Parr surge charges Red’s survival bid

DOWN ACFL DIVISION ONE – MATCHDAY TWELVE
ROSTREVOR 1-13 – 0-03 ANNACLONE

By Kieran McNally

Shaun Parr was in scintillating form as Rostrevor picked up a valuable win in their quest for safety at the expense of an increasingly doomed Annaclone at Pettit Park on Friday evening.

The Reds’ ace hit 1-6 on the night with his first-half goal; in particular, setting the hosts on their way after a cagey opening.

Annaclone; on the other hand, whilst being rather competitive, were all together much too wayward and kicked themselves into a hole against some very resolute Rostrevor defending. Indeed, the visitors’ failure to score from play on the night really tells the whole story of a very comfortable evening for Stefan White’s men.

Annaclone’s difficulties were not easily identifiable in the opening quarter, as they held their fair share of possession and maintained a foothold in the contest. Kevin Anderson was the first man to raise a white flag also, as Rostrevor held onto the ball with no real finishing product in the initial exchanges.

Jordan Fegan eventually equallised after a prersistent build-up from the hosts and whilst Shaun Parr pointed after a neat pass from John Fegan in the 12th minute to put his side in front, the Reds were profligate to say the least with Anthony Donnan, Jonathan Parr and Conor Doyle all missing chances to provide a larger early advantage.

It would ultimately come good though and in the 23rd minute, the corner was turned. Jordan Fegan broke well from midfield using his pace to get away before slipping the ball to Shaun Parr; who finished the ball low past ex-Rostrevor; and 1998 championship winning, net minder Christopher McCartan.

That was the key moment in the match, as two further points from Parr and a well-taken score from Conor Doyle extended the Reds’ lead before the interval with Colm Fegan’s response providing little respite, as Rostrevor carried a six-point lead into the break.

HALF TIME – ROSTREVOR 1-05 – 0-02 ANNACLONE

Little resistance was provided in the second-half, as the Reds kept their visitors on the back-foot for the duration. Shaun Parr was superb in front of the posts with three points in succession only serving to emphasise Rostrevor’s position.

Annaclone’s woes at the other end were being exposed, as a mixture of long-range kicking and dropping fruitless passes onto the edge of the Rostrevor square provided little success. The comfort at which Rostrevor remained in control of the match ensured a rather drawn-out and generally pedestrian conclusion to the hour.

Conor Doyle fired over a brace of points to open up an eleven-point lead by the 49th minute, as the Clone could only muster a single close-range free to put themselves on the second-half scoreboard at least ; 1-10 to 0-3. The gulf between sides in the top division can often be blurred by a number of minute; yet significant, variables.

It sometimes beggars belief how performances vary and how individual incidents can just determine how competitive a team is on one night, as opposed to others. On this night, Annaclone just couldn’t register and they were made to pay.

John and Conor Fegan tagged on frees with Conor Doyle’s fourth point of the evening wrapping up a good evening for him, and even more so for Rostrevor who climb back out of the automatic relegation zone for now, following Longstone’s narrow defeat at home to the Reds’ next league opponents Bryansford.

Longstone do still retain that game in hand, but with both sides in a final-day collision course; points are so priceless now. The sides in the places immediately above the dreaded bottom-six may just take a look over their shoulders because that gap may still be bridged entirely.

Attention swiftly focuses to the opening game of the Down championship with Rostrevor and Downpatrick facing off on Monday evening in Newcastle.

Annaclone minds will also shift to what is sure to be a tense fare with an already relegated Liatroim Fontenoys side, who for all that will be buoyed by their late great win against neighbours Castlewellan.

ROSTREVOR SCORERS; Shaun Parr (1-6 1f), Conor Doyle (0-4), Jordan Fegan, John Fegan and Conor Fegan (0-1 each).

ANNACLONE SCORERS; Colm Fegan (0-2 2f) and Kevin Anderson (0-1f).

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Posted by Newry Times News on Aug 4 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