ACFL Division 1

Rossa 0 – 5   Roger Casements 1 – 15

Portglenone have rarely got anything from this fixture in recent seasons, and despite going on to become league champions last year, it took a disputed long range sideline free from Ronan Kelly to get over the line by the slimmest of margins in this corresponding fixture twelve months ago.

This year’s version didn’t live up to the same expectation, in no small way due to the high number of players unavailable to Rossa manager Hugh McGettigan, many on call with current county hurling and football squads.

Colm Fleming and Conall Delargy traded thirty yard frees in the opening ten minutes as both sides were probing until the game changed in a split second. Livewire Casements forward Michael Hagan intercepted a wayward pass in the Rossa defence, and lobbed a ball over the stranded plus one Rossa keeper from all of sixty yards and into an empty net to provide not only the turning point but the loudest cheer of the evening.

Although hardworking Rossa playmaker Thomas Morgan replied immediately with an excellent team score to remain on relatively close terms, it was the visitors who upped their game. Two additional Conall Delargy points extended the gap and Michael Hagan, Ronan and Stephen Kelly, Conor McGhee and Ronan Delargy landed five further points in a row, this contest was as good as over, with Casements nine up and cruising, when referee Brendan Toland blew his whistle to signal the interval break.

Rossa resistance in the second period was limited to a couple of Colm Fleming free kicks and a well taken point from Diarmuid Rogan, but that was as good as it got for the hosts. Despite some good individual performances from Thomas Morgan, Patrick Moyles, Richard Gowdy and debutant Setanta McDonald, the power and pace of their currently unbeaten league visitors was just too much on this occasion.

John McKeever maintained his policy of rotating players and will be happy with the response he is getting from players hoping to make an impression at some stage later in the year. Big Niall McKeever made his seasonal bow ten minutes into the second half, and it was good to see Ryan Convery kicking around at half time, the club joint captain well on the mend after a year out from suffering a cruciate ligament tear against Cargin last year.

Paddy Kelly joined the action too with fifteen minutes left, helping himself to a handy trio of points to remind the manager that he still has plenty to offer, as he joined brother Michael on the pitch, and cousins Ronan and Stephen who both chipped in with scores during the second period.

John McKeever and his extended management team will be impressed with some of the offering on view, with excellent performances from a number of players, amongst them several players who get through their work diligently without too much focus, including on this occasion Conor McGhee, Kevin Okane and Ronan Delargy. Best though on the night for the Casements were Hagan brothers Ruairi and Michael, and Stephen Kelly who posted another excellent individual display.

Rossa manager Hugh McGettigan will be happy enough to get game time and match experience into the legs of some of his extended panel, and content in the knowledge that at some point he will have up to a dozen players re-available, and regroup in time to secure league survival and a competitive joust at the club championships.

Scorers

Rossa; Colm Fleming 0 – 03, Thomas Morgan 0 – 01, Diarmuid Rogan 0 -01.

Casements; Michael Hagan 1 -03, Conall Delargy 0 – 03, Paddy Kelly 0 – 03, Ronan Kelly 0 -02, Stephen Kelly 0 – 02, Conor McGhee 0 – 01, Ronan Delargy 0 – 01,