Antrim U21 Hurling Championship quarter-final
O’Donovan Rossa 1-15 Naomh Éanna 2-10
Pics by Kevin Herron
Rossa came out top in this excellent U21A Hurling Championship quarter-final at Shaw’s Road on Monday night. The home side were pushed all the way by a gritty St. Enda’s however and their cause wasn’t helped when they had a player sent off, midway through the second half.
It came just after Diarmaid Rogan saw his penalty crash off an upright and just seconds later, the hosts were dealt a double blow when they had a man sent off. However they managed to dig in and see themselves home and set up a semi-final meeting with Dunloy in seven days time.
The hosts had enjoyed much the better start with Corey Walsh getting through for the opening score after two minutes and this was a lead Rossa would hold for the remainder of the game.
Naomh Éanna wasted a couple of early opportunities but it was Rossa who struck a vital blow when Eoin Trainor finished to the net at the second time of asking after his initial effort had been saved by Oisin O’Conghaile in the visitors goals.
Rogan then converted a 65 and a free before the visitors finally registered through Luke O’Connor in the 12th minute but Trainor and Short replied for the Shaw’s Road men to put them in a strong position midway through the opening half.
St. Enda’s rallied however with O’Connor pointing when a goal looked on and Malachi McGibbon added another from distance.
Corey Walsh replied for the home side, but the momentum was with Naomh Éanna and they were right back in it in the 20th minute as McGibbon dropped a free from his own half into the danger area and the sliotar broke out to Kane who pulled first time to the far corner of the net.
Rogan converted another free in response but Naomh Éanna struck for a second goal in the 25th minute as O’Connor placed Ciaran McAlister and he had space to gather and fire home.
Trainor and O’Connor would exchange points in the lead up to half time and at the break it was Rossa who led 1-10 to 2-4 but at this stage it still looked there for the taking by both sides.
O’Connor cut the gap back to two within seconds of the restart, but Rossa replied with two from Keevan Grieve to move four ahead.
St. Enda’s were starting to gain in confidence as McGibbon fired over a long range free and O’Connor sent over his fifth from play and it was back to two again before Rossa were awarded a penalty after substitute Daire Morgan was bundled over.
Rogan’s well struck effort rebounded of an upright and in the follow up tempers boiled over and Grieve was immediately shown a red before normal service was resumed.
Things appeared to have swung in the direction of the Hightown side as Luke O’Connor’s 65 had the gap down to one, but crucially, Naomh Éanna couldn’t get on terms as Corey Walsh hit back with his third of the evening.
McGibbon from distance for the visitors and Rogan from a close range free exchanged further points as the intensity of the game rose with both teams giving it absolutely everything with the game still very much in the melting pot.
The Rossa defence was coming under increasing pressure but were well up to the task with Conor Boyle anchoring them superbly.
St. Enda’s pressed again and a McGibbon free as the game entered added time left the minimum in it again, but Rossa broke clear and won a free that Rogan tapped over to seal their passage into the last four.
The night’s other quarter-final saw Dunloy edge Ballycastle by 2-16 to 2-15.
Rossa: D Boylan; B Crawford, C Boyle, B Hegarty; C Shortt, R May, D Cunningham; D Rogan (0-5, 4f, 1 65), M McKiernan; K Grieve (0-2), P Short (0-1), L McEnhill; C Walsh (0-3), E Trainor (1-3), N May.
Sub: D Morgan for D Cunningham (42).
Naomh Éanna: O O’Conghaile; M McAlister, R Eager, Conor McAlister; Ciaran McAlister (1-0), M McGibbon (0-4, 2f), E Duffy; O O’Cuinn, C O’Connor; M O’Gorman, E Logue, L O’Connor (0-6, 1 65); R Bradley, F Kane (1-0), D O’Kane.
Subs: D Mackin for E Logue (HT), C McGinley for E Duffy (51), A Ashe for D O’Kane (56).
Referee: John O’Connor (Ballygalget)
for more of Kevin Herron’s photos from the game click on the link below
https://myalbum.com/album/4WHsxvPjVi69FU/?invite=addc2de9-595f-4628-893b-270f67875749