Sport

West Belfast rivals try again in replay

Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Championship quarter-final replay: O’Donovan Rossa v Lamh Dhearg (today, Corrigan Park, 4pm)

IT is take two for O’Donovan Rossa and Lamh Dhearg at Corrigan Park today as the west Belfast clubs square off for a second time with the prize being a meeting with St Gall’s in the semi-finals of the Antrim SFC.

Three weeks ago, the teams played out a 1-9 to 0-12 draw in a topsy-turvy game both felt they could have won.

Rossa enjoyed a three-point lead at the break, but probably should have been further ahead although that was to change in the second half despite Lamh Dhearg having a penalty saved just after the break as Ryan Murray came into his own, kicking seven points in all to see the Red Hands lead by two going into added time. 

However, Rossa found an answer with Deaghlan Murphy hitting a last-gasp winner to give his team a second day they probably deserved on balance.

As with all replays, it will come down to who can improve most and Rossa will be boosted today with the return of Michael Armstrong and Chris McGuinness although goalkeeper Liam Og McAuley – who saved that penalty from Paddy Cunningham in the first game – looks set to miss out with a groin injury.

Lamh Dhearg boss Kevin Murray has virtually a clean bill of health with Declan Lynch the only possible absentee.