greg Gartland, Brian Keating, Benny Lanagan, Cathal Naughton, Tomas O’Connor, Peter Conroy, Karl Martin, Kevin Fogarty 0-1, Danny Egan 0-5 (4f), Mark Holligan, Stephen Lyons 0-1, Aidan Dunne 1-0. Subs: Neil Kirwan for O’Sullivan (h/t), Cathal Geoghan for Dunne (h/t), Sean O’Dea for S Lyons (48mins).