A POWER-PACKED second-half display saw impressive Antrim champions O'Donovan Rossa convincingly defeat Cavan's Southern Gaels by 4-9 to 1-3 in the last of the quarter-finals of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament.
Southern Gaels played a very defensive style of football, with 13 men behind the ball, and it took the Belfast boys some time to break the system down but, with man of the match Dominic McEnhill and Michael Close in excellent form, the result was never in doubt.
Scores were hard to come by early on, but when they did come, it was in the form of two goals for the winners. The first came from full-forward Conor O'Neill, who reacted sharply to palm the ball to the net when a Close free rebounded off the crossbar. This was immediately followed by another from Close when his attempt at a point from a narrow angle deceived Southern Gaels 'keeper Aaron Macken.
Tiarnán Murphy was next on the score-sheet, coming raiding from half-back to score a point. Southern Gaels were in trouble, but it was at this stage that their talented midfielder and captain Peter Galligan came to the fore, with some fine fielding and attacking play. He got his team off the mark with a good point and then, following a driving run from his midfield partner Eoin O'Reilly, Gaels got their only goal of the game, with Galligan expertly converting to the bottom corner.
Galligan then converted a free he had won himself to put just two between the sides and his side were well on top, with only the woodwork on two occasions preventing the Cavan boys from taking the lead. Firstly, a rasping 20-yard shot from Galligan came off the crossbar, with Rossa 'keeper Michael Byrne well-beaten. Then, in their next attack, wing-back Seán Martin saw his effort rebound off the base of the post. A Rossa free from Connell Devine ended the first-half scoring to leave the half time score 2-2 to 1-2 in the Antrim lads' favour.
The game was evenly poised, with spectators expecting a tight second-half, but whatever Rossa manager Dominic McEnhill said at half-time certainly had the desired effect as his troops emerged a reinvigorated team and immediately set about extending their lead.
Eoghan McMenamin got the scoring under way with a point before the impressive McEnhill rose high to field a Macken kick-out, carried the ball 40 yards and finished superbly to the net for his side's third goal. Frees from Close and Devine extended the lead as Rossa really started to boss the proceedings.
Southern Gaels' usual top marksman Oisín Pierson scored his only - and his side's final - score midway through the second-half, but Pierson, who was superbly marshalled throughout by Rossa captain Michael McGreevey, could not make any further impact as the game progressed.
Points from Close and three from Devine sandwiched another goal from McEnhill as Rossa ran out convincing winners, qualifying for the semi-finals where they will face Tyrone champions Dromore this Sunday afternoon.
MATCH STATS
O'Donovan Rossa: M Byrne; C Shannon, M McIvor, L Fitzsimons; M Smith, M McGreevey (capt.), T Murphy (0-1); E McMenamin (0-1), M McCashin; D McEnhill (2-0), D Matthews, E Burns; C Devine (0-5, 0-2 frees), C O'Neill (1-0), M Close (1-2, 0-1 free); Sub: C McGettigan for Matthews.
Southern Gaels: A Macken; P Brady, R Coyle, P Langtry; S Martin, R Madden, A Brady; P Galligan (capt.) (1-2, 0-1 free), E O'Reilly; D Finnegan, C Madden, R Hudson; T Lynch, O Pierson (0-1), A Halton.
