ACFL
1: ATTICALL FIGHT, THEN FADE - Attical
0-9 Rostrevor 0-14
By Colm Fitzpatrick
Newly promoted Atticall
put up a feisty
show on their first ever outing in the
top division. A big crowd came to stand
in the Mourne sunshine to watch this
historic Division One derby at the
impressive new Holy Cross park. And 28
minutes gone in the first half, a lot of
eyebrows were raised. Counter to all
predictions, Attical had given at least
as good as they had received up until
that. They had worked overtime right
through the park, and especially in a
splendid full back line to blunt the
edge of reds ambitious running game. And
they had provided an enlightening
counterpoint themselves in the shape of
full forwards Mark Doran and Oliver
Sloan, substantial forwards prepared to
battle for everything that came their
way and make the most of it!
EVEN
The score was 0-4 each as halftime
approached. Reds had loked likely to
race away with it in the opening three
minutes, tearing the home defence this
eway, then that as Aidan Cole and Conor
daly popped them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead.
But Attical got the bit between their
teeth, and by dint of pur application,
turned things around. By the 13th
minute, a free by Micheal Sloan and two
points from play by the excellent Mark
Doran had the underdogs in front! Points
by Lloyd Parr and Joe Fegan restored
Rostrevors lead, but as the interval
approached , another Micheal Sloan free
levelled matters again, and Rostrevor
were beginning to look rattled.
EFFORT
More effort was clearly needed, and more
was duly supplied. Conor daly, in
particular, raised his profile. He had a
point before half time as had Aidan
Cole, and one from Lloyd Parr at the
start of the second half gave the
visitors a more ci=onvincing 0-7 to 0-4
lead. Had patrick McAstocker not pulled
off a marvellous save from Aidan Cole,
the contest would have ended there and
then. Instead gritty Attical were back
at 0-6 to 0-7 by the 37th
minute thanks to two more points from
Mark Doran!
WINNING SURGE
Rostrevor required to do something
definitive now. So they hiot five
points over the next five minutes to
close out any real possibility of a home
shock. Conor daly had a hand in two of
them, racing clear down the right for
one, setting up Eddie magee for another.
Shaun Parr, a persistently creative
influence out of the Reds half back line
supplied the passes for points by Lloyd
Parr and Dermot Mackin, and when Mackin
squeezed the ball across the face of the
goal, the incoming Lloyd Parr scooped it
over the bar from a couple of yards
range!
OVER
Attical responded bravely and defenders
Paul Trainor and Marty Trainor came up
to reduce the Reds lead to 0-12 to 0-8
by the 50th minute, but there
was never any danger that they would get
near enough to worry Reds and though
Mark Doran hit arguably the best point
of the night in the 58th
minute, that score was sandwiched
between a couple from Eddie Magee and
Conor Daly as the result panned out in
line with expectations.
DIFFICULT
This was a preview of what Attical can
expect this year as they try to adapt to
the demands of the top division. They
played well; full backs Philip Sloan,
Brendan Sloan and Paul Trainor were
outstanding. At midfield, Mark Sloan and
Louis Sloan more than held their own.Up
front, Mark Doran and Oliver Sloan were
the only two Attical men in front of the
ball for most of the match, but they
showed great appetite and enterprise to
make the most of what came their way.
The problem for Attical was that, though
they matched the workrate of the
visitors for forty minutes, they were
left floundering once fatigue began to
take its toll.
Rostrevor, by contrast were going as
busily at the finish as they had at the
start. Their big flaw was in the area of
over-elaboration. Time and again, good
pointing opportunities were passed up as
players sought to transfer
responsibility for going for the score.
Their strength was in the quality of
football they played out of an
advaeturous half back line of Shaun
Parr, Sean Farrell and Eddie Magee.
Conor Daly shouldered responsibility
when his team needed him in the second
half, and Lloyd parr also had a
productive game, especially after the
interval. They played some lovely
football; but rather made heavy weather
of this win by struggling to match their
football with the scores it deserved. On
another day they would be made to pay
dearly.
Attical scorers; Mark Doran [0-5] 2
frees; Micheal Sloan [0-2] 2 frees; Paul
Trainor [0-1]; Martin Trainor [0-1].
Rostrevor scorers; Conor Daly [0-4] 1
free; Lloyd Parr [0-4] 1 free; Aidan
Cole [0-2] 1 free; Eddie Magee [0-2];
Joe Fegan [0-1]; Dermot Mackin [0-1].
Attical team; Patrick McAstocker; Philip
Sloan, Brendan Sloan, Paul Trainor;
Wayne McCulla, Martin Trainor, Shane
Fitzpatrick; Louis Sloan, Mark Sloan;
Daniel Sloan, Micheal Sloan, Gary
Morgan; Kevin Quinn, Mark Doran, Oliver
Sloan.
Rostrevor team; Padraig Mulholland;
Kevin McGrath, Martin Cole, Jarlath
Farrell; Shaun Parr, Sean Farrell, Eddie
Magee; Fintan McBreen, Conor Daly; Paul
Magee, Eamon McConville, Dermot Mackin;
Joe Fegan, Aidan Cole, Lloyd Parr.
Subs used; Gary Magee; Brian Cole; Colm
Murney.
Referee: Ned Morgan
Man of the Match: Conor Daly [Rostrevor]
