John Lockes Callan GAA

Junior Football The Lockes kept their interest alive in this years League competition by virtue of a well deserved win over table toppers Kilmacow at the weekend. Following on from a disappointing one point loss the previous week this was a game which needed to be won and the lads responded with great determination to prolong their interest in the league. The signs were not good after a sluggish opening ten minutes which saw Kilmacow race into a three point lead before the Lockes lads had time to draw breath. Dan McCormack settled the nerves to open the scoring for Callan and the locals began to get to grips with their unbeaten visitors. The Lockes carved out numerous openings but were guilty of poor finishing including a missed penalty and only had points from Robbie Wall and Dan McCormack to show against a white flag from Kilmacow to leave the men from the south ahead 0-4 to 0-3 at the break.
The second half proved to be a profitable one from the Lockes and they drew level almost immediately courtesy of a Brian McCann point and with Jason Corcoran playing a pivotal role at number eleven ably assisted by Robbie Wall at midfield the Locals began to put the scores on the board that their dominance deserved. McCann again finished a great Lockes move to the net following good approach work by Jim Power and Jack McDowell and Dwayne Hanrahan burst onto the scene with a goal and a point to leave the Lockes firmly in control. Darren O Dwyer fielded some great balls from wing forward and set up a number of good moves and saw his penalty effort come crashing back off the crossbar. Paddy Kennedy got through an amount of work as did his brother Liam (until retiring injured) and Keith Doheny and Bill McCormack along with keeper Mitch Corrigan kept the Southerners at bay when it mattered most. PJ O Keeffe distributed the ball cleverly from the half back line and linked up well with the forward unit who put some very good moves together.
The result means that the last round of league games will determine who qualifies for the knockout stages and with the Lockes having no game next week they will have to wait till Saturday February 21st when they take on neighbours Windgap in John Locke Park to know their fate.