Antrim U21 A Football Championship Semi-Final
Dunloy 2-14 Rossa 0-7
Wednesday December 12th
Brendan McTaggart reports from Coláiste Feirste, Belfast
Dunloy saw off the challenge of Rossa on Wednesday evening to book their place in the U21 Final. 13 points separated the sides after the 60 minutes with the Cuchullains clinical and efficient laced with touches of brilliance throughout.
After a tense and tentative opening, the Cuchullains built a seven point lead by the short whistle while second half goals from Keelan Molloy and Deáglán Smith ensured a healthy score line in favour of the men from Pearse Park.
Rossa started the semi-final well with Eoghan McMenamin and Darren Grego lively in attack and Michael McGreevey busy at centre half but a scoring burst of four points in barely two minutes mid-way through the first half put the Cuchullains in control with Eoghan McGrath, Molloy and Deáglán Smith all catching the eye in the opening 30 minutes.
Rossa were more competitive after the restart and looked to pressurise a Dunloy defence who strolled their way through the first half but the wind was knocked out of their challenge with Molloy’s 45th minute goal while Deáglán Smith’s goal in the last minute of normal time added further gloss to the score line for the Cuchullains.
Dunloy opened the scoring in the second minute with Seaan Elliott firing over for his first of three points over the hour. Eoghan McMenamin replied instantly for Rossa to draw the sides level but the Cuchullains looked to be more fluent in their play and were finding holes in the Rossa defence at will. A run of wides threatened to hurt any momentum they may have built but a brace of points from Molloy and Eoghan McGrath gave the Cuchullains a two point lead by the 10th minute.
Any Rossa attacks were fleeting in the opening exchanges but the Shaws Road side were back on terms by the 17th minute with McMenamin and Cormac Murphy splitting the uprights. The aerial ability of Murphy and Cormac McGettigan meant Rossa were winning the lions share of high ball. The Cuchullains looked to go short with their kick outs and build from the back and while Rossa were content to keep a man back, Dunloy began to take advantage of their possession. Points from Deáglán Smith, Eoghan McGrath (two) and Molloy gave the Cuchullains a four point lead in the space of just two minutes.
Dunloy were well on top and the movement of the attack was causing Rossa huge problems. The artificial surface allowed the Cuchullains to utilise their pace and the four point lead soon became six with Conal Cunning (free) and Deáglán Smith finding the target.
Seaan Elliott finished the scoring with a composed finish from distance in the last minute of the first half to give the Cuchullains a seven point lead.
The Cuchullains were more efficient in attack and the calibre of ball into the forward line allowed the Dunloy forwards to make hay. Rossa were struggling to penetrate the Dunloy defence in the opening half and the Cuchullains took advantage with a number of turnovers immediately resulting in scores during the opening half.
Rossa looked energised after the restart and began to pressure further up the pitch. Dunloy did open the scoring with Elliott splitting the posts in the 35th minute with his third point of the semi-final but Rossa were keeping a quartet of attackers up front and it was beginning to pay dividends. A free from Conall McDonnell gave Rossa their first score in 22 minutes and while Deáglán Smith landed a point from distance with the next attack, Rossa were beginning to turn the screw and looked like they could eat into the Dunloy lead. A brace of points from McMenamin and McDonnell (’45) reduced the deficit to six points once again by the 42nd minute but McDonnell’s point would be the last score Rossa would register.
The first Dunloy goal came from a counter and while hand bags were being thrown at one end of the pitch, Keelan Molloy went on a marauding run down the Rossa left leaving a trail of defenders in his wake before cutting inside and finishing smartly despite the best efforts of Michael Byrne in the Rossa goals.
Molloy took his tally to 1-3 for the match with a 54th minute free and while Rossa began to have more possession as they tried to unlock a water tight Dunloy defence, the Cuchullains remained resolute with Conor Kinsella and Aaron Crawford excelling as the match progressed.
The second Dunloy goal came in the last minute of the hour with midfielder Deáglán Smith matching Molloy’s tally of 1-3. Eoin O’Neill providing the assist for the rampaging Smith and the talented midfielder finding the bottom corner with great aplomb to finish a comfortable nights work for the Cuchullains.
Dunloy will face St Brigid’s in the decider on Saturday at Woodlands in a repeat of the minor final from two years ago as they chase an U21 hurling and football double to match the minor double already achieved during 2018.
Bear hug! A nice light hearted moment near the end of the game as Rossa substitute Ryan Bear O’Neill and Dunloy’s Seaan Elliott have a laugh when Bear is sent on to mark the Dunloy flier.
Dunloy: Frankie Cochrane; Ciaran McQuillan, Conor Kinsella, Anton McGrath; Chrissy McMahon, Ryan Elliott, Aaron Crawford; Callum Scullion, Deáglán Smith; Eoghan McGrath, Keelan Molloy, Eoin O’Neill; Anthony Smith, Conal Cunning, Seaan Elliott.
Scorers: Deáglán Smith 1-3; Keelan Molloy 1-3 (1 f); Eoghan McGrath 0-4; Seaan Elliott 0-3; Conal Cunning 0-1 (1 f).
Rossa: Michael Byrne; Matthew Mallon, Gavin McGrath, Manus Smith; James Cooley, Michael McGreevey, Niall Crossan; Cormac Murphy, Cormac McGettigan; Tiarnan Murphy, Eoghan McMenamin, Conall McDonnell; Michael Close, Darren Grego, Daire Matthews.
Scorers: Eoghan McMenamin 0-3 (1 f); Conall McDonnell 0-2 (1 ’45, 1 f); Cormac Murphy 0-1; Darren Grego 0-1
Referee: Conal Roberts (St Johns)
