ACFL 1: CLONE CLING ON: Annaclone 0-10 Rostrevor 0-9
It was the worst possible build-up to
next weeks championship task as far as
Rostrevor were concerned. Sean Parr and
Joe Fegan limped off before half time.
Sean Farrell was sent off just before
the interval, and Adrian Mackin shortly
after it. And, at the finish, another
pair of points rendered up, which could
yet deny them even the chance to defend
their First Division title in the
End-of-Year play-offs!
BOOST
Of course, it was very different from
Cathal Murrays point of view. He will
have been pleased with the fact that his
relatively young side showed much more
awareness and design than the reigning
league champions; that their tenacious
defenders, notably Conor McConville and
John Haughey limited the visitors to
four points from play; that they got
enough out of the hard-working Martin
McAleenan at midfield to let the
intelligent running of Marty Farrell and
Gary Byrne take the best out of Aidan
Fegans talents at full forward.
EARLY SUPERIORITY
By the twentieth minute, his team were
0-5 to 0-2 up and good value for
it.Aidan Fegan had had three of those,
two from frees. Colm Fegan had converted
another free, and livewire Marty Farrell
had held off a strong tackle from Lloyd
Parr to shoot the remaining point.
Rostrevor, slithering and shapeless, had
managed two points, once from a Conor
Daly free and again when sub Niall
Farrell rewarded a fine piece of
fielding from Jarlath Austin. Reds
should have been even deeper in trouble
when Aidan Fegan’s shot zipped across
the face of the goal shortly before half
time, and Annaclone were quickly to
regret that miss, for, against the run
off the play, Rostrevor transformed the
game in the three minutes before the
interval.
DRAMA.
With 27 minutes gone Conor Daly
engineered a point for himself, Lloyd
Parr had a free a minute later, and with
3o minutes gone, Conor Mackin
intercepted a pass out of defence to set
up Lloyd Parr for the equaliser! There
was still time for one late dramatic
twist, however. A Colm Fegan shot was
bl;ocked in the Rostrevor goalmouth, but
did enough to spark off a spell of
confusion in the visitors defence which
ended with Sean Farrell receiving his
second yellow card from referee
Brannigan, and Aidan Fegan tapping over
the free with the last kick off the
half.
EASY
With ten minutes to
go, it looked easy for Annaclone. Reds
had briefly been on terms following a
Gary Magee point, but two excellent
points from play by the on-form Aidan
Fegan, and a free from Colm Fegan left
Clone 0-9 to 0-6 up against a Rostrevor
team reduced to thirteen men by the
dismissal of Adrian Mackin. On the
surface, Clones decision to keep their
two extra men in defence was a sensible
one, for, it seemed only a snap goal
could resurrect Rostrevors hopes.
LOST SHAPE
In practice, Annaclone turned out to be
as confused by their surfeit as Reds
were galvanised by their challenge.Young
Ryan Watt came in for his senior debut
and won some important possession as the
home side lost their previous composed
shape. Two Conor Daly free reduced the
deficit to a single point, and the
dismissal of Sean Pyers with eight
minutes remaining evened the odds a bit.
We could easily have seen a shock
Rostrevor victory at this stage, but
Clone were saved by a 60th
minute point from Aidan Fegan, or,
really, it should be said, they were let
off the hook by two narrow misses from
Conor Daly who converted only one of
three late scoring chances
DESERVED
Annaclone deserved their win, however.
They had looked the more settled team
for most of the hour, with fine
performances from Conor McConville,
Marty Farrell and Aidan Fegan, in
particular.
Rostrevor only played fitfully. Jarlath
Farrell had a good hour in defence, and
Jarlath Austin did some excellent work
at midfield. Up front they were
disappointing, with only Lloyd Parr a
consistent threat, though they can be
encouraged by the contribution of
teenage subs Conor Mackin and Ryan Watt
in demanding circumstances.
Annaclone scorers; Aidan Fegan [0-7] 4
frees; Colm Fegan [0-2] 1 free; Martin
Farrell [0-1]
Rostrevor scorers; Conor Daly [0-5] 4
frees; Lloyd Parr [0-2] 1 free; Niall
Farrell [0-1]; Gary Magee [0-1]
Referee; G.Corrigan
Man of the match; Aidan Fegan [Annaclone]
