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O’Donovan Rossa 5-06 v Dromore 0-06
Antrim champions O’Donovan Rossa were in blistering goal scoring form on Sunday as they overcame hosts Dromore to qualify for the 2015 Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions tournament final. There is no doubt though that the final scoreline did not reflect the game as Dromore dominated possession for long spells but found the Rossa rearguard very hard to penetrate with Michael McGreevey and Mattie McIvor in particular playing outstanding roles. Domonic McEnhill was again the main scorer but he was ably assisted by half forward colleague Daire Matthews and man of the match Eoghan McMenamin who was in commanding form in midfield. According to Rossa joint manager manager Hugh McGettigan their second goal just before half time was the turning point in the game “We are delighted to have progressed to the final of the Paul McGirr tournament, despite what the final scoreline suggests today was a seriously tough and competitive contest which we knew it would be. Dromore are a talented and very physical side and had us under pressure for long periods of the game, I certainly think the conditions suited us better as we were the lighter team, the goal just before half time which came against the run of play was the turning point and provided us with a cushion which enabled us to sit back and hit Dromore on the break, the goals at the end put a gloss on the scoreline but we were very pleased with how the boys performed and are really looking forward to Sunday’s final”. Points from Matthews and McMenmin gave Rossa an early advantage before Caolan McCarron opened Dromore’s account with a free. Points were then swapped between McEnhill and Dromore’s Cahir Goodwin before McEnhill pounced on a ball in behind the Dromore defence and finished emphatically past the hapless Ross Hunter for the opening goal. Rossa captain McGreevey added to their lead striding forward from defence with McCarron replying with an excellent score from play. Then the turning point came when Matthews carried the ball forty yards and found the bottom corner just before the half time whistle.
Dromore needed a strong second half and with Odhran Rafferty who was now playing a deeper role, Caolan Slevin and Caolan McCarron all winning possession and constantly driving forward they again started to dominate but the Rossa defence was not going to be penetrated easily and the hosts failed to turn possession into scores. After soaking up some early pressure, Rossa finally broke up the field and a converted Michael Close free was followed by a great individual McEnhill goal when he rounded his marker on the sideline fifty yards out and left a trail of defenders in his wake to score his second. McCarron replied with three Dromore frees as Rossa ensured Dromore were not getting through for the goals they required. Then in the dying minutes both McEnhill and Matthews took advantage of the wide open spaces left in the Dromore defence as they were chasing the game for the final two goals. Rossa now progress to face Clann Eireann in what promises to be a cracking final on Sunday at 2:00.
Dromore - Ross Hunter, Caolan Slevin, Ruairi Teague, Padraig Quinn, Oisin Gallogly, Mark McGrade, Cathal Colton, Cahir Goodwin (0-1), Nathan McCarron, Odhran Rafferty, Caolan McCarron (0-5, 4f), Pearse McNabb, Ruairi Gallagher, Oran Sludden, John MacRory. Sub – Ross Slevin for Gallagher, Oisin McConnell for Colton
O’Donovan Rossa - Michael Byrne, Conall Shannon, Matthew McIvor, Lorcan Fitzsimons, Manus Smith, Michael McGreevey (0-1), Tiarnan Murphy, Eoghan McMenamin (0-1), Martin McCashin, Dominic McEnhill (3-01), Daire Matthews (2-1), Emmet Burns, Connell Devine, Conor O’Neill, Michael Close (0-2, 2f). Subs: Cormac McGettigan for Matthews
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