(Featured Image) Lorcan Phillips fires over a St. Paul’s point
ACFL Division 1
St. Paul’s 0-12 Rossa 0-7
St. Paul’s took another step in the right direction as they continue to fight to maintain their hard earned division 1 status while inflicting more headache on neighbours, Rossa who find themselves stranded at the bottom of the table.
Niall McStravick gave St. Paul’s an early lead following a good save by Niall Crossan in the Rossa goals in the 4th minute NS Conal Duffy and Conor Hughes moved the host team three ahead by the 13th minute.
Visitors Rossa were struggling to get their game together but Thomas Morgan finally got them on the score card with a point in the 14th minute and when Eoghan McMenamin followed with another with 20 minutes gone they seemed to be gaining some momentum.
Rossa flattered to deceive however and it was their neighbours who finished the half on top as Conal Duffy and Ciaran Duffy from a free moved them 0-5 to 0-2 ahead in a low scoring first half.
That lead might well have been greater but St. Paul’s were guilty of some wayward shooting in a half where they were mostly in control.
Last year’s promoted side St. Paul’s have been striving manfully this season and this was expected to be another stiff test for them following Rossa’s win over Aldergrove last Wednesday night but in truth the ‘Hoops’ always looked in control.
Niall McStravick extended their lead with a point, 30 seconds into the second half and Lorcan Phillips hit a great 2 pointer to move them 0-8 to 0-2 ahead after 7 minutes as Rossa struggled to put something meaningful together.
Eoghan McMenamin finally got them of the mark after the hosts were penalised for a breach of the 3-man-back rule and Conal McDonald fired over from distance to raise an orange flag and suddenly the deficit had been cut to a manageable three.
It would be as close as they got however with Ciaran Duffy from a free and Pearse magee with a good point from play increased the St. Paul’s lead to five once more by the 25th minute.
Another 2 pointer from the impressive McDonald free and another from Thomas Morgan from close range had it down to four with three minutes remaining but the final score of the game fell to substitute Shea Burns to leave the hosts victors by five points.
With three round of games remaining, division 1 has two separate competitions emerging with the bottom six fighting for the points that would ensure their survival though St. Paul’s and Aghagallon look reasonably safe.
Both have 7 points but they are followed by Ahoghill, Tir na nOg and St. John’s on 6 while Rossa look in trouble on 4.
Nothing has been decided yet and we can look forward to some hard fought encounters in the coming weeks with Ahoghill v Dunloy, Dunloy v Rossa and St. John’s v St. Paul’s on the final day of the league campaign ones to look out for
St. Paul’s: 1 Jack McAufield, 2 Diarmuid O’Sullivan, 3 Ewan McGreevey, 4 Ciaran McAlea, 5 Miceal Duffy, 6 Marc Munce, 7 Lorcan Phillips, 8 James Farrell, 9 Conor Hughes, 10 Niall McStravick, 11 Conall Duffy, 12 Niall Ward, 13 Caoimhin Duffy, 14 Patrick Crawford, 15 Ciaran Rogers-Duffy, Pearse Magee, Shea Burns
Rossa: 1 Niall Crossan, 2 Setanta McDonnell, 3 Oisin McVicker, 4 Fiachra McDonnell, 5 Rory Grant, 6 Conal McDonald, 7 Richard Gowdy, 8 Michael McEnhill, 9 Gerard Walsh, 10 Corey Walsh, 12 Conor O’Neill, 13 Thomas Morgan, 14 Eoin Fleming, 15 Eoghan McMenamin, 16 Daire Morgan
Referee: Karol Doherty
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