ACFL Division 1B
O’Donovan Rossa 0-13 St Gall’s 0-8
Rossa climbed out the relegation zone with a fine win over St. Gall’s at Shaw’s Road on Wednesday evening, moving themselves up to third place in division 1b but places in the division couldn’t be closer as St. Gall’s now find themselves one of three teams on 10 points, just one behind tonight’s conquerors.
On Wednesday the hosts were just that bit sharper than their opponents and were good value for the win in a game that never really reached the expected heights.
Stephen Beatty shot the hosts ahead within 30 seconds with a fine score and they could have had a goal soon after when Darren Grego placed Richard Gowdy who looked set to score but his attempt was cleared off the line.
It took the visitors a while to get going, but when they did, Gaireach Mac Adhaimh kicked their first score with seven minutes on the clock.
Beatty responded with another immediately after but Niall Burns tied this game for a second time from a free before Rossa edged ahead once more from a Darren Grego point.
The Milltown side were coming more and more into the game at this stage and Niall Burns kicked a couple of frees to edge his side ahead for the first time but Rossa reasserted their control and Gowdy landed a magnificent point from out on the right sideline before Thomas Morgan converted a free to restore the home side’s lead
Hugh McGettigan’s charges were starting to exert the pressure and Grego intercepted a stray pass and attempted to lob the keeper but his shot carried over. Brendan Bradley pulled one back from play, but a fine effort from Diarmuid Rogan saw Rossa go in at the break with a 0-8 to 0-5 lead.
Stephen Beatty extended the Rossa lead from a free on the restart but despite his side dominating possession, they were unable to extend their lead as the game became scrappy.
It took until the 43rd minute before St Gall’s added to their tally as Callum Walsh played on from an advantage to curl over and a Burns free with 10 minutes remaining cut the gap back to two.
But Rossa didn’t panic and eventually a barren 23 minutes was ended with Eoghan McMenamin fisting over and Grego did the same moments later to restore the four point gap.
McMenamin extended that lead to five with a good left footed effort and it was clear at this stage that the visitors would need a goal if they were to salvage anything from the game.
It never looked like materialising however and the Milltown side could add only one more point from a Niall Burns free while Thomas Morgan made the points safe for Rossa with a score in stoppage time to see them leapfrog St Gall’s in the table.