ACFL 1: AUSTIN SAVES
REDS
Rostrevor 1-11 Kilcoo 1-10
By Colm Fitzpatrick
ACL 1: AUSTIN SAVES REDS - Rostrevor 1-11 Kilcoo 1-10
A fifty-sixth minute point from veteran
player-manager Jarlath Austin was enough
to ensure a serene end to the season
at Pettit Park , where the home side
held out for the win that steers them
clear of the relegation play-offs. Both
sides came in to this game with championship
wounds to lick, Rostrevor’s being
much the more livid in the wake of their
humiliation by Mayobridge three nights
previously. But both still served up
a fast and interesting game, with Reds
more urgent need for the points just
seeing them through at the finish.
FLUCTUATIONS
The play fluctuated in lively fashion
right from the start. After five minutes,
the bubbling play of Conor Lavery had
Kilcoo two up, the points scored by
Conor himself and by young Paul devlinBut
within five minutes, Rostrevor were
level at 0-3 apiece, one of their points
flicked over by Shaun Parr, another
the result of enterprising play on the
left from Lloyd Parr. A pair of excellently
worked points by Sean kelly and Phelim
McGreevey left the visitors 0-5 to 0-3
in front at the end of the opening quarter,
but Reds came back strongly. Colm Clerkin
converted a free, Shaun Parrs point
from the wing drew the sides level and
Shaun parr then created the chance for
Dermot mackin to put Rostrevor in front
for the first time in the 21st minute.
Four minutes later, it looked even better
for the home side when Adrian mackin
wriggled through the tiniest gap along
the end-line and shot high to the net
from an unlikely angle!
RALLY
But kilcoo were far from finished. Paul
Devlin and Conor lavery had points in
the two minutes before the break to
keep magpies in touch, but it did not
look enough to turn the trend of the
game. Reds attacked the second half
with hunger, and inside six minutes
had increased their lead to 1-9 to 0-7,
courtesy of two Conor daly frees ans
a sweet angled point from Lloyd parr.
But kilcoos decision to swith Conor
lavery to full forward introduced a
whole new dynamic. The little Kilcoo
man caused havoc every time the ball
came in his direction. He was behind
points by Sean Kelly and Paul Devlin,
and even though Colm Clerkin raced through
to fist another Rostrevor point in the
43rd minute, Conor Devlin placed Phelim
McGreevey to shoot low to padraig Mulhollands
left in the 47th minute and it was game
on again. The tide seemed to have turned
in Kilcoos favour when young Paul Devlin
shot a superb point from 50 yards to
level the scores with seven minutes
remaining, but Rostrevor dug in for
the points they needed, and Jarlath
Austin rounded off a spell of sustained
pressure with what turned out to be
the winning score in the 56th minute.
PATCHY
Rostrevor had clearly not recovered
fully from the mauling they had received
early in the week, but they will be
grateful that they now do not have to
face the ordeal of relegation play-offs
with their morale so much in tatters.Colm
Murney and Martin Cole worked hard in
defence, while Jarlath Austin and Sean
Farrell ensured enough ball went forward
for Shaun Parr and Lloyd Parr to do
the damage. Kilcoo don’t need
the points just now, but they still
could be doing with the boost of a win
before moving in to Top Four Play-offs.
On Friday, Sean O’Hanlon and Niall
Brannigan were fine defenders, Phelim
McGreevey was always prominent at midfield
and Conor Lavery sparkled up front with
county minor Paul Devlin showing admirable
accuracy when called upon.
Rostrevor scorers; Adrian Mackin [1-0];
Conor Daly [0-3] 3 frees; Shaun Parr
[0-2]; Lloyd Parr [0-2]; Colm Clerkin
[0-2] 1 free; Dermot Mackin [0-1]; Jarlath
Austin [0-1]
Kilcoo scorers; Paul Devlin [0-5] 4
frees; Phelim McGreevey [1-1]; Sean
Kelly [0-2]; Conor Lavery [0-1]; Conor
Devlin [0-1]
Rostrevor team: Padraig Mulholland;
Kevin McGrath, Niall Farrell, Gary Magee;
Martin Cole, Colm Murney, Dermot Mackin;
Conor Daly, Conor Daly; Sean Farrell,
Colm Clerkin, Adrian Mackin; Eamon McConville,
Shaun Parr, Lloyd Parr.
Kilcoo team; Stephen Kane; Brian O’Hanlon,
Sean O’Hanlon, Gerard McEvoy;
Niall Brannigan, Niall Morgan, Conor
Morgan; Martin McClean, Phelim McGreevey;
Paul Devlin, Dominic McEvoy, Conor Lavery;
Emmet Devlin, Paul Greenan, Sean Kelly.Subs
used; Gary McEvoy; Damien Grant; Conor
McClean; Niall McEvoy.
