22 November 2011
Rossa Reach Paul McGirr Final
Rossa (Antrim) 1.11 - 0.7 Aodh Ruadh (Donegal)
On a great winter afternoon for football Antrim’s O’Donovan Rossa overcame Aodh Ruadh of Donegal to reach the final of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Football Championship. After last weeks’ epic draw Rossa made no mistake.
Rossa played some of their best football in the tournament in the first 23 minutes as they hit Aodh Ruadh for nine unanswered points. The back six were water tight and with Connolly and George causing all sorts of problems up front Rossa had a determined look about them this week. Aodh Ruadh did get two points before the break to leave the half time score 0.9 to 0.2 in Rossa's favour.
Aodh Ruadh came out in the second half with all guns blazing and quickly tagged on a few points and should have scored a goal only to see the shot rebound off the post and then for Moran in the Rossa nets make a great save from the rebound. This seemed to inspire Rossa who then went down field and with some great passing responded with points of their own from Murphy and Boyle.
Rossa then had 3 great goal chances however they only managed to convert one from the boot of George who then straight afterwards converted a great 45 which spilt the posts in two. Aodh Ruadh now looked a beaten team and when Donnelly and Connolly added further points for Rossa the game was over as a contest and Rossa eventually ran out comfortable winners by seven.
Rossa owe this victory to their back six who all worked very hard and everyone of them had great games and at no stage did they give the Aodh Ruadh forwards the opportunity to get any easy scores.
Rossa have now played four games in this tournament and lets hope they can give themselves one last push for the final and bring the trophy back to Antrim for the first time.
The final is this Sunday 27th November at 2pm in Dromore against Rostrevor.
O’Donovan Rossa
Domhnall Moran; Stephen Gaskin Padraig Mcgreevy Stephen Gaskin; Niall Devlin, Gerard Walsh, Nathan Early, Aidan Orchin; Callum McVeigh, Sean Smylie; James Connolly (0.4), Chris McComish, Chris Boyle (0.1), Sean Pat Donnelly (0.3), Gareth George (1.2), Deaglan Murphy (0-1).
Substitutes: Sean Emmet Shannon for Deaglan Murphy
