Championship Game – Rockcorry v Eire Og

Our performance in Scotstown on last Sunday evening raised the spirits of our Senior team considering our recent league form as we put in solid effort to defeat Eire Og in the opening round of the Intermediate Championship. Final Score Rockcorry 1 – 12 Eire 0 – 5. In truth it was not the most exciting of games and Eire Og will hardly be impressed by the fact that they failed to score from play. The scoreline did not reflect the type of performance we know Eire Og are capable of and I am sure they will be back with an improved offering next time round.  Our first half tally should have been better with us hitting five wides, a great save by the Eire Og keeper and twice hitting the post. This was not our best showing either and we are well aware there is work still to be done by us in order to progress in this competition. Nevertheless, well done to the team and management on achieving the victory.

The game was only three minutes old when an alert Johnny Reilly managed to get a hand on speculative pass but was unfortunate when his effort hit the post. Two minutes later however team captain Mark Daly opened the scoring with a point from a free. There was no further scoring until the 11th minute when this time Johnny Reilly fisted the ball over the bar after a pass from Mark Daly. Three minutes later Eire Og opened their account with a point from a free. A minute later Dwayne Rooney burst through the Eire Og defence only to see his screamer saved brilliantly by the Eire Og goalkeeper Paul Hand who nevertheless could not prevent the ball going over the bar for a Rockcorry point. In the 17th minute Paddy Croarkin reduced the deficit with a point from a free. A minute later Dwayne Rooney rattled the Eire Og woodwork for Rockcorry but Eire Og managed to clear their lines from the rebound. Thereafter, Mark Daly taker slotted over three more points from frees to increase our advantage. Then in the 28th minute a Rockcorry score that was to prove pivotal in deciding the result occurred. The ever dashing Noel Carroll raiding from his half back position latched on to a pass from Paul Mc Keown and somehow managed to drive the ball to the Eire Og net with just two minutes remaining in the half. This was a crucial score for us and gave us a great platform for the second half. Half time score Rockcorry 1 – 6, Eire Og 0 – 2.

Eire Og opened the second half scoring with a point from a free in the first minute of the moiety. Four minutes later Owen Fitzpatrick who is playing the best football of his career at present popped up to extend the Rockcorry lead with a point of his own. A minute later an indiscretion in the Rockcorry backline was duly punished by Paddy Croarkin who kicked another point from a free. Mark Daly and the unerring Stephen Mc Guirk added points from frees for Rockcorry in the next few minutes before Niall Mc Keown set up Mickey Conlon to extend the Rockcorry lead even further. In the 23rd minute Eire Og added their last score, a point from a free. The game fizzled out as a contest at this stage with Rockcorry dominating the possession stakes.Then in the 31st minute Noel Carroll added his tally by scoring a point after a move that included 10 passes. The ageless Mickey Conlon concluded the scoring deep in injury time with his second point of the game for Rockcorry.

Team and Scorers – Anthony Tate, Ciaran O’Hart, Damien Matthews, Pauric Reilly, Noel Carroll (1 -1), Keith Daly, Stephen Mc Guirk ( 0 -1), Owen Fitzpatrick ( 0 -1), Mark Daly (0 – 5), Johnny Reilly ( 0 -1), Seamus Carroll, Niall Mc Keown, Dwayne Rooney ( 0 – 1), Paul Mc Keown, Mickey Conlon ( 0 – 2). Subs: Colin Quinn (Seamus Carroll), Garry Calvert, Rory Carroll, Cathal Sheridan and Conor Mc Geough.