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Urris secure first leg win
09.07.09
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NA ROSSA...2-7 M. Caulfield 2-1; M. Clerkin 0-3 (1 free); JP McCready 0-3 (2 frees) URRIS...1-11 E. Kelly 0-4; B. Kelly 1-1; A. Friel 0-2; R. Ivors 0-2 (2 frees); M. Grant 0-1; D. Doherty 0-1 (1 free) by Chris McNulty, for Inishowen Independent, at Páirc Dooey URRIS have the advantage in this Intermediate Championship First Round tie after the Inishowen side came away from Páirc Dooey with the narrowest of wins on Sunday afternoon. Na Rossa battled back from being four points down at the break to be a point up five minutes from time, only for late points from the boots of Dara Doherty (free) and Alan Friel to seal victory for Urris. The Clonmany side had actually been knocked out of the Championship in the preliminary round after losing out to St Naul’s in a play-off. However, the Mountcharles side played a suspended player and were ejected from the competition. St Naul’s appealed as far as the Ulster Council, but to no avail and Urris have been handed a second bite at the championship. Declan Bonner’s Na Rossa reached an Intermediate final last year and are keen for an extended stay this year again. They got off to a perfect start when, just four minutes into the game, Pat Caulfield sent a long ball into the mixer and former Donegal player Martin Caulfield took possession before firing into the back of the Urris net. |
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That cancelled out the
opening point, a Rocky Ivors free, and after the
powerful Brian Kelly flicked an Ivors free onto the
crossbar at one end Na Rossa came storming up the field
to score through Mark Clerkin. Big Kelly and his brother Eddie at centrefield were causing Na Rossa no end of difficulty, particularly during the first-half, although Brian’s influence was curtailed somewhat when Na Rossa switched Eugene Molloy into full-back for the second-half. The scoring and physical power of Eddie Kelly in the middle proved to be a big influence on the game and after Clerkin’s point on nine minutes, Na Rossa would only score once more in the first-half - that through Caulfield in stoppage time. By that stage, Urris hit six of their own. Eddie Kelly brought them to within two when he latched onto a breaking ball, before a brilliant point off his trusted left boot made it a one point game soon after. |
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The scores were level for
the first time when Brian Kelly was teed up by Dara
Doherty to score and Eddie Kelly put them ahead after
taking receipt of a quick free from Alan Friel. Brian Kelly burst past Ryan Breslin for his team’s next score and Urris moved into a commanding five-point lead when Friel stroked over, only for Caulfield to have the final say of the half. A rousing half time talk from Bonner and a couple of spirited positional changes re-ignited the Na Rossa challenge. JP McCready chipped over in the first minute to bring it back to three and it wasn’t long before the hosts restored parity. A long-distance free was launched into the danger area for Caulfield, who got free of the shackles of Shaun McDaid before delivering a perfect angled shot into the far corner of the net. Three times Urris edged in front then only to be pegged back each time by a Na Rossa team showing a renewed fight. Eddie Kelly fired over the first of those after good work in attack by Liam Diver and Dara Doherty, but JP McCready found the range with a free. Mickey Grant popped up from wing-back to fire Urris ahead again, but McCready was again on the mark with a free off the ground, before Ivors and Clerkin traded frees at either end. Na Rossa then got themselves in the driving seat when Clerkin was fed by a fast free in the middle and he drove through before firing over. Na Rossa missed a good chance to go two up and put a huge dint in the Urris challenge and they would regret their miss. Dara Doherty chipped over an easy free three minutes from time and with a minute left Alan Friel hit the winner after Liam Diver’s free was won by the imposing figure of Brian Kelly. Urris were given a couple of soft frees by the Na Rossa rearguard, while Bonner and company will certainly lament a couple of good chances they missed throughout and they’ll have to pull the embers from the fire if they are to force a third game. For Urris, the job is only half done, but a win in the second leg in Straid secures a semi-final spot. The Kelly brothers Eddie and Brian impressed for Urris, while Eugene Molloy, Donal Trimble and JP McCready showed up well in parts for Na Rossa. NA ROSSA: Martin Molloy; Daniel Melly, Ryan Breslin, Cormac McHugh; Donal Trimble, Shane Melly, Damien Melly; Pat Caulfield, Eugene Molloy; Mark Clerkin, JP McCready, Martin Bonner; Patrick Melly, Martin Caulfield, Ryan Hennessey. SUBS: John Paul Breslin for Hennessey (23 mins); Ryan McCready for Bonner (42 mins); Patrick Elliot for P. Caulfield (42 mins); Keelan Devenney for P. Melly (52 mins); Trevor Melly for Elliot (59 mins). URRIS: Kieran Friel; Damien Harkin, Shaun McDaid, Adrian Doherty; Mickey Grant, Phil Pat Doherty, Martin Kelly; Liam Diver, Edward Kelly; Alan Friel, Rocky Ivors, Dara Doherty; Brian Doherty, Brian Kelly, Michael Toland. SUB: Donal Kelly for Toland (46 mins). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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