ACFL Division 1
O’Donovan Rossa 3-15 Ahoghill 0-17
Two second half goals from Diarmaid Rogan and another from Conor O’Neill swung this division 1 game firmly in favour of O’Donovan Rossa when they overcame the challenge of St. Mary’s Ahoghill on the Shaw’s Road on Sunday.
The first arrived 19 minutes into the new half at a time when a Ronan Graham point had just brought the visitors back on level terms before James O’Connell edged them ahead and the game seemed to be swinging Ahoghill’s way.
Rogan’s goal gave Rossa back the lead but the game was still finally balanced with only minutes remaining when Conor O’Neill and Rogan again struck with late majors to secure a first win of the season for the Rossa.
The opening half was evenly balanced with Rossa taking a narrow 0-8 to 0-7 lead into the break with Conal McDonald leading the way with 0-4 and Eoghan McMeanman 0-2 and Michael McEnhill on target.
St. Mary’s scores came from James O’Connell 0-2, Noel Crossey 0-2, Neil O’Connell and Patrick Graham and at the half way stage there was little to separate the protagonists.
It remained nip and tuck for most of the second half with James O’Connell striking four points and Neil O’Connell, Ronan Graham and Patrick Graham bring Ahoghill’s total to 0-17 by the 29th minute.
Rossa continued to rack up points of their own however with Conal McDonald bringing his total for the evening to 0-8 and Stephen Beatty scoring three before that late goal blitz that ended the St. Mary’s challenge.
Rossa: 1 Niall Crossan, 2 Ciaran Orchin, 3 Gavin McGrath, 4 Adam Devlin, 5 Tiarnan Murphy, 6 Patrick Moyes, 7 Fiachra McDonnell, 8 Stephen Beatty, 10 Diarmaid Rogan, 11 Conal McDonald, 12 Michael McEnhill, 13 Darren Grego, 14 Eoghan McMeanman, 15 James Aughey, 16 Dairte Morgan. 25 Conor O’Neill
St. Mary’s Ahoghill: 1 Aiden Graham, 2 Harry O’Donnell, 3 Patrick Dougan, , 4 Seamus McKeever, 5 Fionnbar O’Neill, 6 Diarmuid Graham, 7 James Magee, 8 Patrick Graham, 9 Ronan Graham, 10 James O’Connell, 11 Noel Crossey, 12 Dan O’Neill, 13 Colla McDonnell, 14 Neil O’Connell, 15 Conor Crossey