Featured Image: Christopher Robb who gave a fine exhibition of free taking as Rossa inflicted a first defeast of the season on All Saints
ACHL Division 4
All Saints 0-11 Rossa 2nd’s 0-14
The deadly accuracy of Christopher Robb proved the difference as Rossa 2nd’s inflicted a first defeat of the season on All Saints, Ballymena at Slemish Park on Sunday.
Robb was imperious in his shooting and contributed 0-6 of his side’s total while their opponents, All Saints were extremely wasteful, hitting more than a dozen wides over the hour.
The game itself was hard but fair throughout as Conall Short, Christopher Robb, Ben McAuley and Robb again fired Rossa into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after12 minutes.
By this stage Damian Gillan had hit three wides for the Ballymena side, all from distance and each drifting just wide of the posts before Paddy Doherty finally got them off the mark with a point in the 15th minute.
Chris Robb struck his third of the afternoon in reply after the ball had been moved forward for dissent with Damian Gillan finally opening his personal account as he sent over a 25 meter free to leave three between the sides.
Once again it was Chris Robb who restored the visitors four point advantage from another free with Paddy Doherty hitting a great point from distance at the other end to keep the home side in touch.
Another conversion from the hard working Damian Gillan left just two in it with 8 minutes remaining to the break but again Rossa sharp shooter Robb responded with two from the placed ball.
Paddy Doherty hit the final score of the half from a long range free for All Saints to leave them trailing by three at the break and they would surely have reflected on those first half wides as they headed to the dressing room.
Cormac Lemon replaced Cormac Magill in the All Saints side as the sides emerged for the second half while Jude Collins came into the Rossa side for Ben McAuley as the sides exchanging early points.
Both sides were fiercely contesting every ball and for a spell All Saints found their range as Niall Savage, Damian Gillan and Paddy Doherty with two excellent efforts brought the sides level by the 8th minute and the momentum appeared to have swung in favour of the home side.
It was Robb who would restore the visitors lead again but the hosts were now playing with a bit more belief as Jack Magill made an excellent catch before firing over and Vinny Esler followed with another to edge them in front for the first time in the contest.
Rossa regrouped however and showed great composure going down the home straight with Conall Short, Aidan Murphy, Mattie McKernan and Conor Rocks hitting unanswered points to see them home.
All Saints threw everything at their opponents during the closing stages but the Rossa defence stood firm with Paddy Moyes, Fiachra McDonnell and Oisin McVicker turning everything that came their way.
This was All Saints first defeat of the season and they lacked nothing in effort on this occasion but poor shooting proved their downfall in the end. Gary Miskella was superb in the sweeper role while Paddy Doherty, Damian Gillan and Niall Savage were their best players on the day.
All Saints: 1 Ronan McAllister, 2 Kevin Brady, 3 Dwayne McKee, 4 Fionn Connon, 5 Daniel Gray, 20 Gary Miskella, 7 Niall Savage, 8 Luke Mulholland, 9 Vincent Esler, 10 Jack Magill, 11 Cormac Magill, 12 Michael Connolly, 13 Harry Connon, 23 Paddy Doherty. 15 Damian Gillan, 14 Cormac Lemon
Rossa: Dara Boylan, 2 Fiachra McDonald, 3 Padraig Moyes, 4 Setanta McDonnell, 5 Andrew McLean, 6 Oisin McVicker, 7 Ben McCauley, 8 Conall Short, 9 Mattie McKernan, 10 Michael Murray, 11 Jim Reynolds, 12 Aidan Murphy, 13 Christopher Robb, 14 Conor Rocks, 15 David Quinn, 18 Jude Collins, 19 Ryan Mooney
Referee: Brendan Toland (Lamh Dhearg)
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