ACFL Division 1 Reserve
Rossa 0-12 – 3-10 Creggan
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa
First half strikes from Diarmuid Mulholland and Joe McAteer had Creggan on route to victory and despite a fightback from Rossa a further McAteer goal saw the visitors leave Pairc Rossa with a 3-10-0-12 win in the Division 1 reserve league clash on Friday evening.
Rossa started the brighter on a dull evening at Pairc Rossa and kicked the first three scores of the game.
Michael McEnhill converted a free after Patrick Moyes was felled, then a quick 45’ from Niall Crossan was sent into the path of Donal Armstrong who picked off the score. A third point would arrive courtesy of Matthew Mallon following a nice move with Paul Close.
Creggan clicked into gear through successive Sean Donnelly points- in-between a fine Donal Armstrong effort that drifted between the posts.
The visitors then hit the front under fortuitous circumstances, Diarmuid Mulholland hooked a low shot goal wards and a massive defection took it past Paul McLaughlin in the Rossa goal to make it 1-02-0-04.
Parity was restored thanks to Michael McEnhill’s second point of proceedings, but Creggan regained the lead through Michael Murray’s swinging effort and a Sean Donnelly added his third point of the half in the aftermath.
Playing with the momentum- Creggan found their second goal of the half, Frank McAuley and Donnelly combined with McAuley firing in a low shot that drew a save from Mclaughlin- but Joe McAteer was there to power the rebound to the net and give his side a 2-04-0-05 lead – with Hugh McNulty pointing to extend it in the immediate aftermath.
Rossa rallied before the break through Cormac McGettigan- who replaced the injured Donal Armstrong. Michael McGreevy then burst forward from defence and picked off a score with Michael McEnhill converting his second free of the half to half the deficit.
Creggan would add another to their tally before the break with Frank McAuley converting a free to give his side a 2-06-0-08 advantage at the interval.
Rossa closed the gap upon the second half resumption as Liam Carr popped the ball over from Niall Crossan’s offload and although Frank McAuley responded at the other end the hosts began the half on the front foot.
Cormac McGettigan angled over his second point of the evening before McEnhill added his third converted free to bring his personal tally to 0-04 and cut the gap to two-points.
Creggan hit back with Hugh McNulty swinging over a super point and Staffordstown Road outfit hand the chance to further stretch their lead when Eamon Hamill spotted an infringement in the area and signalled for a penalty.
Sean Donnelly seized responsibility- but saw his low effort blocked the foot of Rossa keeper McLaughlin who kept his side in the game with a vital stop.
Frank McAuley and Michael McGreevy traded further scores before the decisive one arrived on the Shaws Road.
With little under ten minutes remaining Joe McAteer saw shot come off the post and Hugh McNulty reacted quickest to fist the ball back in McAteer’s path and the corner-forward powered his effort to the net and made it 3-09-0-12.
Diarmuid Mulholland swung over a further point in the aftermath as Creggan left Belfast with victory.
Rossa: P McLaughlin, P Moyes, M McGreevy (0-02), D Armstrong (0-02), P McGreevy, P Close, M McKiernan, R Currie, C Savage, M McEnhill (0-04, 0-03f), N Crossan, L Carr (0-01), A Aicken, M Close, M Mallon (0-01). Subs: C McGettigan (0-02) for D Armstrong (13).
Creggan: T Johnston, R McVeigh, D Hinfey, S McAuley, M McIvor, C O’Hara, C Rice, S Donnelly (0-03), L Johnston, D Mulholland (1-01), H McNulty (0-02), M Murray, (0-01), B McAteer, F McAuley (0-03, 0-01f), J McAteer (2-00). Subs: C McLarnon for B McAteer (37), P McGuiley for D Hinfey (45).
Referee: Eamon Hamill (St Teresa’s)
