Featured Image: Corey Walsh, who had an outstanding game for Rossa in their win over sarsfields
U21B Football Championship semi-final
Rossa 0-13 Sarsfields 0-9
Only a fence separates these neighbouring clubs and there wasn’t all that much between them in this U21B Football Championship semi-final on the Shaw’s Road but hosts, Rossa always held the upper hand in a competitive encounter on Sunday afternoon.
It was O’Donovan Rossa who made the brighter start against Sarsfield’s in this U21B semi-final at Rossa Park with Diarmaid Rogan pointing them ahead in the 3d minute and James Aughey making it 2-0 as he punished a breech by the opposition.
Corey Walsh struck an excellent point to put Rossa 0-3 to 0-0 up after 5 minutes as they enjoyed the aid of a crisp breeze before Jack McLaughlin finally got the visitors off the mark with a good point after a measured build up.
Two minutes later Corey Walsh set up Diarmaid Rogan to restore Rossa’s three point advantage and James Aughey and Rogan again added further points to move their side 0-6 to 0-1 ahead at the end of the opening quarter.
The home side were playing with a lot of confidence as keeper, Ruairi McDonagh came forward to send a 40 meter free between the uprights but Sarsfields served notice that they were still there when Daniel Smyth finished a fine move with a point in the 25th minute.
This score seemed to give the men from the Bear Pit some encouragement and Declan Barr steered a fine left footed effort just inside the posts to leave his side trailing by five at the break but with the wind to favour them in the second half.
Sarsfields needed a good start to the second half if they were to close the gap on their neighbours but instead it was Rossa who began the half as they did the first with Liam McEnhill collecting a Ruairi McDonagh free that dropped short to fire over.
The impressive Diarmaid Rogan added another to move the home side 0-10 to 0-3 in front by the 6th minute before a well contained, Brian Healey pointed a 10th minute free to get his side up and running.
The men in green were now enjoying a lot more possession but were having difficulty breaking down a well organised Rossa defence where Setanta McDonald, Conall Short and Joseph Mulholland were outstanding.
The scores dried up at either end for a time but Rossa were handed the opportunity to put the game out of sight when they were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute but Sean Clarke got down to save Corey Walsh’s spot kick.
A well struck 2 point free by Brian Healey with five minutes of normal time remaining to close the gap to four should have breathed new life into the ‘Paddies’ but it failed to inspire his side.
Instead it was Diarmaid Rogan who replied from a similar effort at the other end to restore his side’s six point advantage but Sarsfields did battle to the end with some success.
Jake Ward and Healey with another 2 pointer had it back to three as the game edged into time added on but that would be as good as it got with Diarmaid Rogan converting a late free to see Rossa safely over the line.
Rossa will now meet Gort na Mona, who defeated Tir na nOg in the other semi-final and it promises to be an exciting decider with both A and B Championships set to go to the city this year.
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