Rossa 0-13-1-21 Ruairi Og
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa
Cushendall recovered from a slow start to claim a comfortable 1-21-0-13 victory over Rossa in the reserve hurling league on Monday evening at Pairc Rossa.
The Ruairi’s were caught cold in the opening minutes as Jim Reynolds struck Rossa’s opening point and that was followed by a converted free from Conal McParland and a fine Eoin Trainor score.
Ryan Delargy responded for Cushendall and it settled his side down with Scott Walsh picking a fine point from range and Andrew Delargy drawing the sides level at 0-03 apiece.
Rossa got their noses back in front approaching the midway point in the opening half after Conal McParland combined with Reynolds for a splendid second score of the evening.
Though at the first half water break the Og’s were back on terms as Andrew Delargy picked out namesake Dominic who shot over the bar to restore parity for the second time.
Fresh from their breather it was Cushendall who emerged with more energy and they hit the front for the first time through a point from Patrick Sharpe- who was afforded too much time and space before angling the shot over.
Dominic Delargy then doubled the lead after some nice work from Mark Emerson and Dominic Delargy then shot inside the near post to give his side a 0-07-0-04 lead.
Eoin Trainor almost levelled at the other end but a fantastic stop from Conor McAllister denied the 18-year old.
Scott Walsh picked off a fantastic score a few minutes later with Trainor landing a free in response.
The sides continued to trade scores as Fiontan McQuillan’s strike from range was cancelled out but a Daire Matthew’s point and a converted free from Ruairc Murray saw Rossa close to within two-points approaching the break (0-09-0-07).
But the visitors ended the half stronger with points from Ryan Delargy, Scott Walsh and a 65’ from Dominic Delargy giving Cushendall a 0-12-0-07 lead at the interval.
Fiontan McQuillan extended his sides lead upon the resumption but Eoin Trainor then responded with a converted 65’.
The sides traded further scores as Patrick Sharpe angled one over from out by the sideline and substitute Ruairi Murray responded at the other end.
Stephen Walsh then popped the ball over and Conal McParland converted a free in response before Cushendall began to pull away from the Shaws Road side.
Dominic Delargy shot over his fifth of the evening and played a role in the games only goal as he pulled the ball across for a simple tap-in from Colm McKeegan.
Rossa responded with a third Conal McParland point- his first from play, but Patrick Sharpe pointed at the other end.
Points from McQuillan and Sharpe opened up the lead into double figures.
Conor O’Neill and Ruairc Murray claimed the hosts final two scores though Dominic Delargy and Patrick Sharpe replied at the other end as Cushendall ran out 1-21-0-13 winners at the conclusion.
Rossa: C Breathnach, J Quinn, D Murphy, F McIlory, P Short, O May, G McGrath, E Trainor (0-03, 0-01f, 0-01 65’), J Reynolds (0-02), M Murray, R Murray (0-02, 0-01f), C McParland (0-03, 0-02f), J McGreevy, C Rocks, D Matthews (0-01). Subs: R Murray (0-01) for J Reynolds (HT), D Magee for J Quinn (38), M Cunningham for M Murray (43), C O’Neill (0-01) for F McIlory (48).
Ruairi Og: C McAllister, E Gillen, T McAllister, D McGill, M Emerson, S Walsh (0-01), C McCollum, R Delargy (0-02), S Walsh (0-03), P Sharpe (0-04), D Delargy (0-06), A Delargy (0-03, 0-01f, 0-01 65’), M McCann, F McQuillan (0-02), C Brown. Subs: S McKenna for R Delargy (42), C McKeegan )1-00) for C Brown (45).
Referee: Lorenzo McMullan (Bredagh)
