McToal looking forward to All-Ireland challenge

St John’s defeated Belfast neighbours on Sunday to secure the NWP Recycling Ulster Junior Championship but more importantly secure a spot in an All-Ireland Semi-Final against the winners of the Munster Final which is played this Saturday. St John’s manager Malachy McToal was delighted with the performance of his side and the battling qualities they showed on Sunday

‘We had a lot of work to do to gain the win, the girls fought hard and Bredagh put it up to us there but we are totally delighted. The next step is an All-Ireland Semi-Final which will be a different class of a game. We have the Munster champions on 10 ^th November which will be tough. We have a great squad with youth and experience and this year has worked out well for us. We have a lot of young players to spring from the bench also and that keeps everyone on their toes’.

St John’s had some impressive performances up front from Player of the Match Niamh Adams, Ashling Jackson and Debbie Boys but McToal believes that his strong defence will provided a platform for his side against Bredagh and this will be vital in the lead up to their All-Ireland Semi-Final.

‘Una Simpson and Helen Wilson linked up well in the half back line and cleared a lot of ball for us and we tried to close down a couple of their danger players and that worked out well. We have a lot of light players who use the hurl and their body well in the tackle and tough games hold us in good stead for the Semi-Final.  The confidence is there in the squad and hopefully the girls can go on to play the game and not the occasion. There was a little bit of nerves as expected at the start of the game but we quickly settled’.

St John’s will play on November 10 ^th in the AIB All-Ireland Club Semi-Final against the Munster Champions