Antrim Minor B Football Championship Quarter-final
Lamh Dhearg 1-06-1-07 Rossa
By Kevin Herron at Hannahstown
Rossa advanced to the semi-final of the Antrim Minor B Football Championship after edging Lamh Dhearg 1-07-1-06 in a tightly contested quarter-final clash at Hannahstown this evening.
Despite leading 0-05-0-03 at the break, Lamh Dhearg faltered in the second period with Daire Murphy netting to give the visitors the lead for the first time early in the half.
A converted Aaron McCloskey penalty restored his sides lead but Rossa kicked three of the last four scores in the game to claim victory and a place in the last four.
Pre-match weather took its toll on the saturated playing surface at Hannahstown and made conditions difficult for both sides.
It was Lamh Dhearg who hit the front early on as Conor Smyth dipped and watched his shot sail over the bar, midfielders Daniel Murray and Eoin Matassa then combined to double their sides lead, the later of the two with the point.
A converted Liam Carr free got Rossa off the mark and Carr was involved in his side’s equaliser on the 10th minute – his quick free released Barra McCafferty who popped the ball over the bar to level at 0-02 apiece.
Both sides were guilty of cheaply conceding possession and it took almost ten minutes for the next scoring opportunity to arrive and it fell to Rossa.
A quickly taken free released Barra McCafferty who linked-up with Liam Carr, the corner-forward rounded Lamh Dhearg keeper Daniel Hartley, but Hartley was able to divert Carr’s shot behind for a 45’ which came to nothing.
Lamh Dhearg hit the front again as Niall McGarry conjured up a smart score, the hosts almost hit the opening goal in the aftermath.
Ciarnan Keating fed Conor Smyth whose low drive crashed off the post – the move was kept alive and Eoin Matassa blasted the ball over the bar.
The Lamhs extended their lead through JJ Hawkin’s though a second point of the half from Carr ensured that at the break it was Lamh Dhearg who held a slender 0-05-0-03 lead.
Rossa narrowed the deficit upon the resumption with Barra McCafferty converting a close range free.
Five minutes after the restart the opening goal of the game arrived and it fell to the visitors who forged ahead for the first time.
A quickly taken free into the path of Charlie Cooley gave the midfielder time to burst forward, after assessing his options Cooley sent a high ball across the face of goal and Daire Murphy was waiting to scramble to the net and give his side a 1-04-0-05 lead.
It was a lead that lasted less than two minutes however – the resulting kick was claimed by the Lamhs and half-time substitute Tony Nelson burst towards the target, before being felled and referee Charlie Hemsworth signalled for a penalty.
Aaron McCloskey took responsibility for the kick and showed no signs of pressure, sending Se McCashin the wrong way to restore his sides advantage (1-05-1-04).
The sides were drawn level for just the second time in the contest as Barra McCafferty converted his second free of the half on the 40th minute.
It was Rossa who looked the more dangerous as Daire Murphy’s low drive was deflected into the side netting.
Midway through the second-half a converted free from Liam Carr gave Rossa the lead for the second time and it was one that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Carr saw a second goal opportunity go a-begging in the aftermath, having shown nimble footwork the youngster weaved his way into the area but his shot was turned behind by Hartley.
A 52nd minute Diarmuid Rogan point would prove to be Rossa’s clincher, despite Eoin Matassa claiming the resulting kickout and replying at the other end.
Lamh Dhearg pushed for the equalising score that their play perhaps merited, but in the end the Hannahstown men’s wide count would come back to haunt them as Rossa held out for victory and claimed a place in the Championship semi-final.
Lamh Dhearg: D Hartley, L Clarke, R Murray, T McKenna, T McCullough, JJ Hawkins (0-01), A McCloskey (1-00f), E Matassa (0-03), D Murray, N McGarry (0-01), C Keating, F Mervyn, C Rogan, C Smyth (0-01), D Cunningham. Subs: T Nelson for D Cunningham (HT); C Boyd for C Rogan (HT).
Rossa: S McCashin, C Boyle, P McLaughlin, F McIlroy, A Aiken, D Magee, D Rogan (0-01), C Cooley, R Murray, O May, D Murphy (1-00), M McEnhill, B McCafferty (0-03, 0-02f), P Moyes, L Carr (0-03, 0-02f). Subs: P McCashin for A Aiken (HT).
Referee: Charlie Hemsworth (St Pauls)
In the other Minor B Football Championship played tonight Gaeil an tSeibhe Dhuibh defeated St. Joseph’s Glenavy at Chapel Hill by 3-8 to 1-9