O’Neills Sportswear ACHL Division One
Rossa 1-21-1-13 Ruari Og
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa
Rossa edged ahead before the break at Pairic Rossa and that gave them the platform for victory as they opened their All County hurling league campaign with a 1-21-1-13 win over Cushendall on Saturday evening.
The visitors settled quickest on the Shaws Road with an angled Christy McLaughlin point giving them the lead and Neil McManus doubled their advantage from the placed ball.
Eoghan McMenamin got his side off the mark and they were soon level when Thomas Morgan capped a flowing team move with a point.
A converted Diarmaid Rogan free edged his side in front for the first time, but Neil McManus was on hand to swing over and restore parity.
Morgan doubled his account for the evening before the opening goal arrived on the 9th minute.
Rossa gave away a free in front of the posts and switched off as Neil McManus lashed low to the net to give his side a 1-03-0-04 lead.
Conor McAlister would keep his sides lead intact with the first of a string of timely blocks at the other end and Stephen Shannon had to make do with a point from the resulting 65’.
Cushendall would open up a goal advantage at the midway point in the opening half. Christy McLaughlin popped over his second and a long range free followed a few minutes later from deadly McManus.
The sides would trade the next four scores evenly. Stephen Shannon (65) and Eoghan McMenamin briefly closed the deficit, only for McManus (free) and a fantastic angled point from Alex Delargy to hold off the hosts resistance.
Rossa would end the half on the front foot and tagged on four unanswered points to take a narrow lead in at the break.
Pearse Shortt popped over his first of the evening, Stephen Shannon launched one over from range, a converted Diarmaid Rogan free restored parity and a minute before the break Morgan was able to steer over under immense pressure to give his side a 0-11-1-07 lead at the interval.
Cushendall were back on terms within two minutes of the restart through a Joe McNaughton score, but Diarmaid Rogan conjured up his third of the evening and first from play in response and quickly followed that with another to extend the half time lead.
Another point from Shortt opened up a three-point lead and better was to come for the hosts when Michael Armstrong’s free was fumbled by Conor McAlister and dropped into the net to make it 1-14-1-08.
By the midway point in the second period it looked as though Rossa were building up ahead of steam as Diarmaid Rogan added another three points to his personal tally.
All three came from the placed ball, scoring his third free of the evening before landing two 65s within minutes of each other.
The hosts couldn’t afford to get comfortable though as Ruairi Og demonstrated their battling qualities with three unanswered scores.
Talisman McManus struck two from play and Ryan McCambridge dropped over a fine point from range.
Thomas Morgan halted the momentum momentarily as Neil McManus responded with his fifth score from the placed ball.
Further scores were traded between Eoghan McMenamin and Paddy McGill as Cushendall sought a goal that would set up a grandstand finish.
The hosts defence stood strong in the closing minutes though and late points from Thomas Morgan and McMenamin secured an opening day victory for the Shaws Road outfit.
Rossa: D Moran, O McVicker, C Orchin, N Crossan, J Kerr, C McGuiness, S Shannon (0-03, 0-02 65’), C Shannon, D Rogan (0-07, 0-03f, 0-02 65’), E McMenamin (0-04), P Shortt (0-02), M Armstrong (1-00f), D Rocks, T Morgan (0-05), D McCartney.
Cushendall: C McAlister, J McCurry, R McCollam, M Burke, S Black, L Gillan, A Birt, F McCambridge, R McCambridge (0-01), J McNaughton (0-01), N McManus (1-07, 1-04f), P McKillop, C McLaughlin (0-02), P McGill (0-01), A Delargy (0-01).
Referee: Barry Winters (Eoghan Rua)
