ACFL 1: SUPER STONE STUN REDS - Longstone 1-13 Rostrevor 1-7
When rampant Rostrevor led the home side
by 1-3 to 0-0 after just ten minutes
play, we expected to see Reds underline
their credentials as reigning league
champions against the struggling Mourne
side. But there was only one Super-Reds
on show last Friday, and they were in
the colours of the Longstone club!
SUPERB
Longstone were magnificent. Their fans
had been arguing that their sides poor
success rate in the league to date had
been due more to a combination of senior
county absentees plus a rash of injuries
and suspensions. The injuries persist,
even though the home fans were mightily
cheered by the sight of young Ryan Kelly
coming on in the closing minutes to hit
the final point of the game. But the
impact of their returning county trio
was clear and emphatic. Especially
effective was Ambrose Rodgers, who gave
a classic display in the middle of the
field, but little behind him was Mark
Poland, who, together with the elusive
Stephen Doran, gave the Rostrevor
defence a right chasing. Indeed. Had
Longstones finishing matched the sparkle
of their approach work, the home teams
victory margin could well have reached
double figures!
CHASTENING
It was a chastening experience for the
league champions, especially in view of
the dream start they enjoyed. A snap
goal by Joe Fegan, along with two points
from Lloyd Parr and one from Eddie
Magee, left the visitors six points up
after nine minutes play. But for most of
the remaining fifty one minutes they
were played off the park. By the
fifteenth minute they were level, with
the lively eamon trimble poaching two
fine points and Ambrose Rodgers rumbling
through from midfield for another. Then
a goal from full forward, Gerard Quinn
was quickly followed by three smart
points from Stephen Doran and Reds were
in trouble. They did manage to stem the
tide for another twenty minutes. Lloyd
parr swopped points with Adrian trainor
and Ambrose Rodgers on either side of
the half time break, and martin sherry
replied to a Stephen Doran free to leave
them still in touch at 1-6 to 1-9 as the
game entered the final quarter. This had
been largely due to longstones
profligate finishing of course, but it
was inevitable that the bright skillful
football of the mourne side would
prevail, and three splendid points by
mark poland, Stephen Doran and Ambrose
rodgers put the match beyond Rostrevors
reach. Young Kelly’s late point was
taken by the Stone support as a further
sign of better times ahead, with reports
that Barry Doran and Norman McCombe
could be back in the colours before the
beginning of the championship. Whether
they make it or not, a Longstone team
playiong this sort of football will give
anyone headaches.
BEST
Top performers here were Michael
Higgins, Eamon Quinn, Ambrose Rodgers,
Eamon Trimble, Mark Poland and Stephen
Doran. Only Jarlath Farrell and Lloyd
Parr made an impression for a most
disappointing Rostrevor team
Longstone scorers; stephen Doran [0-5];
Ambrose Rodgers [0-3]; Gerard Quinn
[1-0]; Eamon Trimble [0-2]; Mark Poland
[0-1]; Ryan Kelly [0-1]; Adrian Trainor
[0-1].
Rostrevor scorers; Lloyd parr [0-5]; Joe
Fegan [1-0]; Eddie Magee [0-1]; Martin
Sherry [0-1]
Man of the match: Ambrose Rodgers [Longstone]
