Rockcorry 0-15 Sean McDermott’s 0-8

Monaghan Electrical Reserve Football League Division 4, Round 4 – 26^th April 2010

Team: Gerard O’Brien, Cathal Sheridan, Rory Carroll, Pauric Reilly 0-1, Shane Wynne, Colin Reilly, Ryan Sharkey,  Martin Carroll 0-2, Liam Connolly 0-3, Jamie Smith 0-4, Colin Quinn 0-1, Anthony Tate 0-2, John Greenan 0-1, Declan McCullagh 0-1 and Conor McGeough.

 We played Sean McDermotts in the reserve league competition on Monday 26^th April. Played in good conditions we opened the scoring in the first minute when Colin Quinn notched over a fine point from play. Shortly afterwards Jamie Smith elected to go for a goal but his shot at the target went wide. A couple of minutes later Colin Quinn had a goal opportunity but his effort also drifted wide.

When Sean McDermott’s made their first attack in the fifth minute they were awarded a free kick but their strike at the posts went narrowly wide. John Greenan had an opportunity to double our lead but his attempt at the uprights was slightly wide. 

 In the ninth minute, Sean McDermott’s drew level, after Cathal Sheridan was deemed to foul his opponent on the twenty-one metre line and the Sean’s free taker made no mistake and slotted the ball over the bar. We responded immediately but Colin Quinn’s effort was blocked for a forty-five but unfortunately it led to nothing. Sean McDermott’s took the lead in the 12^th minute when the notched over a neat point from play. 

 Martin Carroll hit a terrific point from play in the 15^th minute to draw the sides level and in the 16^th, 19^th and 24^th minutes we missed some very easy scoring chances. On the other hand, Sean McDermott’s made the most of their shooting opportunities and went ahead in the 17^th minute and extended their lead in the 28^th minute with another point to open up a two point lead. Martin Carroll closed the deficit back to single point when he scored another excellent point from play and Jamie Smith had a chance to draw the sides level but his free kick at the end of the first half went wide to leave the score at the break Rockcorry 0-3 Sean McDermott’s 0-4. 

During the first half, our play had a familiar pattern with wave after wave of attacks, but poor shooting resulted in eight wides and numerous attempts (I lost count!) landing short into the goalie’s hands. Whatever team management said to them during the interval it certainly made an impact as we saw a much improved performance from the lads as they produced some wonderful football.

On the restart, Anthony Tate opened the scoring when he completed an excellent move with a fisted point within one minute to draw the sides level. We took the lead shortly afterwards when Liam Connolly scored a wonderful long range point. However, Sean McDermott’s responded immediately with a neat score from play to make it all square again. Pauric Reilly came forward in the fourth minute and slotted over an excellent point from the right wing but a minute later, Sean McDermott’s replied and kicked over a fine point to make it 0-6 apiece. 

We hit further wides in the 7^th and 8^th minutes from Colin Quinn and Liam Connolly. However, Liam made amends for his earlier miss with another fine strike in the 10^th minute to put us one point up. The next five minutes we hit a purple patch with six unanswered points. The first coming from Declan McCullagh when he completed a move that started from the other end of the field and included Gerard O’Brien, Martin Carroll and Liam Connolly. 

John Greenan increased our lead when he tapped over a point in the 13^th minute. Jamie Smith extended our advantage with a pointed free in the 14^th minute and a point from play shortly afterwards. Liam Connolly registered his third point in the 17^th minute with another fine long range effort. In the 18^th minute Shane Wynne was fouled and Jamie Smith curled over the free kick to open up a seven point lead 0-13 to 0-6. Sean McDermott’s closed the gap in the 21^st minute when they pointed a free kick. We restored our seven point lead in the 23^rd minute, when Anthony Tate sailed over a brilliant point from thirty metres. Sean McDermott’s notched over their final point in the 24^th minute and they were unfortunate a couple of minutes later when their strike at goals hit the crossbar, but our keeper maintains he had it covered! Jamie Smith completed the scoring in the 28^th minute with a neat finish to secure victory on a score-line Rockcorry 0-15 Sean McDermott’s 0-8.