Doran hat-trick sinks St John’s as superb Saul soar up table

Doran hat-trick sinks St John’s as superb Saul soar up table

3 July 2024

SAUL picked up another valuable two points in their quest for promotion thanks to a stunning Phillip Doran hat-trick against St John’s at home on Friday.

Saul got off and running from the first whistle as Ruari O’Hare kicked over an early double, converting a free and a mark inside six minutes before Andrew Gilmore replied for St John’s.

Some good pressing by Saul’s Doran allowed team-mate Justin Magilton to offload a pass to Lorcan Harney, who comfortably slotted over his point from play, and this was quickly followed up with a Doran score from 45 metres out. 

St John’s remained in touch as Caolan Murray kicked over a free for the visitors’ second point of the game, however, Saul created breathing space when O’Hare set off Doran, who ran at pace towards the goal and made no mistake with his finish. 

For a second week in-a-row Joe Hayes chipped in with a point from play for his Saul team, before Magilton converted a free following a tackle on Odhrán Magee. 

Into the last minute of the first half and St John’s busy forward Ryan Morgan attempted to claw back the deficit with a close range free. 

However, there was just enough time left in the half for the St Patrick’s side to reaffirm their grip on the tie, as Ciarán Harney released the dangerous Doran, who was in the right place at the right time, to notch his second goal of the game. 

Half-time score: Saul 2-6 St John’s 0-5.

Seven minutes into the second half and Doran picked up where he had left off with a super point from well out near the 45. 

St John’s had a chance for goal but Tiernan McCullough’s effort came off the bar, before Saul overturned possession and Aodhán Harney kicked over at the other end. 

St John’s first score of the second half came 14 minutes after the restart with Murray scoring from play. 

Saul’s Mullen and St John’s Morgan then traded points before Mullen added another. 

Gareth Robinson then marked his Saul return by splitting the posts but St John’s, to their credit, kept plugging away and Gilmore knocked over a free from close range.

However, the contest was dead and buried with four minutes remaining as Robinson set up John Mahoney, who side stepped his marker and smashed the ball into the St John’s net. 

Doran then capped off a very memorable performance by being first to react on a rebound to convert his third goal of the match. 

The final two scores of the game came from a John Mahoney free and a well-taken point by Saul’s Ryan Connolly.

Saul now sit level on points at the top of the Division 2 table with Bryansford, who picked up another victory of their own on Monday.

Saul: J Hazard, C Kinsella, L Harney, A Harney, C Harney, R Mullen, O Magee, R O’Hare, J Hayes, J Mahoney, G Murdock, R Connolly, J Mahoney, P Doran, J Magilton. Subs: C Mahoney, J Johnston, L Carew, M Connor, G Robinson.

St Johns: S Walsh, R Flanagan, H McMullan, A Morgan, J Savage, R Gibney, D McKay, O O’Connor, C Branniff, C Flanagan, C Murray, A Murphy, T McCullough, A Gilmore, R Morgan. Subs: A Walsh, O Hastings, M Keenan, C Burns, D McMullan