Antrim Minor B Football Semi-final
Rossa 2-15-0-08 Gort Na Mona
By Kevin Herron at Coláiste Feirste
Rossa had 13-points to spare over Gort Na Mona as the Shaws Road side defeated Gort Na Mona 2-15-0-08 this evening.
Already 0-08-0-02 ahead at the break thanks to points from Eoghan McMenamin, Liam Carr and Dominic McEnhill – McMenamin hit the opening goal minutes after the restart.
Rossa’s half-forward knitted the play excellently all evening and combined with Dominic McEnhill for the second and Gort Na Mona would be reduced to 14-men before the evening was out as second-half substitute Stephen O’Donnell was dismissed for a double tangle with McEnhill. It had little impact on the end result however.
It was a slow opening ten minutes at Coláiste Feirste – littered with mistakes as both sides were sloppy with possession.
Rossa were almost in goal after eight minutes as Liam Carr confidently soloed and slipped in Dominic McEnhill whose shot was blocked down.
Cormac McGettigan landed the first score of the game for Rossa after nine minutes –Gort Na Mona were almost back on terms within two minutes as Ciaran Scullion’s inside pass found Michael Carlin whose shot came back off the large post.
Eoghan McMenamin instead doubled his sides lead after great link-up from Dylan Magee and Liam Carr shot confidently between the posts to edge Rossa 0-03-0-00 ahead approaching the midway point in the first-half.
The accuracy of Eoghan McMenamin was evident for all to see – the energetic number eleven shot back to back points – the second of which was an excellent floated effort from the right after Gort keeper Niall Mooney could only fist possession away under pressure.
Ten minutes before the break Rossa went 0-06-0-00 ahead through a fine Liam Carr point – Gort eventually responded as Aidan Dempster shot high between the posts following a number of close efforts that drifted wide from the Turf Lodge side.
Rossa responded through Dominic McEnhill’s first point of the evening from a converted 45’ and the Shaws Road side thought they had conjured up the opening goal of the game on 23 minutes – Eoghan McMenamin confidently burst forward and slipped in Liam Carr who applied the finish from close range, however after consulting with his umpires; referee Colin Mallon signalled for square ball.
Gort’s captain Tim Scannell shot his sides’ second point two minutes before the break – but Rossa edged 0-08-0-02 ahead at the interval after Cormac McGettigan slipped in Eoghan McMenamin for his fourth point of the half.
Dominic McEnhill increased his sides lead within the first sixty-seconds – thanks to a converted free and two minutes later unintentionally played a part in the opening goal of the game.
The ball evaded McEnhill and Daire Murphy seized upon the loose ball and slipped in McMenamin who confidently finished past Niall Mooney to give his side a 1-09-0-02 lead.
Gort Na Mona responded through a converted Caoimhin Beck free – though Dominic McEnhill popped the ball to Carr who shot over on the turn.
Carr was denied a goal as Niall Mooney parried behind for 45’ – the resulting set-piece appeared to have been orchestrated on the training ground as McMenamin played a one-two with McEnhill before firing over the bar to make it 1-11-0-03.
Gort Na Mona thought they were back in the game as Oisin Cordner’s shot dropped in the square and Ciaran Scullion rifled home – although for the second time in the game referee Mallon signalled a square ball.
Instead Eoin O’Neill profited from Daire Murphy’s pass to fire over the bar and on 42 minutes it was game set and match for the Shaws Road side.
Eoghan McMenamin slipped in Dominic McEnhill who advanced on goal and shot into the top corner of the net past Niall Mooney to give his side a 2-12-0-03 lead.
Gort Na Mona produced a mini-revival in response – Michael Carlin shot over the bar from in front of the posts but at a cost as the wing-corner forward limped off with an injury before the conclusion of the game.
Caoimhin Beck converted successive free’s but in between almost played a part in a well-worked goal move. Carlin played a one-two with Beck who bore down on goal but was denied by Ryan Martin in the Rossa goal.
Dominic McEnhill converted a further free as Rossa regained the initiative – eight minutes from time Gort Na Mona were reduced to 14-men.
Stephen O’Donnell was a 34th minute substitute for Oran Garland and was booked for tangling and shoving Dominic McEnhill in the chest. O’Donnell was given his marching orders for a second coming together with McEnhill and the Turf Lodge side had to see out the remaining minutes a man light.
The resulting free was duly converted by McEnhill – though Ciaran Scullion responded from a similar scenario for Gort.
Niall Mooney was at full-stretch to deny McEnhill his second goal of the evening – the wing-corner forward opted for placement rather than power.
Caoimhin Beck converted his fourth free of the half two minutes into added time – the final say belonged to Eoghan McMenamin though as he conjured up an easy point three minutes into injury-time to wrap up a comfortable 2-15-0-08 win and set-up a meeting with neighbours Sarsfields in the B decider.
Rossa: R Martin, E Trainor, P Cullen, J McGurk, D Magee, C McDonald, C MacParthalain, E O’Neill (0-01), C McGettigan (0-01), D Murphy, E McMenamin (1-06), D McEnhill (1-04, 0-03f, 0-01 45’), M McEnhill, L Carr (0-03), C O’Neill. Subs: P Moyes for E Trainor (40 mins), E May for J McGurk (40 mins), S Mooney for C O’Neill (40 mins), D Maher for M McEnhill (45 mins), A Aicken for D Murphy (45 mins), S Wallace for L Carr (55 mins).
Gort Na Mona: N Mooney, D Cahill, J Muir, R Dixon, O Cordner, C Taylor, J McKee, T Scannell (0-01), B Carson, O Garland, C Beck (0-04f), M Carlin (0-01), A Dempster (0-01), C Scullion (0-01f), J Quinn. Subs: S O’Donnell for O Garland (34 mins), C McGucken for A Dempster (37 mins), M Brady for M Carlin (56 mins), M Kelly for R Dixon (57 mins).
Referee: Colin Mallon