ACFL 1:
Rostrevor
1-12 Atticall 2-9
By Colm Fitzpatrick
ACL 1
Rostrevor 1-12 Atticall
2-9
Conor Dalys late equalising point
against Atticall
in pettit park last Friday was a thing
of wonder in itself. Almost six minutes
of added time had been played by referee
Dominic Brogan when Reds were awarded a
45, right out on the right hand
sideline.
RELIEF
It was point or bust for Conor, and his
shot was true, soaring well over the
crossbar,
Seconds later, the final whistle, and
cue muted cheers of embarrassed relief
from the home support, for if Conor’s
point was a wonder, and even greater
wonder was the point it earned for his
team.
NO MISTAKE
For make no mistake, this was a game
which Attical thoroughly deserved to
win. With fifty six minutes played, they
were four points to the good, and had
squandered enough chances to have
doubled their lead. This despite having
trailed 1-4 to 1-7 at half time with the
breeze at their backs. Reds had looked
the classier outfit in that first half,
especially when playing the ball through
Shaun Parr at midfield in the direction
of the stylish Brian Cole at full
forward, who was giving no less
respectable a full back than Brendan
Sloan a right grilling. Cole had hit two
excellent points as Rostrevor built up a
0-5 to 0-2 lead by the 15th
minute, the other points coming from
Colm Clerkin, and Lloyd Parr [2].It
didn’t appear to matter that Attical
leaped briefly into the lead at the
start of the second quarter, when
Micheal Sloan delivered the perfect
angled pass into the path of Mark Doran
who drilled his shot to the corner of
the net. By the 21st minute,
the sides were level once more after
points from Conor Daly and Gary Farrell,
and and three minutes later Eamon
McConville powered his way along the
end-line, and Lloyd Parr cleverly
flicked his fisted cross to the Attical
net.
CONFIDENT
Three points up and now with the wind
behind them Reds had every rason to be
confident coming out for the second
half. But wind isn’t much use to you if
you cant get the ball over the half way
line. Atticals midfield diamond of Kevin
Quinn, Mark Sloan, Louis Sloan and
Micheal Sloan is as strong an engine
room as you’ll find in the First
Division. Add half time sub Paddy Sloan
to that mix and you have a wall of
muscle between the two 45 metre lines
that Rostrevor were completely unable to
penetrate.
The surprising thing was that it took
Attical until the forty-fifth minute
before Micheal Sloan angled over a sweet
equaliing point from the left corner.
Then Louis Sloan, a mighty presence at
midfield, smashed his way deep into the
Rostrevor defense, and Jonny Morgan
skipped through to crash the ball to the
net off the underside of the crossbar. A
minute later Micheal Sloan repeated his
magic from the left wing and the
visitors were four points to the good.
Rostrevor were in desperate trouble.
They finally managed to find room for
Conor Daly by moving their chief
play-maker back to centre back. With
balls at last coming the length of Brian
Cole, things began to happen. Twice Cole
was fouled for lloyd parr and Conor daly
to convert the frees. Colm Clerkin
kicked a good point from play, and Reds
seemed just to have scraped a draw when
Conor Daly sallied up the left to level
the scores after 59 minutes. Justice
appeared to have been served, however,
when Oliver Sloan restored Atticals lead
from a free early in added time. Reds
late assault seemed to have come to
nought when Paddy McAstocker cleared off
the line from Joe Fegan, but then came
the drama of that late Daly equaliser.
UNLUCKY
The points may have
been shared, but certainly not the
merit. Attical have much more to be
happy about this week. It has taken them
time to adjust to the First Division
demands, but they are now on track in
terms of workrate and concentration.
Louis Sloan was massive for them at
midfield, but Kevin Quinn, Mark Sloan,
Paddy Sloan, Mark Doran, Jonny Morgan
and Micheal Sloan all looked well up to
the mark. Rostrevor clearly have their
problems. Shaun Parr and Conor Daly
looked class when afforded space around
midfield, but in the absence of the
injured Colm Murney, they were totally
unable to dig out possession once
Attical increased the intensity in this
sector in the second half. Brian Cole’s
form was the one bright spot for the
selectors, but this result will not have
gone unnoticed by their championship
opponents, Annaclone, who are in tip-top
form at the moment. Some Annaclone folk
may wish to advise caution, wondering
whether this was not, in fact, a freak
result. Rotrevor folk, on the other
hand, know that it was not!
Rostrevor scorers; Lloyd Parr [1-3] 0-1
free; Conor Daly [0-4] 1 free, 1 45;
Colm Clerkin [0-2]; Brian Cole [0-2].
Gary Farrell [0-1].
Attical scorers; Jonny Morgan [1-1];
Mark Doran [1-1]; Mark Sloan [0-2]; Gary
Morgan [0-2] 2 frees; Micheal Sloan
[0-2]; Oliver Sloan [0-1] 1 free.
Rostrevor team; Padraig Mulholland;
Jarlath Farrell, Gary Magee, Kevin
McGrath; Turlough Murphy, Sean Farrell,
Dermot Mackin; Shaun Parr, Conor Daly;
Eamon McConville, Fintan McBreen, Gary
Farrell; Lloyd Parr, Brian Cole, Colm
Clerkin.
Attical team; Patrick McAstocker; Philip
Sloan, Brendan Sloan, Paul Trainor;
Shane Fitzpatrick, Kevin Quinn, Ryan
Sloan; Louis Sloan, Mark Sloan; Martin
Trainor, Micheal Sloan, Daniel Sloan;
Gary Morgan, Mark Doran, Jonny Morgan.
Referee: Dominic Brogan [Kilcoo]
Man of the match: Louis Sloan [Attical]
