All-County A Football Championship Final
Rossa 2-14-2-06 Moneyglass
From Kevin Herron at Musgrave Park
A goal from Michael McDade stopped a potential Moneyglass comeback in its tracks and helped Rossa to lift the all-county U-16 A football championship with a 2-14-2-06 win at Musgrave Park this afternoon.
Liam Carr’s late first half goal gave the Shaws Road men a 1-07-0-03 lead after a tight opening quarter, but goals from Kevin McCann and Seanie McIntosh had inspired St Ergnat’s and gave them renewed hope – only for McDade to rifle home a second and put seven-points between the sides, a deficit that would stretch before the conclusion.
Having accounted for Cargin and Aghagallon in their run to the final, Rossa began the game as pre-match favourites.
But it was Moneyglass that forged ahead twice early on through Seanie McIntosh and Kevin McCann, though Rossa replied on both occasions through Michael McDade and Barra McCaffrey.
A converted McCaffrey free gave his side the lead for the first time but at the midway point in the half the sides were drawn level as Kevin McCann guided the ball over the bar from James McCormick’s switch.
Rossa should have immediately restored their advantage as McCaffrey nipped in and threaded the ball through for Liam Carr, but the corner-forward dragged his low effort wide of Rory Gribbon’s near post – a massive let-off for Ergnat’s.
McDade would nudge his side back in front and a converted Liam Carr free with a little help from the large post made it 0-05-0-03.
Barra McCaffrey was enjoying plenty of possession and after playing a one-two with Ruaidhri Murray, popped over his third point.
The same duo combined for a similar result moments later and on 28 minutes the opening goal of the game arrived.
A glorious pass from Patrick Moyes sent Liam Carr away and with a goal on his mind; Carr headed direct for the target and rifled low past Rory Gribbon to give his side a 1-07-0-03 lead at the interval.
Rossa extended their lead after the restart through converted frees from McCaffrey and Carr – though a goalkeeping error gifted Moneyglass a lifeline.
On 35 minutes Kevin McCann got his shot off and Se McCashin in the Rossa goal spilt the ball and it dropped to the net to give the South-West side some renewed hope at 1-09-1-03.
Barra McCaffrey converted a free in the aftermath for Rossa but Moneyglass responded with a second goal in the space of three minutes.
A high ball into a packed area from Aidan McErlain was bundled home by Seanie McIntosh to make it 1-10-2-03.
McIntosh converted a free in the aftermath, however Michael McDade popped the ball over and a minute after the midway point, Rossa seized control again.
Midfielder Ben McCauley threaded the ball through to the path of Michael McDade who rode a few challenges and was able to guide his low shot into the corner of the net past Rory Gribbon to give his side a 2-11-2-04 lead.
The sides traded scores through McCaffrey and James McCormick in the immediate aftermath, Tiarnan McCormick claimed his sides final score of the afternoon in-between converted frees from Liam Carr as Rossa ran out winners on a 2-14-2-06 scoreline to lift the all-county title and progress to the U-16 Paul McGirr tournament in November.
Rossa: Se McCahsin, M McKiernan, B Hegarty, P McCashin, E Trainor, J Boyle, P Short, B McCauley, M McDade (1-03), R Murray, D Rogan, B McCaffrey (0-07,0-03f), P Moyes, L Carr (1-04, 0-04f). Subs: R Grant for J Boyle (49).
Moneyglass: R Gribbon, J Totten, R Duffin, B Magee, C McCann, P Duffin, J McCormick (0-01), A McErlain, J Logan, T McCormick (0-01), S McIntosh (1-02, 0-01f), K McCann (1-02), J McLaughlin, R Campbell, C McCloskey. Subs: S Boyd for J McLaughlin (43); S O’Boyle for B Magee (52).
Referee: Eamon Hamill (St Teresa’s).
