ACFL Division 1
Rossa 0-18 St. Paul’s 2-7
Rossa produced a fantastic second half display to record their second football league win of the season against a gallant hard working St Paul’s team.
With a strong wind at their backs St Paul’s were full value for their half time lead, going in at the break 2-3 to 0-3 in front.
St Paul’s made the early running and the Rossa defence had difficulty keeping tags on their fast moving forward line where Caoimhin Duffy and Lorcan Phillips were impressive. But it was their wing half back Niall McKenna who finished off an excellent move for a goal after taking a great pass from Conal Duffy.
Then after 15minutes Caoimhin produced the highlight of the game when he scored a long range goal leaving Mick Byrne stranded after a kick-out. St Paul’s extended their lead to eight points after a Lorcan Phillips point and things were looking bleak for the home side. Rossa steadied the ship late in the half when Colm Fleming and Diarmuid Rogan slotted over points.
Rossa started the second half in great form. They got to grips with the midfield area and with Stephen Beatty and the excellent Patrick Moyes driving them forward they responded with a string of points from Eoghan McMenamin, Ruari McDonagh, Tommy Morgan, Colm Fleming, Stepthen Beatty and Dominic McEnhill. Following a two pointer from 55meters from Mick Byrne Rossa went into the lead which they never relinquished. Rossa, with the introduction of every sub, grew stronger and ultimately it was their power off the bench that ensured victory for the home side.
St Paul’s worked hard throughout the sixty minutes and Mark Munce, James Farrell, Niall McKenna and Caoimhin Duffy can be proud of their efforts.
Rossa: M Byrne 0-3 (1xTPf, 0-1f), M McKernan, P Moyes, J McGurk, P Byrne, S Beatty 0-4, N Crossan, O McVicker, D Morgan, C Walsh, E McMenamin 0-1, D Rogan 0-1, C Fleming 0-3 (0-1f), E Fleming, R McDonagh 0-2
Subs: D McEnhill 0-1f, C McDonnell 0-1, T Morgan 0-2, Rory Grant, F McDonald
St Paul’s: L Higgins, A Kavanagh, E McGreevy, M Duffy, C McCann, M Munce, N McKenna 1-0; J Farrell 0-1, C Hughes, C Burke, C Duffy 1-5 (0-5f), L Phillips 0-1, S Burns, P Crawford, C Duffy
Subs: C Killyleagh, O Stevenson, C Finnegan, L Murphy
Referee: Colm McDonald
