O’Neills ACFL Division 1
St Gall’s 1-18 O’Donovan Rossa 0-8
St. Gall’s proved too good for Rossa in this opening round ACFL Division 1 fixture thanks to a dominant second half display at Milltown Row on Saturday.
There wasn’t a lot between the sides in an evenly balanced opening half but St. Gall’s pulled away after the break with Barra McCaffrey and Daniel Quinn in top scoring form for the home side.
McCaffrey and Quinn kicked seven points apiece for Terry O’Neill’s side which led by two at the break but completely took over for the remainder as they got their year off to an excellent start.
Of course, a lot of the pre-match debate surrounded the new rules which most were getting to view in a club environment for the first time.
Played under the new rules, decisions came in for some debate but for the best part of the game referee got it right and the rules were adhered to in the right spirit and we were entertained to some fine passages of football.
It was St. Gall’s who were first on the score board and long ball contributed to the opening score as Niall O’Neill got up to fetch and thumped over.
Corey Walsh hit back for Rossa as the game was played at a good pace with plenty of attacking intent, but without chances going a begging early on.
Conor Stinton restored the home side’s lead as Daniel Quinn kicked a free after nine minutes with Rossa’s Darren Grego sin-binned for a black card, while Barra McCaffrey added another free from the opposite side.
The visitors were coing well with the 14 men as Conall McDonald kicked the first two pointer of the evening and he followed from another two frees to help his side into the lead as Grego returned to the action.
St Gall’s replied through Quinn who t kicked a two-point free of his own, but McDonald responded from a free and play – the first a punishment for St Gall’s having just two players in the opposite half – but the hosts took a 0-9 to 0-7 lead into the half from a McCaffrey (free) and a late Michael Hopkins point
It was St. Gall’s who took control as the second half got under way. And they opened their account in a matter of seconds with McCaffrey on target and he added another two – one a free – before he was denied a goal by Noall Crossan and from Daniel Quinn’s rebound, Gavin McGrath did well to get back and clear his line.
St Gall’s were now controlling matters around the middle and just appeared to be quicker and sharper to the breaks as they remained on the front foot as Quinn kicked three of his own – two frees – with Rossa again down to 14 from the 40th minute as Adam Devlin saw black for a pull down.
Callum Walsh added a point before St Gall’s got the goal they had been threatening as Ruairi Wilson got up field and blasted past Niall Crossan with seven minutes remaining.
Rossa finally opened their second half account when Corey Walsh sending over, but it was their first and last as the impressive McCaffrey had the final say at the other end to cap an impressive win for St Gall’s.
St. Gall’s: N McCurdy; J McCaffrey, G Mac Adaimh, T Keenan; R Wilson (1-0), C McGirr, C McCabe; C Stinton (0-1), C Burke; M Hopkins, D Quinn (0-7, 3f, 1x2pf), D Mac Liam; B McCaffrey (0-7, 3f), N O’Neill (0-1), C Walsh (0-1).
Subs: A McDonagh for C Stinton (47), P Murray for N O’Neill (49), C Doherty for D Mac Liam (51), C Murray for M Hopkins (55), E McCurdy for C Burke (57).
Rossa: N Crossan; F McDonald, G McGrath, C Orchin; D Grego, P Moyes, A Devlin; M McEnhill, E McMenamin; J Morris, C McDonald (0-6, 3f, 1x2pf), S Beatty; R McDonagh, D Rogan, C Walsh (0-2).
Subs: C O’Neill for D Grego (26), L McEnhill for J Morris (46), J Aughey for R McDonagh (46), M McKiernan for F McDonald (53), L Carr for N Crossan (58).
Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)
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