ACFL Division 1
Tir na nOg 0-10 Rossa 1-11
A Stephen Beatty goal, midway through the second half swung this excellent division 1 contest at Whitehill Rossa’s way against a Tir na nOg side who appeared to have been gaining the initiative at this time in the contest.
Tir na nOg had staged a comeback after trailing 0-3 to 0-4 at half time to lead 0-8 to 0-5 and dominated the third quarter but Rossa’s goal, which was started by keeper Michael Byrne and involved half a dozen players, saw Beatty palm to the net from close range and swing the contest in favour of the visitors.
It was Rossa, despite playing into the breeze, who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges with Darra Rocks pointing them ahead in the first minute before Sean Paul McAtamney came to the home side’s rescue with a splendid save to deny Dominic McEnhill from close range.
Cormac McGettigan and Dominic McEnhill added further points to move Rossa 0-3 to 0-0 ahead by the 9th minute as the visitors played the possession game to perfection and hit on the break.
Barry McCormick opened Tir na nOg’s account with a long range point and added another excellent effort to close the gap to the minimum after 18 minutes and Darragh Fagan levelled matter from a 40 meter free.
Darra Rocks replied with a good point for Rossa to edge them one ahead at the change of ends and with the breeze in their favour for the second half they were expected to push on in the second half but Tir na nOg emerged a much more focused side for the second half.
Sean Duffin, Barry McCormick and Aaron McNeilly fired over three quick-fire points in the opening 7 minutes to move them two ahead and when Ciaran Logan added another in the 10th minute they looked on their way to two much needed points.
Rossa were on the back foot and finding it difficult to get their hands on the ball but a great Dominic McEnhill point in the 12th minute seemed to lift them from their slumber as they began to win more possession and move the ball around with the confidence that had marked their first half performance.
Two minutes later a great interchanging movement which started from Michael Byrne in goal saw the visitors sweep the length of the field in a slick passing movement that opened up the Tir na nOg defence and saw Stephen Beatty palm to the net from close range and suddenly the sides were level.
The excellent Dominic McEnhill pointed Rossa ahead once more as they struck again from the resulting kick-out with Darragh Fagan pointing a free at the other end to keep the home side in touch.
Another pointed Fagan free and an Aaron McNeilly point from play which came after an excellent build up, saw Tir na nOg edge in front once more by the 23d minute, much to the approval of a big home support but it was Rossa who finished strongly to claim the points.
Stephen Beatty, Dominic McEnhill and Michael Armstrong hit unanswered points to move the visitors five in front before Ciaran Logan responded with a consolation point for the Whitehill side.
Play was halted for a period following an injury to Barry Magee and when things got under way again Tir na nOg fought hard to close the gap and Michael Byrne in the Rossa goal brought off a good save to deny Barry McCormick with practically the last kick of the ball.
A good win for Rossa which sees the move into fourth place in the table but Tir na nOg can take some positives from their performance if not the overall result and their division 1 fate remains still very much in their own hands.
Tir na nOg: 1 Sean Paul McAtamney, 2 Ethan Higgins, 3 Barry Magee, 4 Daniel Martin, 5 Ciaran O’Neill, 6 Caopimhin Duffin, 7 Oliver McAtamney, 8 Ryan O’Neill, 9 Joshua Higgins, 10 Ciaran Logan, 11 Sean Duffin, 12 Darragh Fagan, 13 Barry McCormick, 14 Aaron McNeilly, 15 Connor Hastings.
Rossa: 1 Michael Byrne, 2 Stephen Shannon, 19 Ciaran Orchin, 4 Patrick Moyes, 5 Jack Morris, 6 Chris McGuinness, 7 Niall Crossan, 8 Cormac McGettigan, 9 Eoghan McMenamin, 10 Colm Fleming, 11 Stephen Beatty, 12 Matthew Mallon, 13 Dara Rocks, 14 Dominic McEnhill, 15 Michael McEnhill
Referee: Sean Laverty (Moneyglass)
