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O’Neill’s All County Hurling League Division 1
Rossa 0-18 St John’s 3-17
John McIlwaine reports from Rossa Park
A late scoring burst saw St John’s clinch victory over city rivals Rossa in Sunday’s Division 1 League game at Rossa Park. The Johnnies had eight points to spare at the end but six of those came during the eight minutes of injury time match referee Vincent Boyle added at the end of a stop-start game.
After recording an impressive victory by the Johnnies over Cushendall in midweek most of us who turned up at Shaw’s Road on Sunday were expecting to see a one sided affair against a Rossa side shorn of the spine of their team through injury and immigration. However local derbies seldom turn out that way and to their credit Rossa made the visitors fight all the way.
Playing ‘up the slope’ and against the fresh breeze St John’s started strongly and two Michael Bradley points had them two clear after three minutes. Points from Oisin McVicker and Tiernan Walsh brought Rossa level but fine strikes from Conor Johnson in the sixth and seventh minutes restored the visitors two point cushion. However Rossa were starting to gain a foothold in the game and despite losing their centre back Cricky McGuinness through injury they hit the next four scores their Matt Devlin, Paddy McGreevy, Thomas Morgan and Ciaran Orchin to lead 0-6 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter.
Two points inside a minute by Michael Dudley and Simon McCrory brought the Corrigan Park side level, and though Tiernan Walsh briefly restored Rossa’s lead Bradley and Donal Carson came back with points to put the Jonnies one clear by the 22nd minute. Rossa bounced back with six points on the trot, four from Tiernan Walsh frees and one each from Stephen Shannon and Oisin McVicker to go five ahead entering first half injury time. St John’s appeared to have a real challenge on their hands but to their credit they responded well and a goal from Donal Carson just before the half time whistle put them in a much healthier position.
St John’s Simon McCrory. Pic by John McIlwaine
With the breeze at their backs in the second half St John’s were in a strong position but when two early Mick Bradley points were cancelled out by Devlin and Walsh it was clear they were going to have to work for the win. Two well taken points from Conor Johnston and a goal from Mick Bradley gave the visitors the upper hand Rossa kept in touch with Tiernan Walsh points from frees, and nearing the end of normal time the trailed by just two points. However St John’s held the upper hand and when birthday boy CJ McKenna fired in a goal there was no way back for the home team. There was no way they were going to be caught at this stage and they put the seal on the win with two Peter McCallin points and one from CJ McKenna to complete a good week’s work.
ROSSA: Conall Walsh; Niall Crossan, Eoghan O’Neill, Manus Smith; Stephen Shannon (0-2 frees), Chris McGuinness, Aodhan O’Brien; Pádraig McGreevy (0-2), Ciaran Orchin (0-1); Chris McComish, Oisin McVicker (0-2), Matt Devlin (0-2); Tiernan Murphy (0-7, 4 frees), Dominic McEnhill, Thomas Morgan (0-2). Subs: Jim Reynolds for Chris McGuinness (15), Michael Close for Jim Reynolds (50), Ryan O’Neill for Dominic McEnhill (55).
ST JOHN’S: Simon Doherty; Sean Wilson, Conall Morgan, Jimmy Peoples; Simon McCrory (0-1), Colm McFall, Ryan McNulty; Ciaran Johnston, Conor Johnston (0-4); Shea Shannon (0-1), Michael Bradley (1-5), Peter McCallin (0-2); Miceál Dudley (0-1), Barry McFall, Donál Carson (1-1). Subs: CJ McKenna (1-1) for Donál Carson (42)
Pics by John McIlwaine