ACL 1
REDS SEE THE LIGHT
Clonduff 0-10 Rostrevor 1-17
For most of this season a disgruntled Rostrevor support has watched with frustration as their team struggled to master a fussy short-passing game which brought them only fitful success. So Mondays victory over neighbours Clonduff will have been welcomed even more for the style which brought it about as for the margin itself.
DISCOVERED
For this was the day that Reds discovered the beauty of the “long ball”, and with the pace of Lloyd Parr and the intelligence of Shaun Parr to exploit the early and inviting service delivered their way, the visitors progressed to their most impressive form of the summer to date.
DIFFICULTIES
But they had their difficulties. The new 2tactics2 were not easily applied from the start. Indeed, Clonduff looked much the better organised team in the opening stages, flitting to a 0-3 to 0-0 lead after five minutes, a lead which would have been even more commanding but for a spectacular save by Padraig Mulholland from darren O’hagan in the move which led to the second of paul Mcpolins two early points. But once Eamon McConville settled into his sweeper role, Reds began to sort out their game. Points by Lloyd Parr, Conor Daly and Shaun Parr brought them level by 10 minutes, and Gary Haughian had to be brave to save at the feet of Lloyd Parr after a Shaun Parr cross-shot came back off the crossbar. Gary didn’t enjoy as much success from another testing Shaun Parr cross-shot in the 17th minute, however. This time the ball squirmed under his body, and Lloyd Parr pounced to fiorce it over the goal-line.
PRESSED ADVANTAGE
Rostrevor went on to press their advantage. Three more points from Lloyd Parr. interspersed with a surging run out of defence by Jarlath Farrell left the five points clear a minute from the break. But Clonduff still had menace. An inspirational point by Shane ward raised their standard, and right on the whistle ward had a golden chance to put his team right back in contention, only to be baulked by a marvellous save from young Mulholland!
INSPIRATION
Had the goal gone in we might well have seen a very different Clonduff in the second haf. But the inspiration was to Rostrevor from their goalkeepers heroics and within five minutes of the rstart they were out of sight as Conor Daly, Jarlath Austin, Lloyd Parr and Conor Daly, again from a free, established a secure 1-12 to 0-7 lead. Even though Clonduff eventually got on top of the Shaun Parr menace by deploying Shane O’Hagan in front of him and Francis Quinn behind him, there was so little happening for them at the other end of the field that the game gradually fizzled out in a defensive stalemate.They managed frees in the 40th and 49th minutes from Jason Brown and Plunkett Mc Conville, but the final ten minutes reverted to Rostrevor control as Martin Doran, Colm Clerkin and Conor Daly [3], put the polish on an uplifting victory for Reds. That Jason Brown’s injury time point was Clonduff’s only score from play in the second half says it all about just how demoralised Yellows looked by the full time whistle.
IMPRESSIVE
Rostrevor looked impressive once they found their game. There were still too many occasions when the early pass was ignored in favour of a running approach, but enough of the new style did come through to give their supporters a glimpse of what might yet be possible. On Monday, eamon McConville looked so much more comfortable as a defensive co-ordinator, and Jarlath Farrell, Eddie Magee and Sean Farrell were freed to play the adventurous roles they so enjoy. Martin Doran played maturely as an extra half forward, we saw more of Conor Daly as a passer than as a runner, and the early ball to Shaun Parr and Lloyd Parr reaped rich dividends. Clonduff started with enormous promise and John Fegan, Paul McPolin and Shane Ward all caused problems, but they struggled to impose themselves elsewhere in the field, despite a strong first half from Paul McShane.
Clonduff scorers; Paul McPolin [0-2]; John Fegan [0-2]; Plunkett McConville [0-2]; Jason Brown [0-2]; Darren O’Hagan [0-1]; Shane Ward [0-1]
Rostrevor scorers; Lloyd Parr [1-5]; Conor Daly [0-7]; Shaun Parr [0-1]; Jarlath Farrell [0-1]; Jarlath Austin [0-1]; Martin Doran [0-1]; Colm Clerkin [0-1]
Clonduff team: Gary Haughian; John McPolin, Paudie Matthews, P.O.McConville; Gary Mcdonald, Jamie Farrell, Francis Quinn; Paul McShane, Plunkett McConville; Paul McPolin, John Fegan, Darren O’Hagan; Shane Ward, Jason Brown, Eugene Brannigan.
Rostrevor team: Padraig Mulholland; Eddie Magee, Paul Magee, Jarlath Farrell; Gary Magee, Colm Murney, Sean Farrell; Conor Daly, Jarlath Austin; Eamon McConville, Colm Clerkin, Adrian Mackin; Martin Doran, Shaun Parr, Lloyd Parr.
Man of the match: Lloyd Parr [Rostrevor]