O'Donovan Rossa 4-09 v Southern Gaels 1-03

A power-packed second half display saw impressive Antrim champions O'Donovan Rossa convincingly defeat Cavan's Southern Gaels in the last of the quarter finals of the Paul McGirr Ulster U16 Club Champions Tournament on Saturday afternoon.  Southern Gaels played a very defensive style of football with thirteen men behind the ball and it took the Rossa 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 Michael Close free rebounded off the crossbar.  This was immediately followed by another from Close when his attempt at a point from narrow angle deceived Southern Gaels keeper Macken.  Tiarnan Murphy was next on the scoresheet coming raiding from half back to score a point.  Southern Gaels were in trouble and it was at this stage 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 fine point and then following a driving run from his midfield partner Eoin O'Reilly Southern Gaels got their only goal of the game with Galligan expertly converting to the bottom corner.  Galligan 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 twenty yard shot from  Galligan came off the crossbar with keeper Byrne well beaten and then in their next attack wing back Sean Martin seen 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 2-02 to 1-02.
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 re-invigoured team and immediately set about extending their lead.  Eoghan McMenamin got the scoring underway with a point before the impressive McEnhill rose high to field a Macken kickout, carried the ball forty yards and finished superbly to the net for his sides third goal.  Frees from Close and Devine extended the lead as Rossa really started to boss the proceedings.  Southern Gaels top marksman Oisin Pierson scored his only and his sides 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 on Sunday afternoon.
Teams:

O'Donovan Rossa:  Michael Byrne, Conall Shannon, Matthew McIvor, Lorcan Fitzsimons, Manus Smith, Michael McGreevey, Tiarnan Murphy, Eoghan McMenamin, Martin McCashin, Dominic McEnhill, Daire Matthews, Emmet Burns, Connell Devine, Conor O'Neill, Michael Close.  Subs: Cormac McGettigan for Matthews
Southern Gaels:  Aaron Macken, Paul Brady, Ryan Coye, Paul Langtry, Sean Martin, Ryan Madden, Aaron Brady, Peter Galligan, Eoin O'Reilly, Donal Finnegan, Cian Madden, Rhys Hudson, Tristan Lynch, Oisin Pierson and Aodghan Halton

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