Antrim SFC - Quarter-Final
Rossa 2-24
Roger Casement’s Portglenone 3-20
At Corrigan Park
ROSSA earned the biggest upset of the weekend after they overcame Portglenone by the minimum in the dying embers of extra-time to earn a semi-final berth in Antrim's Senior Football Championship.
With the game seemingly slipping away from the Belfast club on several occasions Rossa showed remarkable character to keep themselves within touching distance before eventually turning the contest around in the closing stages of extra-time.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested, although Portglenone made the faster start when Odhran Doherty converted an early two-pointer inside the opening two minutes.
Aidan McAleese added another score in the fourth minute before Rossa began to settle, with Thomas Morgan opening their account in the 12th minute.
Portglenone continued to threaten from placed balls, however, and Doherty added another free before Michael Hagan got his name on the scoresheet.
Stephen Beatty and Morgan responded for Rossa, but Portglenone continued to hold the advantage.
Eoghan McMenamin led the way for Rossa
Colm Fleming then delivered a huge two-pointer in the 18th minute, stretching the Portglenone lead, although Rossa immediately responded through Ciaran McAleese and another score from Morgan.
Odhran Doherty and Eoghan McMenamin exchanged scores before McMenamin produced an excellent effort from distance to level the contest once again.
That parity was short-lived.
Portglenone hit Rossa with a devastating spell before the interval, with Odhran Doherty finding the net in the 26th minute before Paddy Graffin added another major blow two minutes later.
Suddenly, Rossa were facing a six-point deficit and appeared to be in serious trouble.
They did manage to steady themselves before the break with McEnhill converting a free, but Portglenone went into the interval holding a 2-8 to 0-9 lead.
Rossa needed a strong start to the second half and they got one. Thomas Morgan immediately found the target before Aidan McAleese replied for Portglenone.
Corey Walsh then produced a score for Rossa before the game began to take on a completely different complexion.
Eoghan McMenamin was becoming increasingly influential and struck a superb two-pointer in the 37th minute. Just a minute later, the Rossa player repeated the feat, firing over another valuable two-point score to dramatically reduce the deficit.
Ciaran McAleese responded for Portglenone, but Rossa were now firmly back in the contest.
Thomas Morgan then added another excellent score before McMenamin found the range once again, bringing the sides level.
The momentum had swung decisively towards Rossa, but Portglenone refused to surrender their advantage. Paddy Graffin and Paddy Kelly both found the target before Rossa's Corey Walsh responded.
Then, in the 46th minute, Portglenone struck again. Oisin Doherty found the net with a superb finish to put his side back in control and restore their cushion.
Rossa once again had to chase the game, but their response was impressive. Graffin added another point for Portglenone before McEnhill and Walsh kept the scoreboard moving for Rossa.
Paddy Kelly increased the Portglenone lead in the 52nd minute, but Rossa continued to attack. With just over ten minutes remaining, the game appeared to be slipping away from them once more.
Then came another dramatic twist.
Dominic McEnhill found the net in the 67th minute, giving Rossa renewed belief and setting up a remarkable finish.
Paddy Graffin levelled the contest soon afterwards and suddenly the two sides were locked together once again.
Extra-time was now required.
The additional period was every bit as dramatic as the 60 minutes that had preceded it. Paddy Graffin opened the scoring in extra-time before Cormac McGettigan responded for Rossa with a fist-passed point to bring the sides level once more.
Then came arguably the game's biggest turning point.
McEnhill stepped forward to take a penalty for Rossa and managed to squeeze the spot-kick into the net, putting his side just one point behind and giving them enormous momentum.
With the clock ticking down, Ciaran McAleese produced a huge score for Portglenone, but Rossa continued to fight.
A black card for Rossa added further tension before Doherty helped Portglenone take the lead at the break in extra-time. Yet Rossa simply refused to go away.
Paddy Graffin levelled the contest again before McEnhill eventually found another score to put Rossa ahead. Ruairi Hagan responded for Portglenone, restoring their advantage, but the lead would change hands again.
Diarmaid Rogan produced a splendid score to level the contest once more before McEnhill struck another free to put Rossa in front.
Aidan McAleese responded for Portglenone with a score, setting up a frantic finale. Then came the drama that appeared destined to decide the contest.
Rossa were awarded a penalty after a foot-block was penalised, presenting them with a golden opportunity to settle the game. However, Portglenone goalkeeper Kevin Mullan guessed correctly and produced a superb save to keep his side alive.
With the clock ticking beyond 80 minutes, Portglenone still had a chance to snatch victory. Mick Byrne stepped up to take a 45 but his effort drifted wide, leaving the contest on a knife edge but Rossa finally delivered the decisive blow.
With the game into its 84th minute, Thomas Morgan stepped forward and calmly sent the ball between the posts to put Rossa ahead.
The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes as Rossa celebrated an astonishing single-point victory at the home of their bitter rivals no less.
Rossa Starting XV: Mick Byrne; Gavin McGrath, Patrick Moyes, Fiachra McDonald; Niall Crossan, Gerard Walsh, Michael McEnhill; Liam McEnhill, Eoghan McMenamin; Corey Walsh, Dominic McEnhill, Diarmuid Rogan; Stephen Beatty, Colm Fleming, Thomas Morgan
Scorers: D McEnhill 2-2 (1-00 pen, 1f); T Morgan 0-6 (1f); E McMenamin 0-5 (1tp); C Fleming 0-4 (2tpf); C Walsh 0-2; D Rogan 0-2; S Beatty 0-2; C McGettigan 0-1
Portglenone Starting XV: Kevin Mullan; Daniel McNicholl, Shane Delargy, Ciaran Lynch; Ruairi Hagan, Connor McGhee, Caolan Tierney; Dermott McAleese, Michael Donnelly; Aiden McAleese, Oisin Doherty, Odhran Doherty; Michael Hagan, Ciaran McAleese, Tom Duffin
Scorers: O Doherty 1-6 (1tp, 3f); C McAleese 0-4; A McAleese 0-3; T Duffin 1-00; O Doherty 1-00; M Hagan 0-2; D McAleese 0-2; Paddy Kelly 0-2; C Tierney 0-1
