Rockcorry 0-21 Currin 0-8

McGuigan Builders Intermediate Football Championship – Preliminary Round

Rock’s superior finishing decisive

Team: Jamie Smith, Colin Reilly, Damien Matthews, Garry Calvert, Keith Daly 0-1, Johnny Reilly, Stephen McGuirk 0-2, Niall McKeown 0-1, Mark Daly 0-4, Keelan Clerkin 0-1,  Barry Patterson, Noel Carroll 0-3, Mark McGuirk 0-3, Paul McKeown 0-3, Dwayne Rooney 0-1.

Subs: Liam Connolly (0-1) for Barry Patterson, Anthony Tate (0-1) for Mark McGuirk.

On Saturday 12^th June we made the short journey to Pairc Emmet, Aghabog to take on Currin in the preliminary round of the McGuigan Builders intermediate football championship and we easily qualified for the next round of the championship with a showdown against Doohamlet after a powerful, energetic and stylish second half display that saw us score thirteen points as we held Currin to just four in the same period to emerge with a deserved victory on a score-line Rockcorry 0-21 Currin 0-8. Speaking after the game our team manager Tom Daly praised the lads for their gallant performance as “they put their heart and soul into it, but we have to build on this. There’s no point doing it one day and be happy with that, we have to keep performing in every single game”. He was also quick to point out that “nothing has been won yet and everyone must continue to work hard between now and the next round. The championship is now over and we must now concentrate on the league game against Donaghmoyne next Saturday”.

We had the aid of a useful breeze in the first half and ironically, Currin took the lead (for what was to prove to be the only time in the match) with less than thirty seconds elapsed. Shortly afterwards an attempt by Mark McGuirk went close but drifted wide. It wasn’t long before we levelled matters, as Dwayne Rooney finished a good move, in the 3^rd minute that involved Mark Daly and Keelan Clerkin. Stephen McGuirk converted a free-kick in the 5^th minute following excellent work by the forwards as they prevented the Currin defenders from getting out easy and were awarded a free for their efforts. A couple of minutes later we got a forty-five and Mark Daly’s effort landed short and the Currin defenders were able to clear their lines. In the 9^th minute, Currin attacked but their effort at the target fell short and into the hands of Jamie Smith who launched a counter attack that saw Mark Daly deliver a pass into Mark McGuirk but his shot went narrowly wide. Keelan Clerkin extended our lead when he manoeuvred his way through the Currin defence to score a fabulous point after exchanging passes with Keith Daly. A Currin strike, in the 12^th minute, landed short again and Jamie Smith had no problem clearing the danger.

Moments later we were awarded a sideline ball but we gave away possession, however, Currin were penalised for an illegal hand pass and we were awarded a free-out but we needlessly lost possession and Currin took advantage as they closed the gap back to a single point 0-3 to 0-2. From the ensuing kick-out we won possession and Mark Daly shipped a heavy tackle before slipping a pass through to the on rushing Noel Carroll who delivered a measured pass into Mark McGuirk and he side stepped his opponent to finish clinically over the bar. In the 17^th minute, Colin Reilly was adjudged to foul his opponent, which appeared very harsh, and the free-kick landed into our danger zone and was scrambled for a forty-five that was consequently kicked wide.

Niall McKeown fouled his opponent, in the 18^th minute, and the Currin free-taker hit the ball wide via the upright. An attempt by Barry Patterson, in the 20^th minute, landed short but Currin struggled badly to clear the danger, as our forwards were making it extremely awkward for the Currin defenders, and we won back possession and Stephen McGuirk kicked over a wonderful point to put us three points up 0-5 to 0-2. A minute later Johnny Reilly was fouled approximately thirty metres out, as he was going down on the ball and Mark Daly was on hand to convert the free-kick. In the 23^rd minute, Currin closed the deficit when they pointed from a free-kick. However, shortly afterwards, Mark Daly finished off a fine move with a superb long range point, following excellent work by Keelan Clerkin and Keith Daly.

Damien Matthews fouled his opponent in the 26^th minute and Currin notched the free over the bar to reduce the gap back to three points. We replied swiftly as Niall McKeown raced through the heart of the Currin defence to tap over a lovely point. Moments later Mark McGuirk cut inside from the left wing but his effort curled agonisingly wide of the posts and the scoreboard at the interval read Rockcorry 0-8 Currin 0-4 which left us in a relatively good position at the break.

I don’t know what was said at half time but whatever was said it worked as we increased the tempo in the second half and took complete control of the game pushing Currin further onto the back foot as we played some outstanding football. It began, right from the throw-in, as Niall McKeown made a powerful solo run goal-bound but his shot at the target was well saved by the Currin keeper as he pushed it wide for a forty-five. Mark McGuirk took the forty-five but it landed short and Keelan Clerkin’s effort drifted slightly wide.

