U-21 Antrim A Football Championship
Rossa 1-11-2-11 St Brigid’s
From Kevin Herron at Rossa Park
Ryan Murtagh was the hero for St Brigid’s as his late penalty save ensured that holders St Brigid’s progressed to the semi-final of the U-21 Football Championship after a 2-11-1-11 win over Rossa in a tense quarter-final clash on the Shaws Road yesterday.
Rossa had shaded the opening quarter of the encounter but James Smith found the net to give St Brigid’s the advantage, only for Conal McDonald to strike back at the other end to nudge his side ahead at the interval.
The decisive score arrived shortly after the break as Peter Henvey found the net to restore the south Belfast side’s advantage.
They would increase their lead to three points at the end of normal time in the second period before referee Eamonn Hamill signalled for a penalty and a lifeline for the hosts.
It was one they passed up though as Dominic McEnhill failed to get the better of Murtagh and the holders survived the late drama on the Shaws Road.
The encounter was arguably the pick of the weekend ties and there was much anticipation surrounding the Belfast derby.
St Brigid’s hit the front through a straight forward Henvey free- though the corner forward passed up a further opportunity for the same scenario moments later.
Dominic McEnhill restored parity from the placed ball and then nudged his side ahead with an excellent shot that sailed between the posts.
McEnhill converted his second free on the 11th minute, only for Peter Henvey to respond with his second close range free after being felled by Manus Smith.
Rossa were impressive on the eye going forward and Darren Grego set his side on the front foot with McEnhill eventually conjuring his fourth score on the spin.
It took 20 minutes for the opening goal to arrive and it fell to St Brigid’s – Paul Bradley popped the ball into the path of James Smith who received the ball on the move and picked his spot in the roof of the net with an arrow of a shot that gave Michael Byrne no chance to make it 0-04-1-02.
They then increased their lead as Ryan Tweedy combined with Peter Henvey who steered the ball over the bar for his first score from play.
Rossa regained the lead four minutes from the break, Darren Grego picked out Michael McGreevey who rode a heavy challenge and managed to pick out Conal McDonald with the wing-half forward wrong footing James Murtagh and finding the net to put his side 1-04-1-03 in front.
McDonald then linked the play with McEnhill who claimed his fifth point of the half, Peter Henvey converted his third free to bring his personal tally to 0-03 as just a single point separated the sides at the end of a pulsating half.
Rossa increased their lead within two minutes of the restart as Matthew Mallon picked out the run of McEnhill who curled the ball between the large posts.
But just sixty seconds later the pendulum had swung in St Brigid’s favour once more, Peter Henvey had too much space and his low shot squeezed beneath the dive of Michael Byrne and went in off the base of the post to nudge his side 2-04-1-06 to the good.
Conal McDonald quickly restored parity but four unanswered points had the holders 2-08-1-07 ahead at the beginning of the final quarter.
Peter Henvey kicked his fourth free of the afternoon with fellow goal scorer Smith getting in on the act and adding a point to his first-half strike.
Substitute Ethan Carleton popped the ball inside to midfielder Patrick Finnegan who fisted the ball over and John Morgan advanced forward from defence to put four between the sides with 14 minutes remaining.
Rossa were reliant on Dominic McEnhill’s scores from the placed ball and play and the corner-forward converted three successive frees to bring his side back into contention with only the minimum separating the sides (2-08-1-10).
James Smith and Mallon traded points and Rossa had the chance to level through McEnhill, but unusually he pulled the ball to the right and away from the danger area.
St Brigid’s weren’t wasteful at the other end and opened up a three-point lead by the 60th minute mark.
Substitute Brian McCarthy coolly shot between the large posts and a goal chance was on when Joseph Finnegan popped the ball across the face of goal, but Ethan Carleton opted for the point to give his side a 2-11-1-11 lead with three minutes of additional time still to play.
Only a goal would give Rossa the chance of redemption and the possibility of extra-time. That chance would arrive two minutes into added time when Matthew Mallon was felled and referee Eamonn Hamill outstretched his arms and signalled for a penalty – much to the bewilderment of the Brigid’s contingent who protested furiously.
Dominic McEnhill took responsibility for the pressure kick and opted for a short run-up, but was denied by James Murtagh, a scramble ensued and eventually the south Belfast side cleared their lines.
It was to be Rossa’s final opportunity as St Brigid’s saw out the remaining minutes to book their place in the semi-final, which is a repeat of last year’s decider as they take on Dunloy next weekend.
Rossa: M Byrne, C Shannon, J Morris, M Smith, T Murphy, M McGreevey, J Cooley, C McGettigan, E McMenamin, M Mallon (0-01), D Grego, C McDonald (1-01), L Fitzsimons, C Walsh, D McEnhill (0-09, 0-05f). Subs: C O’Neill for M Smith (55).
St Brigids: R Murtagh, D McGarvey, D Foster, B Austin, J Morgan (0-01), J Toner, P Lavery, P King, P Finnegan (0-01), R Tweddy, J Blaney, R Brolly, P Bradley, J Smith (1-02), P Henvey (1-05, 0-04f). Subs: O Boyle for B Austin (38); E Carleton (0-01) for R Brolly (44); J Finnegan for P Lavery (48); B McCarthy (0-01) for R Tweddy (55).
Referee: Eamonn Hamill (St Teresa’s)
