02 November 2011
GOALS STEER ROSSA TO SEMIS
Rossa (Antrim) 3.9 Glen (Derry) 1 .13
A superb second half performance from Rossa saw the Antrim champions overturn a five point half time deficit to claim a place in the semi-final of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Football Championship.
Glen took a 1.5 to 00 lead after 15 minutes courtesy of some great scores from Convery and Gunning who tormented the Rossa defence all day. Rossa got a goal from Chris McComish and quickly tagged on three points. However Glen added three quick points before half time to give them a five point lead going into the break.
Rossa now playing with the wind at their back found themselves a further two points adrift after two quick scores from O’Hara and Convery. Donnelly and Smylie quickly replied with two points which was then followed by a Murphy goal. Glen then upped their game and stretched their lead to four.
This was to be Glen’s last score of the game and Rossa.s fitness and hunger enabled them to claw back this lead. Points from Connolly and a goal from Smylie put Rossa into the lead with five minutes remaining for the first time. Murphy then stretched Rossa’s lead to two with time almost up. Glen got a free which was lobbed into the box where Convery caught it turned and shot. However the Rossa goal keeper Domhnall Moran produced a first class save and as he caught it the referee blew his final whistle to give Rossa a deserved victory in what was a highly entertaining juvenile encounter.
Credit must go to the two sets of players who gave everything and who played the game in a sporting manner. One of the Dromore officials commented that this game was the best juvenile football game he had ever witnessed in the Paul McGirr tournament. The result was in doubt right up to the final minute. Rossa now go into the draw for the semi finals which will take place this Saturday the 5th November 2011.
Rossa : Domhnall Moran Steven Gaskin Richard Gowdy Chris McComish Nial Devlin Padraig McGreevey Aidan Orchin Callum McVeigh Sean Smylie Sean Pat Donnelly Nathan Early Chris Boyle James Connolly Gareth George Deaglan Murphy
Subs : Conal Boomer for Chris Boyle
Glen Ciaran McCloy Conor McDevitt Cathair McCabe Declan McCusker Conor Glass Cathal Mulholland Oisin Hegarty Tomas COnvery Stephen O’Hara Mark Doole Paul Gunning Tom McKenna Danny Tallon Conor Convery Cathair Glass
