Antrim Minor Football Championship (semi-final)
O’Donovan Rossa 1-13 Kickham’s Creggan 0-14 (AET)
A late goal claimed by the Rossa replacement Conor ‘Spud’ O’ Neill in the first period of extra time proved the difference as the Shaw’s road residents claimed a place in the minor final at the expense of a gallant Creggan outfit at a sun kissed Glenavy on Sunday.
A close affair all the way as a couple of hugely talented and fully committed sides battled for supremacy throughout with rarely more than a point separating them in the allotted sixty minutes.
Rossa seemed bound for the decider with a slender one point lead at the end of the 60 minutes but when the impressive Liam Quinn held his nerve and retained accuracy to send a long range free all the way over the bar an extra twenty minutes extra time were to be added.
Rossa made their bid for home in the first half of ‘extra time’ with that Conor O’ Neill major and this score proved enough to see them home.
A splendid day bathed in early autumn sunshine greeted Creggan and Rossa as they lined out to battle for a place in the 2017 minor final and those in attendance at ‘Chapel Hill’ were to be treated to a thrilling encounter for all of the 100 minutes which were to follow.
The opening period saw little separate the contestants and after Liam Quinn got the Creggan boys away on the positive when he clipped a 40 metre free kick directly between the posts and Dominic Mc Enhill replied in kind at the other end a few minutes later such end to end activity featured for most of what was to follow.
Scores proved hard to come by as the semi-final made progress and after both had missed opportunities to add to their initial marks Michael Close nipped away to raise a white flag after Eoghan Mc Menamin rose to collect in the central zone and combined with Daire Matthews to open the way for the flame haired wing half forward.
Close stepped forward to the plate a few minutes later when middle man Mc Menamin was fouled to deliver the 30 metre free over the bar and Rossa were at 0-03 to 0-01 at the 20th minute.
Creggan, having been found wanting in their accuracy a few times previously were on target in the 22nd minute as Liam Quinn stroked a ‘45’ directly over the bar with consummate ease.
The Kickham’s youngster is one with a future no doubt but in this one his assigned ‘shadow’ Matthew McIvor was most efficient in his duties.
Rossa increased their advantage and it was at 0-04 to 0-02 in the 25th minute when a sweeping movement which quickly turned defence into attack as the leather passed through at least a half dozen pairs of hands to reach Daire Matthews who fired over the bar.
Creggan had the better of things in the closing minutes but with Jamie Mc Cann leading the way towards the opposition posts several cast iron openings went for naught and four byes recorded in succession hindered the cause.
The short whistle saw the Rossa head to the dressing room 0-04 to 0-02 ahead but on the restart it was Creggan who started faster out of the blocks as Liam Quinn and the impressive Jamie Mc Cann supplied back to back scores to see the South West side on terms after 35th minute.
The redoubtable Dominic Mc Enhill was well served by high fetching Eoghan Mc Menamin to split the posts in the 37th minute but Creggan quickly replied through Kealan McCann at the other end.
This pattern continued for the remainder of the half as score at one end prompted reply at the other.
An Emmett Burns pointed free took Rossa ahead but Creggan responded through Liam Quinn and similarly after Dominic Mc Enhill added back to back scores for Rossa , Liam Quinn and Cormac Mc Cann raised white flags apiece at the other end.
Rossa replacement Conor O’ Neill, who was to figure prominently after his introduction got on to the score list when he split the posts in the 54th minute to edge his side ahead but again Creggan replied as Liam Quinn fetched in the corner to open the way for Kealan Mc Cann to fire over the equaliser.
The end was drawing closer and when Dominic Mc Enhill dispatched a free directly between the posts from an acute right sided angle following a foul on Michael Close, Rossa looked in sight of a place in the final.
Creggan were not about to lose focus however and with the excellent Jamie Mc Cann leading the way they responded once more.
A foul on the advancing Mc Cann 30 metres from the Rossa posts looked well within range as Liam Quinn delivered, but when the ball went just wide of the posts as the clock ticked past the 60 minute mark all looked lost for the Kickham’s men.
Those in the green and gold were not to lose hope however and indeed when Dominic Mc Ateer was grounded 40 metres from goal Liam Quinn assumed responsibility to split the posts and send the game into 20 minutes extra time.
Creggan had a chance to gain early advantage in the first ten minute of extra time but after a couple of openings were wasted by the South West side a 6th minute Lorcan Fitzsimmons strike saw Rossa take the lead.
Rossa had claimed advantage and that advantage was about to be extended as Dominic Mc Enhill, now at mid-field rose highest to collect before quickly transferring to the unmarked Conor ‘Spud’ O’ Neill.
The replacement certainly needed no second bidding as he lashed the leather to the back of the net.
The ever impressive Jamie Mc Cann replied with a point for Creggan a minute later but Rossa had that goal lead as the end of the first half of extra time.
The remaining ten minute were to prove lively as Eoghan Mc Menamin and Jamie Mc Cann exchanged points and similarly after Liam Quinn raised a white flag a foul on the excellent Tiarnan Murphy was punished as Dominic Mc Enhill delivered the placed effort over the bar.
The end was in sight as Creggan threw everything into attack but a goal was the requirement and a robust Rossa defensive unit were not about to make such concession.
Liam Mc Cann had the final say when he fisted a Liam Quinn cross over the bar but it was to prove to be only consolation as the long whistle followed to see Rossa breast the line and into the 2017 minor final where they will cross swords with either All Saint’s Ballymena or St Mary’s Aghagallon on a winning scoreline of 1-13 to 0-14.
Rossa: Michael Burns, Manus Smith, Matthew Mc Ivor, Michael Mc Greevey, Tiernan Murphy, Matthew Mallon, Jack Morris, Cormac Mc Gettigan, Eoghan Mc Menamin (0-01), Michael Close (0-02), Daire Matthews (0-01), Mairtin Mc Cashin, Emmett Burns (0-01), Dominic Mc Enhill (0-06), Conall Mc Donnell
Subs: Conal Shannon for E Burns, Conor O’ Neill (1-01) for M Mc Cashin, Lorcan Fitzsimmons (0-01) for C Shannon, Pearse Cullen for M Mc Greevey (black card),Mairtin Mc Cashin for L Fitzsimmons
Creggan: Joe Sweeney, Eoin Mc Auley, Dermot Carey, Mark Mulholland, Killian Burke, Jamie Mc Cann (0-03), Morgan Nelson, Eunan Mc Ateer, Liam Mc Cann (0-01), Tiarnan Mc Ateer, Kealan Mc Cann (0-02), Liam Quinn (0-07), Dominic Mc Ateer, Lee Johnston, Cormac Mc Cann (0-01)
Subs: Ethan Coary Small for M Nelson (black card), Aaron Hughes for C Mc Cann, Dermot Mulholland for L Johnston
Referee Paul Mc Keever (Casement’s)
