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South Down Under 20 semi-final - Rostrevor 1-8 Bosco 1-5

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South Down Under 20 semi-final - Rostrevor 1-8 Bosco 1-5
BRAVE BOSCO INCHED OUT

We are not supposed to have worthwhile games of Gaelic Football to talk about at this time of the year. Yet Bosco and Rostrevor served up a full-blooded entertainment under horrible conditions at Pettit Park last Sunday. Enthralling as it was, it seemed as if, with three minutes to go, we were going to be in for the treat of extra time, the teams tied, after a breathless struggle, on 1-5 apiece. Time for something special to break the deadlock, and something special was duly supplied by man of the match, Colm Murney. Implacable all through at centre back, he raised his game to win two unlikely balls in the last couple of minutes and spark moves finished with decisive scores for Conor Mackin and Anthony Donnan. And then he was brilliantly at the heart of Reds defiance of a passionate Bosco response which saw Paddy Magill strike the juncture of post and crossbar with Padraig Mulholland flummoxed before Anthony Donnan coolly tapped the ball over the bar for the insurance point with the last kick of the game.

UNCOMFORTABLE
So disregard the scoreline. This was anything but comfortable for the Rostrevor favourites. As was clear from the very start as Ciaran Murtagh and Chris Duggan cut through the Rostrevor defence in the second minute for Declan Morgan to shoot crisply to the Reds net. Chris Duggan then picked up the pieces after a Kyle Brennan run was stymied and put the visitors four points in front after six minutes and they stayed that way until the 23rd minute. By then, however, the underlying picture had changed. Colm Murney and Paddy Mooney had turned the tide in Rostrevors favour, but the home side had squandered seven wides to Boscos frugal two in the same period. Much credit for this has to rest with a sturdy Bosco defence, built around Ciaran Murtagh and Robbie McDonald, but pressure duly told, and in the final five minutes of the half, Anthony Donnan kicked two frees and Colm Clerkin one to leave Reds only 0-4 to 1-2 adrift at the interval.

BOSCO BLITZ
As in the first half, the first ten minutes of the second belonged to Bosco, but this time all they had to show was a Thomas McDonald point, Shots from Chris Duggan and larry McAlinden which hit the post did not advance the Bosco cause, and all of a sudden the game was turned on its head when Conor Mackin veered in from the left in the 43rd minute and Anthony Donnan brilliantly gathered his pass to slot the ball inches inside Ryan Rocks left hand upright! Rostrevor were in front for the first time, but it did not last long as Bosco rallied for Niall Muovanney to equalise from a free three minutes later. And when a Colm Clerkin free restored Rostrevors lead, another Mulvanney free had the teams level once more after 57 minutes. But Reds main men stepped itr up. Colm Murney wom two great balls to set up moves which ended with, first, Conor Mackin , and then, Anthony Donnan, spear their shots over the crossbar, and two minutes into added time, Paddy Mooney raised the Bosco siege with a perceptive through ball which Anthony Donnan wisely opted to tap over the bar for an insurance point.

WELL DONE
Well done to both sides for serving up such a keen game of football on a day which argued against any appetite. Bosco, with half of theuir team already with junior Championship medals, looked credible winners for most of the game. They had super performances from Ciaran Murtagh, Robbie McDonald and Kevin Cummins in an alert and intelligent defence. There were four very decent footballers around the midfield area and Boscos 17 year old Chris Duggan was the best of them. Up front, Kyle Brennan and Thomas McDonald got through a power of work, but the only real danger was brought to bear through Ruairi Devlin and Niall Mulvanney.
Rostrevor probably deserved their win. They had to do a lot of good defending for it, largely through Gary Magee, Sean Magee, Paddy Mooney and the outstanding Colm Murney. Up front Dermot Morgan was the most effective of the half forwards and the point of the attack was focussed through Anthony Donnan and Colm Clerkin.

Rostrevor scorers; Anthony Donnan [1-5] 3 frees; Colm Clerkin [0-2] 2 frees; Conor Mackin [0-1].
Bosco scorers; Declan Morgan [1-0]; Niall Mulvanney [0-3] 3 frees; Chris Duggan [0-1]; Tommy McDonald [0-1]
Rostrevor team; Padraig Mulholland; Shane Murney, Gary Magee, Michael Boyle; Sean Magee, Colm Murney, Paddy Mooney; Conor Magee, Ryan Watt; Dermot Morgan, Conor Mackin, Sean Mackin; Richie Reynolds, Colm Clerkin, Anthony Donnan.
Subs; Brian Keenan
Bosco team; Ryan Rocks; Francie Boyle, Robert McDonald, Kevin Cummins; Nicky Shields, Ciaran Murtagh, Paul Mckeown; Richard Kimberley, Chris Duggan; Declan Morgan, Kyle Brennan, Thomas McDonald; Ruairi Devlin, Larry McAlnden, Niall Mulvanney
Subs; Paddy Magill
Referee: Peter McClorey
Man of the match: Colm Murney [Rostrevor]