13 November 2009
Rossa survived a second-half comeback by reigning champions Dunloy to win the Under 21 hurling championship at Casement Park on Friday evening.
During the first half the Belfast boys were in complete control and boosted by goals from Christopher McGuinness in the thirteenth minute and Liam McAuley from a 25th minute penalty, they led by 2-4 to 0-3 at half-time.
When the teams returned for the second-half most of the fans must have felt that Rossa’s winning margin was the only thing in doubt, but Dunloy staged a great fightback and a goal from a Paddy Doherty penalty brought them back into the game.
Two minutes later by a brilliant individual goal from corner-forward Oran Quinn, who soloed sixty yards before kicking the ball high into the Rossa net, brought the Cuchullains level, and when Doherty pointed them in front from a free in the forty-eighth minute the impossible appeared to be happening.
Rossa, who had hurled with confidence and fluency in the opening half, were at sixes and sevens, but they began to win a bit of possession around the middle of the park and slowly they edged their way back.
There was relief among the Rossa supporters when Conor Rocks hit his team’s first score in twenty-eight minutes play with a well taken point from fifty metres to bring them back on level terms.
Right-half forward Johnny Neeson put them back in front with four minutes left for play with a neat point on the run and team captain Liam McAuley sealed the win with two pointed frees in the twenty-ninth and thirtieth minutes to clinch victory and add the Under 21 title to the minor crown they won earlier in the season.
ROSSA – Danny Murray, Gavin Kennedy, Stephen Shannon, John Kerr, Conor Murray, Johnny McGuinness, Stephen Beattie, Jim Reynolds, Conor Rocks, Matt Devlin Michael Armstrong, Johnny Neeson, Colm Fleming, Liam McAuley, Christopher McGuinness.
DUNLOY – Gabriel McTaggart, Ferghal McClements, Conor McKinley, Peter McKeague, Chris Cairns, Eoin Scott, Kevin McKeague, Ryan McElrean, Kevin Molloy, Ryan Richmond, Paddy Doherty, Conor McTaggart, Oran Quinn, Sean Doherty, Chris Brogan.
Referee – Liam McAuley (Glenravel).
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