Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC Group 1
Rossa 5-13-3-14 Con Magees
Kevin Herron reports from Pairc Rossa
BRACES from Thomas Morgan and Diarmaid Rogan saw Rossa come out on the right side of an eight goal thriller as they defeated Con Magees 5-13-3-14 at Paric Rossa on Sunday afternoon.
Visitors Con Magees came into the clash with a point from their group opener with Tir na Nog and then victory on the Shaws Road would ensure they had one foot in the last eight at the expense of the hosts, who were beaten by County Champions Dunloy in their opener a fortnight ago.
Con Magees were efficient in the early stages and had the first four scores in a dominant 11-minute spell
Niall Hynds fisted over the opener, Eamon Ward swung a shot over, CollaWard dropped an effort over the bar and Ryan McQuillan converted a free.
It took Rossa 13-minutes to open their account, but the deficit was halved through a two-pointed Dominic McEnhill free.
A second score followed through a fortune Eoghan McMenamin shot that took a bounce and lifted it over the bar.
However, the opening goal arrived at the other end and Con Magee’s re-established their four-point advantage.
Jude Scullion’s kick-out was claimed by Niall Hynds, he carried the ball forward and slipped a pass into the path of Ryan McQuillan to fire low past Mick Byrne and make it 1-4 to 0-3.
In response Thomas Morgan drove through a few challenges and popped over, and Eoghan McMenamin doubled his account from Corey Walsh’s lay-off.
The Jeremiah’s forged ahead for the first time in the 21st minute. Diarmaid Rogan’s high shot hung and was palmed down by Corey Walsh and his break fell to Thomas Morgan to sweep a low shot to the corner of the net.
Niall Higgins restored parity- blasting over, though Stephen Beatty split the posts and landed his first of the afternoon.
Con Magee’s edged ahead again before the break with Rian Lennon kicking a two-pointed shot from play.
They wouldn’t see out the half on the front foot as Rossa stormed into a commanding leadat the midway point.
As the game hit the half hour mark Rossa found their second goal of the half. Diarmaid Rogan’s popped pass found Dominic McEnhill and his shot clipped the far post and found the net to make it 2-6-1-7.
Stephen Beatty landed a fine score and just before the half time whistle the hosts scored their third goal.
McEnhill played his part in slipping a pass to Thomas Morgan and he laid off to Diarmaid Rogan to drive a shot in at the near post and give his side a 3-7-1-7 lead at the halfway point in proceedings.
Con Magee’s had halved the deficit within 60-seconds of the restart as Colla Ward lashed a low effort past Mick Byrne.
A further point followed by Cormac McKeown, but their momentum was brief as Rossa had goal number four in the 35th minute.
Thomas Morgan played a one-two with Eoghan McMenamin and shot into the top corner to double his goal tally for the afternoon, making it 4-7-2-8.
A converted Colm Fleming free was followed by Morgan’s second point, with Niall Hynds conjuring his third point of the game under extreme pressure.
Morgan added to his personal tally with another point, though successive points in reply from Cathal Hynds and substitute Shea O’Brien kept the visitors in touch with a quarter of an hour remaining.
A decisive blow was dealt to Con Magee’s in the 49th minute as Rossa secured their fifth of the day.
Dominic McEnhill slipped a pass through to Diarmaid Rogan, Rogan ran onto the pass and carried forward before slotting past Scullion to make it 5-10-2-11.
A converted Colm Fleming free and a point from Eoghan McMenamin ensured double digits was the margin.
In response, Shea O’Brien hit a further two scores between a Colla Ward point, though it was goals that Con Magees needed if they were about to stage a late fightback.
A Dominic McEnhill point finished his sides scoring for the day, and Colla Ward palmed home from O’Brien’s chipped pass across the face of goal, but it was little more than scant consolation as Rossa ran out 5-13-3-14 winners to jump into second place in the table.
The Shaws Road side have their destiny in their own hands, taking on Tir na Nog in two weeks time, while Con Magee’s will require victory over Dunloy and need to hope for a favour from Tir na Nog if they are to keep their chances of progression alive.
ROSSA: M Byrne, G McGrath, P Moyes, F McDonald. S Beatty (0-2), N Crossan, M McEnhill, L McEnhill, G Walsh, E McMenamin (0-3), D McEnhill (1-3, 1×0-2ptf), D Rogan (2-0), C Walsh. C Fleming (0-2f), T Morgan (2-3). SUBS: P Byrne for F McDonald (57), J Morris for C Fleming (60).
CON MAGEES: J Scullion, D McAuley, S Higgins, C Carey, C Hynds (0-1), N Swann, R Lennon (1×0-2pt), C Higgins, D Higgins, E Ward (0-1), C Ward (2-2), N Hynds (0-3), H Fyfe, R McQullian (1-1f), C McKeown (0-1). SUBS: S O’Brien (0-3) for H Fyfe (13), C McQuillan for C Carey (HT), E Hynds for C McKeown (56).
REFEREE: Paddy Tumelty (LÁMH DHEARG)
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