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Rostrevor Minors show their quality to seal semi berth

DOWN ALL-COUNTY MINOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – QUARTER FINAL
ROSTREVOR MINORS 3-14 – 2-10 CLONDUFF

By Kieran McNally

Rostrevor produced an excellent final quarter to outlast Clonduff in an entertaining championship quarter final at Pettit Park on Tuesday night.

rostrevor26The Reds finished with a number of fine scores, as Clonduff’s brave challenge ran out of steam in the closing stages.

Indeed, the visitors had brought themselves back into the contest prior to half time and continued to battle well, but it was an apparent fitness drive that overwhelmed the Yellas with Rostrevor’s young guns running riot to surge over the line and into the semi-finals.

James Rice and Conor Woods exchanged early points before the game’s first goal arrived off the boot of Peter Magee in the 4th minute. Chris Killen had seen his drive parried out of the danger area, but the fleet-footed Magee strode into the heart of the Clonduff defence to poke the ball under Conor Keenan with minimum fuss.

Despite that opening strike, Clonduff stood up well and they were back on terms by the 7th minute with John Boden seeing his floated ball sear over Aidan Magee and into the corner of the net, as Conor Woods closed in. Boden sent Clonduff into the lead with a 9th minute free, but Rostrevor seized full initiative with seven straight points.

Conor Owens tucked over three efforts; two from frees, as Ardghal McMahon, Aaron Fearon, Blain McGrath and Peter Magee all tagged on points to open up a six-point lead; 1-8 to 1-2.

However, a late revival from Clonduff in the opening half ensured that they would have the lead by the interval with a purple patch of their own yielding an unanswered 1-4.

Lyndon Brown narrowed the gap from the right wing before Ryan McGreevy stole in from the left wing to roll in Clonduff’s second goal in the 28th minute. McGreevy and Boden fired over to level the scores before Conor Woods found the target for the second time to place Clonduff into the half-time lead.

HALF TIME: ROSTREVOR 1-08 – 2-06 CLONDUFF

Rostrevor’s sizeable support were somewhat stunned by their side going in on the back foot, but they had their fears allayed momentarilty when Ardghal McMahon climbed highest at the far post to palm Conal Gordon’s sideline ball to the net for a two-point lead.

Clonduff responded with precision though, and Conor Murray, John Boden and Ryan McGreevy overturned the deficit for the visitors, but the third sucker punch from Rostrevor; in the 42nd minute, would prove too much for the Yellas.

Blain McGrath was the provider for the Reds with a typically incisive shot slamming into the right corner from distance before Conor Keenan moved; 3-8 to 2-9.

It’s noteworthy that the same three players found the net for Rostrevor on the night, as did in the Newry Shamrocks clash in the group stages. McGrath’s goal started a run of successive scores for Rostrevor, which brought the game out of sight for Clonduff.

The same man fired over a point to put the Reds into a three-point lead before a fantastic individual effort from Cormac McGrath put a glimmer of daylight between the sides again. Conor Owens fired over two point before Ryan Caulfield and Joseph Morgan added scores to open up an eight-point lead.

John Boden provided a consolation point for Clonduff, but the night belonged to Rostrevor who progress to another minor semi-final, as Rostrevor impressive championship season continues.

The minors are hitting form at the right time it would seem and their eyes are now firmly set on taking the title. Two big performances and they may well get there, but time will tell the story.

ROSTREVOR TEAM; Aidan Magee, Michael McNally, James Donaghy, Mark Doyle, Conall Gordon, Nicky Murray, Cormac McGrath (0-1), James Rice (0-1), Ardgal McMahon (1-1), Conor Owens (0-5 3f), Blain McGrath (1-2), Joseph Morgan (0-1), Aaron Fearon (0-1), Peter Magee (1-1), Chris Killen. Subs used; Fearghal Murphy and Ryan Caulfield (0-1).

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Posted by on Sep 14 2015. Filed under Community, Sport. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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