At this stage we moved up a gear and were prolific in front of the posts, scoring five points without reply during a five minute blitz beginning with a point from the boot of Noel Carroll, in the 3^rd minute, with a superb effort from thirty metres. Noel Carroll was in the thick of the action a minute later when he was hauled down and Mark Daly quickly delivered the free-kick towards the impressive Mark McGuirk who fired over a fantastic point from almost an impossible angle. In the 5^th minute, Mark Daly burst through the Currin defence and was brought down very close to the large square and he tapped the free-kick over the bar. Then a minute later Keith Daly added another point when he collected a pass from Dwayne Rooney rounded his opponent and from the right wing kicked a great score. Paul McKeown got his name on the score-sheet in the 7^th minute when he kicked over the bar to open up a nine point lead 0-13 to 0-4. It was these five consecutive points that certainly took the wind out of Currin’s sails, though they did respond in the 9^th minute when they pointed from a free-kick after Noel Carroll was adjudged to foul his opponent. However, we continued to enjoy greater supremacy and we took advantage to forge further ahead when Paul McKeown scored two points in quick succession. The first when he finished off a fine move after taking a pass from Mark McGuirk, a move that also included Noel Carroll and a minute later, he hit the second to stretch our advantage when he sublimely pointed from thirty metres out.

A strong bench provides many options and when Liam Connolly was introduced to the game for the impressive Barry Patterson (who gave a superb all round performance for forty minutes) he also made a massive contribution as he continued where Barry left off showing his power and strength. In the 13^th minute, Stephen McGuirk dispossessed his opponent and instigated arguably one of the best moves of the game that included Keith Daly, Liam Connolly, Noel Carroll and was finished off by Mark McGuirk as he turned sharply and pointed. Currin responded instantly when they scored a fine point but when Liam Connolly won the ensuing kick-out he off-loaded to Mark Daly who went on a surging solo run and he skilfully finished with a great point. Two minutes later Noel Carroll increased our lead when he collected a pass from Keith Daly and dissected the uprights with a magnificent score. A bizarre occurrence happened in the 17^th minute when Niall McKeown was fouled but Mark Daly’s free-kick effort drifted slightly wide!!!

Stout defending by Colin Reilly, Garry Calvert and Damien Matthews frustrated the Currin forwards and as a result they kicked wides in the 18^th and 19^th minute before Liam Connolly unleashed a brilliant long range point to go 0-19 to 0-6 ahead. In the 24^th minute, Currin closed the gap, when they converted a free-kick and two minutes later a vital tackle by Niall McKeown denied Currin a potential goal chance as he put the ball over the end-line for a forty-five, which led to nothing but they did manage to raise the white flag in the 27^th minute but it proved to be only a consolation score as we added two further points. The first, a long range point, from Noel Carroll in the 28^th minute, (truthfully many people were distracted by an off the ball incident or tussle that occurred in the midfield area) and Anthony Tate rounded off a winning performance in style with a last minute point from play to leave the final score Rockcorry 0-21 Currin 0-8. 

If I was a teacher and this was the leaving certificate (I did say if) I would have to award all players with an A1 grade for their wholehearted endeavour as they put in a huge effort. A thirteen point win may suggest we had a handy hour but there were occasions in the first half when we were definitely tested by a battling Currin side but ultimately, they (Currin) had no answer to our second half performance as we showed a greater level of urgency, spirit and clinical finishing to put them on the back foot for long periods. Whether Currin faded dramatically due to a weakness on their behalf or a resurgence by us I will leave that for you to decide but there’s no doubt it was a very impressive, all round, team performance that proved vastly superior on the day to emerge victorious. Arnold Palmer, the famous golfer, once quoted “golf is a game of inches. The most important are the six inches between your ears”. When you think about it, you can apply this statement to most sports or anything in life. The way you think can either stand in your way or assist you in achieving your goals. We certainly had the right attitude, last Saturday evening, as soon as we arrived at the field (or even before it) the lads were focused and mentality prepared for the game and I have to compliment our team management Tom, Cormac and David for having them ‘tuned in’ upstairs. It was also nice to see the team on the field and ready for action in plenty of time. It doesn’t happen that often with Rock teams, once in a blue moon perhaps, but it’s a good habit to get into! Moving on to our defence they were strong and tenacious in their tackling and restricted Currin’s attack to just four points in each half. Our midfield partnership of Mark Daly and Barry Patterson got the better of their opponents. Especially, Mark who gave an outstanding performance in the second half as his inspirational leadership saw him completely subdue the county midfield star Dick Clerkin. The game was played at an extremely fast pace and our forwards showed that they were far more clinical in front of the posts as they notched over some high quality scores. So well done lads, I hope you enjoyed the moment last Saturday night as its back to business this weekend as you have a tough league encounter against Donaghmoyne on Saturday and we will be looking for a repeat performance. Keep up the good work lads.