MFC REPLAY
REDS OUTPLAY WEAKENED
BURREN
Rostrevor 4-10 Burren 1-7
When these two teams met a fortnight
previously in Burren, they served up one
of the finest games of the season, so it
was unsurprising that so many turned up
in anticipation of a repeat in last
wednedays replay at Pettit Park. Alas,
the ingredients were very different this
time around. Missing from the Burren
attack whicj had scored 1-16 last time
out were key forwards Sean Murdock and
Ryan McGovern. And for their part, Reds
had significantly strengthened their
starting line-up by the inclusion of
Shane Murney at corner back, and Chris
McGrath in the attack.
SLOW
So this time, Burren struggled to make
any impact against a Rostrevor full back
line in which Eddie O’Hare and Shane
Murney were in outstanding form, and
managed only three points in the first
half, two of these from frees by Eamon
Toner and Cathal Murdock. By contrast,
Rostrevor were just as lethal going
forward as they had been at St Marys
Park, especially Sean Mackin, who danced
his way through for a goal and four
points before half time, with Anthony
Donnan and Gerard McCartan making up a
commanding 1-6 to 0-3 half time
lead..McCartans point was of special
interest, for it crowned a marvellous
breakaway launched by Shane Murney, and
foreshadowed the huge contribution the
Rostrevor centre back would
SPIRIT
Burren had not a lot going for them on
the field, but they clearly had in the
half time dressing room, for they
emerged for the second half fired up to
their traditional championship white
heat. So we had a rip-roaring contest
for the third quarter of the game. Reds
were held scoreless for this period, but
unfortunately for burren, pasion was not
enough, and without Ryan McGovern and
Sean Murdock to direct their efforts,
they managed only two points in this
spell. It was a goal they needed ,
however, and they came close to getting
it when sub Donal Fegan shot narrowly
over the bar at the end of a spell of
hectic pin-ball in the Rostrevor
goalmouth.
GOAL RUSH
But if burren were unable to take their
goaling opportunities, the same could
not be said of Rostrevor. The match
lurched away from the visitors in the 44th
minute when Rostrevor drew the cover
with a delighfully intricate thrust up
the right, and Gerard McCartan ambled
through the exposed centre to shoot a
fine goal. Burren did not crumple just
yet, but two Eamon Toner frees and six
minutes later, they finally did.This
time Colm Murney and Christopher Mcnally
conjured the opening down the left, and
nicholas Mills was left to pick his spot
in the far corner of the Burren net.Sean
mackin and Gerard Mccartan increased the
Rostrevor lead before Christopher
Mcnally, in his second assist since
coming on as a substitute, put Anthony
Donnan clear for goal number four. Reds
rounded off with a third point for
centre back McCartan and a richly
deserved score by Chris McGrath on his
full Rostrevor championship debut. Mark
McDowells well-taken penalty goal for
Burren came as late consolation only.
IMPRESSIVE
So Rostrevor moved impressively into the
last eight. They will be particularly
pleased with their defence this time.
Sean Magee, Eddie O’hare and Shane
Murney formed a redoubtable full back
line. Gerard McCartan clearly enjoyed
the freedom of his placement at centre
half, and the loss of Conor Magee early
on was addressed by the withdrawal of
Colm Murney from the attack. The attack
could well afford that, of course, for
Sean Mackin, Anthony Donnan and Chris
McGrath were all in sparkling form.
WEAKENED
Burren were seriously weakened by the
unavailability of Sean Murdock and Ryan
McGovern. And were further stricken by
an early injury to Cathal Murdock. In
their absence, John Kilfedder, Eamon
Toner and Padraig O’Rourke did what they
could, but they never looked capable of
reproducing their excellence of the
drawn game.
Rsotrevor scorers; Seam Mackin [1-5];
Gerard McCartan [1-3]; Anthony Donnan
[[1-1]; Nicholas Mills [1-0];
Christopher McGrath [0-1].
Burren scorers; eamon Toner [0-3];
Cathal Murdock [0-1]; mark McDowell
[0-1]; Padraig O’Rourke [0-1]; Donal
Fegan [0-1].
