AFCL
1: Rostrevor
0-13
Liatroim 1-6
By Colm Fitzpatrick
ACL 1
REDS UP THE PACE
Rostrevor 0-13 Liatroim 1-6
The return of Martin Doran and Adrian
Macken from lengthy injury absences
injected a welcome dash of pace into
Rostrevors sluggish attack for Fridays
visit of Liatroim. Indeed, such was the
impact of the two speedy returnees that
Rostrevor were assured of breaking their
three-defeats-in-a-row sequence long
before the final whistle.
PROLIFIC
The two corner forwards, starting for
the first time this season, scored seven
points from play between them, five of
these in the first half as Reds waltzed
to a 0-8 to 0-2 half time lead. Two
frees from Lloyd Parr and a fisted point
from the busy Joe Fegan made up the home
teams interval total, and Liatroim
rarely featured as an attacking force,
with the exception of a fine score from
young Micheal McCartan. But the
highlights of the half were provided by
the pace of Doran and the artistry of
Macken, with added entertainment flowing
from the sparky clash between Joe Fegan
and substitute full back Aidan Rice.
RALLY
By the fortieth minute Rostrevor had
extended their lead to 0-11 to 0-3,
Martin Doran racing in to fist his
fourth point in the opening minute of
the half, Lloyd Parr converting a free,
and Kevin McGrath storming up an empty
middle to shoot their third score of the
half. Liatroims only real threat was
being issued by lively corner forward
Aidan Brown, and the county hurler
briefly raised the visitors hopes with
his third and fourth points, in the 42nd
and 45th minutes.But
Rostrevor never loosened their grip.
Martin Doran set up Adrian Macken for a
gorgeous point from the left, and then
Adrian bamboozled two Liatroim defenders
in the space of a hankie before crashing
a shot off the far upright with Hugh
Smith well- beaten. Fintan McBreen
picked up the rebound to claim
Rostrevors final point of the evening,
but Mackens flash of clash would have
been a more suitable finale. As it was,
the finale was actually provided by
Liatroim, with one sub, Declan Burns
hitting a point in the 58th
minute, and another, Paul Burns,
pouncing on a broken ball to nip through
for the only goal of the game in added
time. That left only four points between
the teams at the finish and suggested
that this had been a genuine contest.
But it really never was
IMPRESSIVE
This was a marked improvement from Reds,
with the inclusion of Martin Doran,
Adrian Macken and Conor Macken
completely rejuvenating their forward
play. Another encouraging sign for
manager Aidan Farrell was the form of
young Colm Murney, who fielded some
great ball at midfield, while, despite
facing a formidable Liatroim half
forward line, Reds half backs, Shaun
Parr, Sean farrell and jarlath farrell
again dictated the play, while young
padraig Mulholland pulled off a copule
of spectacular saves in goal.
DOUGHTY
Liatroim had doughty defenders in Aidan
Rice and Eamon Middleton, with Aidan
O’Prey making a difference when moved
out to midfield in the second half. Up
front, however, they were devoid of
ideas, and Aidan Brown was the only one
to unsettle the Rostrevor defence all
evening.
Rostrevor scorers; Martin Doran [0-4];
Adrian Mackin [0-3]; Lloyd Parr [0-3] 3
frees; Joe Fegan [0-1]; Kevin McGrath
[0-1]; Fintan McBreen [0-1]
Liatroim scorers; Aidan Brown [0-4] 3
frees; Paul Burns [1-0]; Declan Burns
[0-1]; Micheal McCartan [0-1]
Rostrevor team; Padraig Mulholland;
Eddie Magee, Gary Magee, Kevin McGrath;
Shaun Parr, Sean Farrell, Jarlath
Farrell; Colm Murney, Jarlath Austin;
Lloyd Parr, Fintan McBreen, Conor Macken;
Adrian Macken, Joe Fegan, Martin Doran.
Liatroim team; Hugh Smith; Declan O’Prey,
damien Rice, Paul Middleton; Ciaran
Bannon, Eamon Middleton, Stephen
O’Higgins; Tommy Armstrong, Donnchadh
O’Higgins; Micheal McCartan, Patrick
Pearse McCartan, Aidan O’Prey; Peter
Owens, Dan Morgan, Aidan Brown
Man of the match: Martin Doran [rostrevor]
