05 October 2011
Rossa V Glenavy
Rossa 3.12 St Josephs Glenavy 3.9
On Saturday past Rossa clinched the U16 double in Casement Park against a very strong St Josephs Glenavy side. Played in terrible conditions it was a credit to both teams that the standard of football was so high and played in such a sporting manner.
Glenavy got off to a flyer and lead by 1.2 to 0.1 after five minutes. Much of this was down to one of their key players James Gallagher who was controlling the midfield area. Rossa then got back into the game when Deaglan Murphy was adjudged to have been fouled inside the box and Sean Pat Donnelly cooley slotted home the penalty.
If Rossa thought they were on easy street they couldn’t have been more wrong, Glenavy went straight down field and scored a great goal. Then stepped up James Connolly who scored one of the best goals seen in Casement for a long time. A solo run up field by Callum McVeigh followed by a punt into the danger area was gathered by James and while running one way he drove the ball back across the keeper into the top corner of the net giving the keeper no chance.
Points then followed from Rossa’s Gareth George and Sean Pat Donnelly to give the Rossa a two point lead going in at half time.
The second half started brightly for Rossa with a points from James Connolly and a free from Sean Pat Donnelly. After Glenavy reduced the lead to three points Callum McVeigh scored a goal after good work from Chris Boyle. Rossa now led by six however after an exchange of points Glenavy scored a goal after a rebound of the crossbar and from the resulting kick out Glenavy piled forward and only for a great save from the Rossa keeper Seaghan Shannon the sides could have been level.
Points then followed by Padraig McGreevey and James Connolly who gave a man of the match performance as he scored 1.5 from play. Rossa held on to win by four to secure the double.
Rossa now go onto The Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Football Championship this Sunday when they play the Fermanagh champions in Dromore Co.Tyrone.
Rossa: Seaghan Shannon, Stephen Gaskin, Domhnall Moran, Niall Devlin, Richie Gowdy, Nathan Early, Aidan Orchin, Padraig McGreevey, Sean Smylie, Sean Pat Donnelly, Callum McVeigh, Chris Boyle, James Connolly, Gareth George, Deaglan Murphy.
Chris McComish for Domhnall Moran, Conal Boomer for Deaglan Murphy, Dara Rocks for James Connolly, Mairtin Bell for Stephen Gaskin.
