ANTRIM SFC - Group One
Rossa 5-13
Con Magees Glenravel 3-14
At Rossa Park

GOALS from Thomas Morgan (2), Diarmiad Rogan (2) and Dominic McEnhill helped Rossa on their way to securing a huge victory on the Shaws Road on Sunday afternoon over Con Magees Glenravel and leave progression to the knockouts in their hands when they face Tír na nÓg in the final game.

The Shaws Road side eventually prevailed with five points to spare in a game which ebbed and flowed throughout, with both teams producing attacking football and eight goals adding to the spectacle.

Thomas Morgan and Diarmaid Rogan were the standout performers for Rossa, with both players finding the net twice as the hosts recovered from a sluggish opening to secure a crucial victory.

Con Magees arrived at Páirc Rossa knowing that a win would put them in a strong position to reach the last eight, having taken a point from their opening group fixture against Tír na nÓg.

Rossa, meanwhile, were looking to bounce back from their defeat to reigning county champions Dunloy.

The visitors certainly looked the more settled side in the opening exchanges and had four scores on the board inside the first 11 minutes.

Niall Hynds opened the scoring before Eamon Ward and Colla Ward added further points, with Ryan McQuillan converting a free to give Con Magees an early lead.

It took Rossa 13 minutes to register their first score, but Dominic McEnhill immediately cut the deficit with a two-point free. Eoghan McMenamin then reduced the gap further with a somewhat fortunate effort which bounced before lifting over the bar.

Con Magees responded with the opening goal of the game. Niall Hynds won possession from the kick-out before driving forward and finding Ryan McQuillan, who made no mistake with a low finish beyond Mick Byrne.

Rossa refused to panic, however, and began to find gaps in the Con Magees defence as the half tailed.

Thomas Morgan drove through a number of challenges before popping over a point, while McMenamin added another after being picked out by Corey Walsh.

The hosts then turned the game on its head in the 21st minute.

Diarmaid Rogan’s high ball was palmed down by Corey Walsh and Thomas Morgan reacted quickest to the loose ball, sweeping a low shot into the corner of the net to put Rossa ahead for the first time.

Con Magees restored parity through Niall Higgins, but Stephen Beatty and Rian Lennon exchanged scores as the visitors edged back in front.

Rossa, though, finished the opening half in impressive fashion.

As the game approached the half-hour mark, Rogan slipped a clever pass into Dominic McEnhill, whose shot clipped the far post before finding the net.

Stephen Beatty then added another point before Rossa struck again just before the interval. McEnhill found Thomas Morgan, who laid the ball off to Rogan and the forward drilled his effort into the near corner.

The two goal advantage was that which separated the sides at the small whistles sounding.

Con Magees came flying out after the restart and cut the deficit inside the opening minute when Colla Ward fired a low shot past Byrne and hoped to flip the momentum.

Cormac McKeown added another point, but that momentum was short-lived when on the 35th minute, Thomas Morgan exchanged passes with Eoghan McMenamin before unleashing a superb shot into the top corner for his second goal of the afternoon.

The visitors continued to battle and points from Colm Fleming and Niall Hynds kept them within range, but Rossa remained in control.

Morgan added further points before Cathal Hynds and substitute Shea O’Brien responded for Con Magees.

With 15 minutes remaining, the visitors were still in contention, but Rossa delivered the decisive blow in the 49th minute.

McEnhill slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Rogan, who carried forward before calmly slotting the ball past Scullion to complete his brace and put Rossa 5-10 to 2-11 ahead.

Con Magees refused to surrender and continued to push forward. Fleming and McMenamin added points for Rossa, while O’Brien and Colla Ward kept the scoreboard moving for the visitors.

Ward eventually grabbed his second goal after connecting with O’Brien’s chipped pass across the face of goal, but it proved little more than consolation.

McEnhill added the final Rossa point as the hosts held on for a deserved 5-13 to 3-14 victory.

The result leaves Rossa in second place and with their quarter-final destiny firmly in their own hands. They face Tír na nÓg in their final group game in two weeks’ time.

For Con Magees, the equation is considerably more difficult. They must beat Dunloy and will also need results elsewhere to go their way if they are to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

ROSSA: M Byrne, G McGrath, P Moyes, F McDonald. S Beatty (0-2), N Crossan, M McEnhill, L McEnhill, G Walsh, E McMenamin (0-3), D McEnhill (1-3, 1×0-2ptf), D Rogan (2-0), C Walsh. C Fleming (0-2f), T Morgan (2-3). SUBS: P Byrne for F McDonald (57), J Morris for C Fleming (60). 

CON MAGEES: J Scullion, D McAuley, S Higgins, C Carey, C Hynds (0-1), N Swann, R Lennon (1×0-2pt), C Higgins, D Higgins, E Ward (0-1), C Ward (2-2), N Hynds (0-3), H Fyfe, R McQullian (1-1f), C McKeown (0-1). SUBS: S O’Brien (0-3) for H Fyfe (13), C McQuillan for C Carey (HT), E Hynds for C McKeown (56). 

REFEREE: Paddy Tumelty (LÁMH DHEARG)