Homefit Antrim Football League Division One
O’Donovan Rossa 0-17 St John’s 2-10
Eight points from man of the match Thomas Morgan, and a last gasp injury time pointed free by Colm Fleming helped Rossa battle back from five points down at half time to overcome their great rivals St John’s at Rossa Park on Wednesday evening.
In a highly entertaining game between these two great rivals the Johnnies appeared to be in the driving seat when they went at the break with a five point cushion, after having played ‘up the slope’ in the first half. However the Rossa defence restricted them to just five points in the second period, while Morgan, Sean Pat Donnelly and Fleming picked off the scores, Fleming landing a real beauty with the last kick of game to seal the win.
St John’s were moving well in the first half and looked threatening every time they attacked. Padraig Nugent got their first goal in 12 minutes, reacting well after his initial right footed shot was saved by stand in goalkeeper McEnhill, to poke the rebound home with his left.
Rossa responded well as Sean Pat Donnelly sent one over and Colm Fleming landed a beauty from out on the sideline, but the Johnnies kicked on again and following points from McCurdy and Adams Rossa keeper McEnhill rose well to palm a high ball down which appeared to be going over the bar and as it bounced down in the small ‘square’ Ross Hannigan reacted well to palm the ball to the net.
Five in arrears at the break Rossa started the new half well and Thomas Morgan added two quick points to cut the deficit to three, but St John’s hit back through Conor Hand and Loughlin McCurdy to restore their five point cushion. Morgan and McGlade exchanged points to keep the gap with twenty minutes to play, and the smart money was on St John’s to take the win’
However Rossa were gaining the upper hand in vital areas and with Morgan in sparkling form they clawed their way back and entering the final stages there was only two between the teams. Ross Hannigan hit a great score for the Corrigan Park side to put them three clear, but Rossa kept battling away and two from Sean Pat Donnelly and another from Morgan had them level before Fleming’s trust left foot sealed the win that minutes earlier had looked very unlikely.
ROSSA: M McEnhill; S Shannon, C Orchin, P Moyes; R Gowdy, M Armstrong, N Crossan; C McGettigan (0-1), D Grego; C Fleming (0-3, all frees), T Morgan (0-8, 3 frees), M Mallon (0-1); SP Donnelly (0-4), D Rocks, A Devlin.
Subs: J Morris for A Devlin (49), D Rogan for D Grego (49), C Shannon for D Rocks (58)
ST JOHN’S: ER Lambert; C McEvoy, J Bohill, C Garland; D McKeogh (0-1), O Donnelly, R Hannigan (1-1); P Nugent (1-0), S McDonagh; C Hand (0-2), J Garland (0-1), C McGlade (0-2, both frees); L McCurdy (0-2), CJ McKenna, C Adams (0-1).
Subs: C Quinn for J Garland (45), D McCallin for L McCurdy (60+1)
REFEREE: Eamonn McAuley (Cargin)
