Antrim SHC - Group One
St John's 0-20
Rossa 1-17
At Corrigan Park
DRAMA unfolded on the Whiterock Road when Sean Wilson struck a vital injury time point and earned Antrim Champions St John’s the draw as they managed to cancel out a four-point deficit at the break and shared the spoils with Rossa at Corrigan Park on Friday evening.
The game was far from an exhibition but when Sean Wilson struck from the half-way line in the fourth minute of added time, the home crowd roared with delight as they salvaged a draw and spared their blushes as the Antrim champions managed to avoid defeat in their opening title defence.
The game had everything from ferocious battling, tenacious tackling and superb scoring ability from both sides and ultimately they could not be separated by the time the final whistle was sounded
A first half was firmly in favour of the away side and they opened the scoring early when Daire Murphy planted a ball into the top-corner of Domhnall Nugent’s net and set the tone early doors.
Luca McCusker drove a terrific ball down the throat of the Johnnies defence before Aodhan O'Brien managed to retrieve the sliotar from the ruck before laying it off to the on-running Murphy who made no mistake of finding the back of the net.
The first period was not a great spectacle on the hurling front, but the heart and passion played its part and Murphy was strong for Rossa and found his footing with scores from frees in the early part of the game.
The Johnnies responded with a heap of scores from Oisin MacManus who picked up where he left the Antrim Championship last season, striking five first half points and virtually keeping the hosts in the game.
Ronan Donnelly managed to strike another great effort and had the score with just the goal separating the sides by the 20th minute.
Rossa kept the scoreboard ticking with Murphy and Aodhan O'Brien both finding their range inside the attacking third, with O'Brien's score putting five between the sides as the half began to wane.
Ciaran Johnston played a pivotal role for St John's
Oisin MacManus was aided by Ryan McNulty and Ronan Donnelly who both struck superb scores in aid of the Johnnies deficit to their rivals.
The away side looked to be in control and earned a half-time lead of four-points by the time the small whistle was sounded with St John's rarely threatening and struggling to find rhythm with the missing Conor Johnston who suffered an injury in the warm-up to the game.
From the moment the whistle blew in the second half, the hosts had upped the tempo and looked to control their rivals over the next thirty minutes.
Oisin MacManus was key for the Johnnies in the scoring department
Goal chances were scarce but scores from MacManus kept St John's ticking along as they hoped to eat into the deficit and looked determined to level the game.
The second-half had a far more physical battle, with incidents and collisions causing multiple stoppages as the ante ramped up and the tone flipped in favour of St John's as the battle re-commenced.
MacManus proved excellent once again from frees and continued to hit with a perfect conversion rate anytime he stood over a dead-ball.
The Johnnies were firmly in the driving seat as far as momentum was concerned, and MacManus continued to threaten and Rossa became frustrated at how they allowed their opponents to get back in the game.
Rossa did reignite their lead when Liam McEnhill entered the fray and pointed within seconds of his appearance, but the hosts were determined to hit back and with moments to go Oisin MacManus levelled the tie only for the Jeremiahs to respond from Gerard Walsh who plucked the sliotar from the sky before driving the ball over the bar.
The home side had the last laugh as Sean Wilson thumped a terrific effort over the black spot for the leveller.
The Johnnies looked to have the chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after they were awarded a free from the 65-yard line, and the Rossa faithful clutched their rosary beads for fear their rivals would take the lead in the dying seconds.
MacManus stepped up and his impeccable striking ability was foiled and the forward's free drifted wide of the left post and the game remained in the balance.
Rossa felt aggrieved having the ball in the Johnnies half when the whistle blew and a late score would have won the tie, but honours even was the final score and the sides will earn a point apiece in the group.
St John’s XV: Domhnall Nugent; Enda McGurk, Conal Morgan, Lorcan McCallin; Sean Wilson 0-2, Ciaran Johnston, Ryan McNulty 0-2; Caoimhin Hanna, Aaron Bradley 0-1; Ronan Donnelly 0-2, Shea Shannon ©, Conall Bohill; Donal Carson, Michael Bradley, Oisin Mac Manus 0-11 (9f)
Subs: Caolan Wilson 0-1 on for Caoimhin Hanna (14’), Ruairi Galbraith 0-1 on for Donal Carson
Rossa XV: Donal Armstrong; Niall Crossan, Ciarán Orchin, Corey Walsh; Declan McCartney 0-2, Gerard Walsh 0-4 (2f), Diarmaid Rogan; Stephen Beatty (C); Cónall Shannon; Dominic McEnhIll 0-1, Dáire Murphy 1-4 (4f), Luca McCusker; Aodhan O’Brien 0-3, Eoin Trainor 0-1, Thomas Morgan 0-1
Subs: Liam McEnhill 0-1 on for Eoin Trainor, Deaglan Murphy on for Luca McCusker
