O’Neill’s ACFL Division One
Rossa 0-10-1-10 Lámh Dhearg
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa
Mark Lowe’s 47th minute goal was the difference at Pairc Rossa as Lámh Dhearg ran out 1-10-0-10 winners over Rossa on the Shaws Road on Sunday evening.
Both sides went into the clash level on points just shy of mid-table and in need of two points.
It was the visitors who began fastest as Donal Martin fed Declan Smyth to drop over the opener.
Eoin McKeown doubled his sides advantage after a strong run forward by Terry McCrudden and Conor Murray blasted over a third score in succession.
Rossa were up and running a minute shy of the midway point in the half through a converted Colm Fleming free and they almost hit the front less than 60-seconds later.
Goalkeeper Michael McEnhill came forward to take a 45’ and his effort crashed off the underside of the post and crossbar – and thankfully for the visitors, out to safety.
The sides cancelled each other out for most of the half’s remainder. Ben Rice clipped over to restore his sides three-point lead, only for Conal Shannon to shoot high inside the posts in response.
Daniel Murray then turned over a kick-out and found the run of Eoin McKeown- who doubled his tally with a fine score, though Oisin McVicker combined with James Augey to sling over at the other end.
The Lámhs finished the half strongly and held a 0-07-0-03 lead at the break. Conor Murray kicked a close range free and after Declan Smyth got hands on Diarmaid Rogan’s dropping shot- he charged forward and slipped the ball to Eoin McKeown who kicked his third of the half with the last action of play.
Rossa made a bright opening to the second half and closed to within a single point following three successive scores.
Diarmaid Rogan was clipped on a break forward and Conal Shannon converted the resulting free.
Oisin McVicker then popped over from play before Conal Shannon added a second placed ball within a few minutes.
The host’s momentum was briefly halted when Conor Murray picked out Ben Rice from a cross-field pass and Rice conjured up a fine point.
With little over a quarter of an hour remaining another free from Shannon had Rossa a point in arrears once more.
The game’s only goal would prove decisive and arrived on the 47th minute. Conor Murray recycled possession to Fionn Mervyn, and his shot dropped and was bundled home via the fist of Mark Lowe to give the Lámhs a 1-08-0-07 lead.
Conal Shannon responded with his fourth free of the half and he would later add a fifth in reply to Conor Murray slinging over an advanced mark from a fine Declan Smyth pass.
Murray would grab the insurance score on the hour mark after substitute Niall McGarry stopped a Rossa surge and found Eoin McKeown and he flighted a perfect pass to Murray- who claimed the mark and converted.
Time was against the hosts and a late Patrick Moyes point proved in vein as Lámh Dhearg held out for a hard fought win on the Shaws Road.
Rossa: M McEnhill, S McDonald, P Moyes (0-01), N Crossan, R Grant, R Gowdy, F McDonald, C Shannon (0-06, 0-05f), O McVicker (0-01), S Flynn, D Rogan, R Murray, J Augey (0-01), C O’Neill, C Fleming (0-01f). Subs: E Flavin for J Augey (54), C Canavan for C O’Neill (54).
Lámh Dhearg: G Smyth, R Murray, A McAufield, F Mervyn, D Smith (0-01), B Rice (0-02), D Martin, C Boyd, M Lowe (1-00), R Diamond, E McKeown (0-03), D Murray, T McCrudden, C Murray (0-04, 0-01f, 0-02m), A Murray. Subs: S McManus for R Diamond (30), N McGarry for A Murray (44), P Fitzsimons for C Boyd (44).
Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)
