O’Neill’s ACHL Division One
Dunloy 1-20 Rossa 0-13
Brendan McTaggart reports from Pearse Park, Dunloy
Dunloy followed up their impressive showing against Cushendall on Sunday evening with a ten point win over Rossa at Pearse Park on Wednesday night. The home side overturned a two point half time deficit to inflict defeat against the Shaws Road men with the Cuchullains going through the gears in the second half.
Rossa were full value for their half time lead, playing with whatever wind there was available in the opening 30 minutes, the Jeremiah’s put in a strong defensive display. Chris McGuinness and Gerard Walsh superb while James Connolly’s skill and movement in attack along with Dominic McEnhill and Deaglan Murphy also made life difficult for the Cuchullains defence.
The home side regrouped at the interval and soon found their range. Nicky McKeague following up his impressive exploits against Cushendall with another notable display, top scoring with 0-8 to his name in an all action performance while Conal Cunning started to also hit form, finishing the match with 1-4.
The difference from the first half was the Cuchullains ability to win dirty ball and get second phase possession. Ciaran Elliott with an outstanding display of winning ball in rucks and at the breakdown while Kevin Molloy was more often than not the man to clear any danger for the home side. Rossa were restricted to three points after the restart – Deaglan Murphy landing all the scores from placed ball in his tally of 0-5 for the hour but after a worrying first 30 minutes, the Cuchullains were able to unload their bench in the closing stages with the two points safe.
Bright start for visitors.
Rossa started brightly and had three points on the scoreboard before the Cuchullains had even managed an effort at goal. McEnhill, Murphy and Callum McVeigh raising white flags for the visitors. Nicky McKeague opened the home sides account after working a quick side line with Shane Dooey in the seventh minute but Rossa were impressive in the opening exchanges, not giving Dunloy any time to settle into their game. Murphy and Nicky McKeague exchanged frees before a brace of scores from Conal Cunning and Nicky McKeague reduced the Rossa lead to one point by the 12th minute.
Rossa went through the gears and but for some wayward shooting, they could have built a substantial lead. Gerard Walsh scored a fine score in the 13th minute before Connolly showed superb footwork to evade the challenges of three Dunloy defenders before splitting the posts soon after. A run of four successive wides did little to derail their challenge though with McVeigh and McEnhill finding their range to open a five point lead by the 26th minute of the half.
Dunloy finished the half superbly however with a trio of points from Coby, Nicky McKeague with his fourth of the half and a long distance free from Shorty to leave just two between the sides. Rossa and Ciaran Orchin had the final say of the half when the midfielder split the posts with the last poc of the half to leave three points between the sides at half time.
Half time: Dunloy 0-7 Rossa 0-10
Dunloy introduced Deaglan Smyth for Shane Dooey at half time and they began to go through the gears after the restart. Four points in as many minutes gave the Cuchullains the lead for the first time in the match with Nicky McKeague (free), Keelan Molloy, Ronan Molloy and Smyth all finding the target. Another McKeague free was quickly followed by Cunning’s second point of the half before Deaglan Murphy fired Rossa’s first point of the second half in the 41st minute.
The Cuchullains continued to increase the intensity though with their half back line returning ball and repelling any would be Rossa attacks. Another run of four unanswered points from the Cuchullains gave them some breathing space as they began to find the target with regular accuracy from all angles. Kevin Molloy and Nicky McKeague (free) from their own half while Smyth and Chrissy Brogan completed the run of scores as the Cuchullains opened up a six point lead by the 47th minute. Meaning the Cuchullains had hit ten points in just 17 minutes of the second half.
Murphy added his fourth point of the match before Dunloy made sure of the points. Coby landed his fourth point of the match before finding the back of Conall Walsh’s net in the 54th minute. Keelan Molloy suppling the hand pass before Coby fired the sliotar low to the corner.
Dunloy continued to turn the screw in the closing stages, Murphy’s free in the 55th minute completed the scoring for Rossa before a brace of points from McKeague (free) and Kevin Molloy’s second of the match ensured a comfortable win for the Cuchullains.
Having beaten Dunloy in the opening round of league fixtures back in March, this had a banana skin written all over it for the Cuchullains. Rossa showed in the first half what they are capable of before the Cuchullains found their game in the second half. An entertaining game over the hour with plenty of skill on show from both sides but Dunloy’s talented attack and midfield proved to be the difference. Dick O’Kane’s men travel to Ballycran in their next league match on 17 June while Rossa welcome Cushendall to the Shaw’s Road on the same afternoon.
TEAMS
Dunloy: Ryan Elliott; Phelim Duffin, James McKeague, Oran Quinn; Paul Shiels, Kevin Molloy, Eamon Smyth; Paudie Shivers, Ciaran Elliott; Nicky McKeague, Keelan Molloy, Shane Dooey; Ronan Molloy, Chrissy Brogan, Conal Cunning
Rossa: Conall Walsh; Niall Crossan, Kevin McDonnell, Stephen Shannon; Gerard Walsh, Chris McGuinness, Aodhan O’Brien; Ciaran Orchin, Oisin McVicker; Matthew Devlin, Callum McVeigh, James Connolly; Deaglan Murphy, Dominic McEnhill, Thomas Morgan
Scorers for Dunloy: Nicky McKeague 0-8 (6fs); Conal Cunning 1-4; Kevin Molloy 0-2; Paul Shiels 0-1 (1f); Keelan Molloy 0-1; Ronan Molloy 0-1; Chrissy Brogan 0-1
Scorers for Rossa: Deaglan Murphy 0-5 (3 fs); Callum McVeigh 0-2; Dominic McEnhill 0-2; Gerard Walsh 0-1; Ciaran Orchin 0-1; James Connolly 0-1; Thomas Morgan 0-1
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Ballinascreen)