Northern Switchgear Senior Football Championship – Semi Final

Cargin 1-16 Rossa 2-15

Sunday 4 October

Report by Brendan McTaggart

In a championship season that has seen more shocks than any time in living memory, Rossa produced one more and one to top them all.  The Jeremiah’s have booked their place in the senior county football final for the first time in 35 years after defeating Cargin by two points at Corrigan Park.

Coming into this game as huge underdogs, that uphill battle looked like Rossa were starring up at Mount Everest when James Laverty scored Cargin’s goal just before half time to give the Erin’s Own men a 12 point lead.  No one could have foreseen what was to transpire, even the most ardent Rossa supporter.

A late, first half blitz and a second half played on their terms, Rossa produced when their backs were to the wall against a Cargin side that stuttered when within reach of the finish line.

Goals in either half from Dominic McEnhill and Thomas Morgan, the latter with effectively the match winning score while McEnhill helped himself to 1-5 in another brilliant performance.

Like their quarter final win against Portglenone, Eoghan McMenamin was the heartbeat of this Rossa side.  He led from the front and Cargin just couldn’t get to grips with his industry around the middle of the park and it was the middle of the park where the game changed.

Cargin had dominated there for the opening 20 or so minutes.  But once Rossa got a footing, they caused panic in the Cargin defence with Liam and Dominic McEnhill the chief beneficiaries.

The Toome men started this one with that same, controlled assurance we have come so used to seeing over the years and no one could have argued with their 12 point lead.  Captain James Laverty in particular shinning bright for Cargin while Tom Shivers, Jack O’ Neill and Michael McCann were all prominent.

The elements had a say in the game and with a five point lead at the interval, Cargin would have been content.  Rossa had other ideas and were clinical when it mattered going down the stretch.

Playing with the wind, Cargin held a three points to one lead after the opening 10 minutes.  Michael McCann and Tom Shivers dissecting the posts either side of a John McNabb ’45 while Dominic McEnhill converted a free after a foul on Corey Walsh.

Conhuir Johnston and Dominic McEnhill (free) swapped scored before Conhuir Johnston scored the opening two point score of the game.  He did have an advantage but to take the shot on with the outside of his boot and convert showed the confidence he plays with these days.

Laverty fired over a two pointer after Michael McCann worked the ball outside the arc and when Ciaran Bradley raised a white flag moments later, it put seven between the sides with six minutes of the opening 30 to play.

Cargin were beginning to go through the gears and when Pat Shivers and Laverty split the uprights in quick succession in the 29^th minute, it looked like the writing was on the wall for Rossa.

Their goal came with the next attack when Conhuir Johnston played a long ball in to Laverty who had stayed inside after scoring the point.  With Patrick Moyes slip giving Laverty a clean run on goal, he made no mistake.

That goal seemed to spring Rossa into life.  Gerard Walsh landed a huge two pointer before Colin Fleming converted a free from outside the arc to reduce the Cargin lead to eight in the third minute of injury time.

Rossa’s opening goal came with the last action of the first half.  Gerard Walsh sent a long, high ball into the Cargin full back line where Liam McEnhill rose highest to claim.  He laid the ball to his couisn Dominic and he made no mistake with an expert finish.

With a five point lead at half time, 1-11 to 1-6, Cargin where in a familiar position.  It was similar to their quarter final against Creggan but this time their opposition were brilliantly clinical.

A two pointer from Liam McEnhill and a white flag from Dominic McEnhill got Rossa to within two points after just four minutes of the second half.

Tom Shivers opened the Cargin scoring for the half in the 35^th but Dominic McEnhill replied moments later with a lovely score, hooking the ball over his shoulder while moving away from goal.

Michael McCann raised white flags either side of scores from Eoghan McMenamin and Dominic McEnhill as the game went into the final quarter.

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Liam McEnhill pointed to leave the minimum between the sides before Fleming converted a long range free to raise the orange flag and give Rossa the lead for the first time in the game with nine minutes remaining.

Cargin’s response was stereotypical of this side.  Composed, calm and clinical with Pat Shivers and Conhuir Johnston (free) restoring their lead by the 55^th minute.

The game was evenly poised and Cargin looked like they could potentially use their vast experience to get through this test but Rossa struck their second major in the 57^th minute to effectively swing the game dramatically in their favour.  McMenamin making the break from midfield before finding Morgan who had stole in behind an advancing defender.  Morgan bore down on goal and could have been forgiven if he fisted the ball over the bar but he finished superbly to give the Jeremiah’s a two point lead.

Cargin pushed and looked for ways to get back into the game.  They had chances but the Rossa defence were superb in those closing stages and deserving of their victory.

The fairytale runs on for the Jeremiah’s and the season of the underdogs continues.  They will go to the decider against St Brigid’s in two weeks’ time as underdogs yet again, you have a feeling that Sean Fleming and his team would have it no other way at this stage.

TEAMS

Cargin Starting XV: John McNabb; Kevin O’Boyle, Kevin McShane, Fiontan Hardy; Conan Johnston, James Laverty, Jack O’Neill; Gerard McCann, Pat Shivers; Ciaran Bradley, Conhuir Johnston, Tom Shivers; Paul McCann, Michael McCann, Jamie Gribbin

Scorers: J Laverty 1-3 (1tp); C Johnston 0-4 (1tp, 1f); M McCann 0-3; T Shivers 0-2; P Shivers 0-2; C Bradley 0-1; J McNabb 0-1 (1’45)

Rossa Starting XV: Mick Byrne; Gavin McGrath, Gerard Walsh, Fiachra McDonald; Niall Crossan, Patrick Moyes, Michael McEnhill; Liam McEnhill, Eoghan McMenamin; Corey Walsh, Dominic McEnhill, Diarmuid Rogan; Stephen Beattie, Colin Fleming, Thomas Morgan

Scorers: D McEnhill 1-5 (2f); C Fleming 0-4 (2tpf); L McEnhill 0-3 (1tp); T Morgan 1-00; G Walsh 0-2 (1tp); E McMenamin 0-1

Referee: Mark O’Neill (Armoy)

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