Antrim SFC - Semi-Final
Cargin 1-16
Rossa 2-15
At Corrigan Park

AN extraordinary championship comeback at Corrigan Park, overturning a five-point half-time deficit and a late Thomas Morgan goal helped to send the Shaws Road men into the Antrim Senior Football Championship final for the first time in 35 years.

Cargin appeared to have one foot in the final after a dominant opening half, but Rossa refused to buckle and gradually turned the contest on its head before Morgan's late strike delivered another famous victory for the Jeremiah’s.

Mick McCann opened the scoring for Cargin after three minutes before John McNabb landed a 45 and Tom Shivers extended the Toome men's advantage.

Rossa finally got on the scoreboard through a Dominic McEnhill free in the 11th minute, but Conhuir Johnston responded with an excellent point for Cargin three minutes later.

McEnhill punished a Cargin foul to add another free before Johnston produced a superb two-pointer as Cargin continued to hold the upper hand.

James Laverty then showed his attacking quality, landing a terrific two-pointer in the 20th minute before Ciaran Bradley added another point.

Laverty was becoming increasingly influential and struck again before Pat Shivers' free stretched the Cargin advantage further.

Then came the first major blow for Rossa.

Laverty found the net in the 29th minute, finishing underneath Mick Byrne after another dangerous Cargin attack to leave Rossa facing a five-point deficit.

But somehow, the Shaws Road men found a way back as the half slowly drew to its close.

Gerard Walsh immediately responded with a two-pointer before Colm Fleming blasted another two-pointer from the deck.

And just when Cargin looked set to take a healthy lead into the interval, McEnhill squeezed the ball home for a crucial Rossa goal.

Suddenly, the game had changed, Cargin still led 1-11 to 1-6 at half-time, but Rossa had given themselves something to fight for and a huge momentum shift going into the changing rooms.

They came out with renewed purpose after the restart and McEnhill immediately added a superb two-pointer to reduce the deficit.

Tom Shivers replied for Cargin, but Rossa were now finding gaps and playing with increasing confidence.

McEnhill added another score before Eoghan McMenamin got in on the act, and Mick McCann responded for Cargin.

The contest had developed into a thrilling exchange of scores, with neither side prepared to give ground.

McEnhill struck again in the 43rd minute before another fine score from the Rossa attack brought the Shaws Road men within touching distance.

At the 50-minute mark, McEnhill landed another superb point to leave just one between the teams.

Then came the moment that changed everything.

Colm Fleming stepped up and fired over a huge two-pointer off the deck to put Rossa ahead for the first time, albeit temporarily.

Cargin responded immediately through Pat Shivers, restoring parity, before Conhuir Johnston converted a pressure free to edge the Toome side back in front with just minutes remaining.

Rossa, however, had already shown that they were not going away and with the clock ticking towards the final whistle, they launched one final counter-attack.

Thomas Morgan found himself in space and made no mistake, his driving run and use of his blistering pace allowed him to gain a yard, before thumping the ball into the Cargin net in the 59th minute.

It was a devastating blow for the Cargin and sent the Rossa bench and supporters into celebration.

Cargin had three minutes of added time to find an answer, but McNabb's late 45 drifted wide and the chance was gone.

The final whistle confirmed another stunning Rossa escape as they claimed a two-point victory at the home of their bitter rivals and booked their place in the county final for the first time in three and a half decades.

Cargin XV: J McNabb 0-1; K O’Boyle, K McShane, F Hardy; C Johnston, J Laverty 1-3(1xTP), J O’Neill; G McCann, P Shivers 0-2 (1F); C Bradley 0-1, C Johnston 0-4 (1F), T Shivers 0-2; P McCann, M McCann 0-3, J Gribbin

Rossa XV: M Byrne; G McGrath, G Walsh 0-2(1xTp), F McDonald; N Crossan, P Moyes, M McEnhill; L McEnhill 0-3 (1xTP), E McMenamin 0-1; C Walsh, D McEnhill 1-5 (2F), D Rogan; C Fleming 0-4(2xTP), T Morgan 1-0