Ruthless Rossglass send Dundrum spinning out

1 February 2017

ROSSGLASS County duly secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Toals Harry Clarke Cup on Saturday at Dunleath Park, but they were given a massive leg-up by a benevolent Dundrum side.

The visitors should and could have been 3-0 up by the time Rossglass mounted their first meaningful attack in the 10th minute with David Fitzpatrick, Chris Hogg and Paddy Cunningham all having chances to open the scoring.

It was all Dundrum in the opening exchanges, but their profligacy would come back to haunt them. Rossglass, who now face Annalong Swifts for a place in the semi-finals, rode the storm out and with 13 minutes gone Marc Burke had shot on target that looked destined for the net, but Paddy Cunningham appeared from nowhere with a spectacular clearance.

Two minutes later at the other end, Hogg had a good shot well saved by the superlative Adrian Hinc, who pipped Mark Connor for the man of the match award.

Rossglass went straight down the park and Ryan Burns left Johnny McGreevy rooted to the spot with a spectacular volley from 25 yards out after he latched on to a quick throw from Chris Hamilton.

With 19 minutes gone Hogg again shot wide when he got on the end of a monster clearance from McGreevy. At the opposite end, three minutes later, Hamilton looked certain to make it 2-0, but his shot from close in was deflected for a corner.

With 31 minutes gone Ryan Brannigan broke through a static Dundrum rearguard, but his effort was way off target.

Brannigan more than made amends two minutes later when he conjured up an audacious piece of footballing magic.

A wayward cross was heading aimlessly out of the box until Brannigan who had his back to the play, somehow flicked the ball with his heel into the path of Cormac McLaughlin and he made no mistake with an unerring finish.

Dundrum were on the ropes, but a change of shape after the break brought them right back into contention.

Just two minutes into the second half Colm Rooney, now playing much further forward along with Mark Connor, who quickly became the midfield governor, had a half chance after stealing into the box.

Three minutes later at the opposite end Hamilton had a shot brilliantly saved by McGreevy before Fitzpatrick beat Rossglass’ offside trap, but he was denied again by an alert Hinc.

Fitzpatrick had another shot saved by Hinc as Dundrum threw caution to the wind, but they were vulnerable at the back and Hamilton kept McGreevy busy with a couple of efforts.

With 71 minutes gone the normally prolific Fitzpatrick shot wide from a great position as Rooney and Connor continued to dominate midfield.

Two minutes Hinc made a rare error when he spilled a stinging shot from Rooney, but Aaron McKibben poked the rebound wide.

Hogg was then inches away from getting on the end of a low McKibben cross that was fired across the edge of the six yard box and Rooney was a hair’s breadth away from converting a Connor cross at the back post.

Conor fired one wide when he ghosted in at the back post and Fitzpatrick was denied a scrambled goal when Ryan Tumelty hacked the ball off the line.

Dundrum were caught with a sucker punch in added time when Hamilton picked up a long clearance from Hinc and unselfishly squared the ball to an unmarked Danny McKay to make it 3-0.

Rossglass will now face Annalong Swifts in the quarter-finals and the Hillmount Park side will not look forward to the confines of Dunleath Park in Downpatrick

Rossglass County: A Hinc, R Tumelty, C Watterson, C McLaughlin, B Mageean, M Burke, D McKay, C Hamilton, R Burns, S McEvoy, R Brannigan. Subs: E Vaughan, D Curran, D Gilmore, G Rooney.

Dundrum United: J McGreevy, B Campbell, C Miskelly, M Connor, C Rooney, M Melville, P Cunningham, B Cunningham, C Hogg, D Fitzpatrick, K Glavin. Subs: B Mullan, A McKibben, R Hassard.

Rossglass County 3

Dundrum United 0

HARRY CLARKE CUP

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